Professor Dr. Amy Arnsten

Biography

Amy Arnsten is an international expert in molecular regulation of higher cortical circuits and a member of the National Academy of Medicine. She completed her B.A. in Neuroscience at Brown University in 1976, where she created the Neuroscience major, and received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in 1981. Dr. Arnsten's post-doctoral research included work with Dr. Susan Iversen at Cambridge University and Dr. Patricia Goldman-Rakic at Yale. Her research examines the neural basis of higher cognition, revealing that newly evolved cortical circuits are regulated at the molecular level, which confers vulnerability to mental illness and age-related cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer's Disease. Dr. Arnsten's work has led to the development of new treatments for cognitive disorders, including the successful translation of guanfacine (Intuniv TM) for treating ADHD related to prefrontal cortical disorders. Her lab studies the molecular influences on higher cognitive functions in the prefrontal cortex, aiming to develop rational treatments for cognitive disorders and mental illness.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards