Dr. Hirofumi Tanaka

Biography

Hirofumi Tanaka is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a B.A. in Physical Education from the International Budo University in Japan, an M.S. in Human Bioenergetics from Ball State University, and a Ph.D. in Applied Physiology from the University of Tennessee. Tanaka completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His research interests focus on vascular aging, particularly the stiffening of large elastic arteries and vascular endothelial dysfunction. His work encompasses the physiological mechanisms that mediate vascular aging and the consequences of age-related vascular dysfunction on cognitive and cerebrovascular health. He investigates lifestyle modifications that can prevent or reverse vascular dysfunction, studying both community health and elite populations, such as master athletes. In recent years, he has engaged in global health research involving unique populations, including the long-necked Karen women in Thailand and female pearl divers in Japan. His findings contribute to understanding how aging affects physical performance and vascular health, helping establish healthier aging models.

Research Interests

Awards