Skylar E. Stolte, a doctoral candidate in the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida, has been awarded the UF Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory (CAM) Clinical Translational Research Dissertation Award. This prestigious recognition provides financial support to graduate students completing dissertations in cognitive aging research. Stolte is mentored by Dr. Ruogu Fang, a leading expert in neuroimaging and machine learning applications in healthcare.

Stolte’s research tackles a critical and growing challenge: the cognitive and memory issues faced by the world’s rapidly aging population. As individuals over the age of 65 become a larger demographic, understanding the mechanisms underlying age-related neuropsychiatric disorders—such as anxiety—becomes increasingly important. These disorders not only affect life quality but may also increase susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases.

Her dissertation focuses on anxiety interventions for older adults, with a particular emphasis on individualized approaches using cutting-edge technologies. Specifically, Stolte examines the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) paired with cognitive training, a promising non-invasive intervention for managing anxiety.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), her research will identify neural mechanisms and connectivity changes in individuals who respond positively to the intervention versus those who do not. Stolte’s work centers on key brain regions linked to anxiety and dementia, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Her findings aim to shed light on the functional connectivity networks associated with anxiety and inform strategies for targeted interventions that promote healthy aging and independence.