Ruth O'Hara
Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor (Research), Psychiatry & Behavioral Science - Stanford/VA Aging Clinical Research Center
- Member, Child Health Research Institute
Key Documents
Contact Information
- Academic Offices
Personal Information Email Tel (650) 796-2720 Tel (650) 825-3287
Professional Overview
Postdoctoral Advisees
Anda Gershon, Christine Gould, Shefali Miller, Michelle Primeau, Blake Scanlon, Keith Sudheimer, Jill Waring
Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations
Scientific Focus
Current Research Interests
Dr. OHaras research aims to identify the physiological markers of neurocognitive impairment in a broad range of late-life disorders, including Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimers disease (AD), Late-Life Depression, and Late-Life Anxiety disorders. Using neuroimaging and genetic approaches to investigating the impact of psychological and physiological stress, and more recently sleep disorders, her research aims to: (1) more fully characterize the genetic risk factors and physiological mechanisms underlying normal and pathological cognitive impairment; (2) assist with early identification of those at greatest risk for cognitive decline, and dementia; (3) increase our understanding of the role of cognitive impairment in exacerbating late-life psychiatric disorders; and (4) develop interventions aimed at reducing this impairment.
Publications
- BDNF and CREB1 genetic variants interact to affect antidepressant treatment outcomes in geriatric depression. Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2013; (6): 301-13
- Elevated prefrontal myo-inositol and choline following breast cancer chemotherapy. Brain Imaging Behav. 2013
- Psychosocial predictors of treatment response to cognitive-behavior therapy for late-life depression: an exploratory study. Aging Ment Health. 2013
- Sleep Disturbance in Pediatric PTSD: Current Findings and Future Directions. J Clin Sleep Med. 2013; (5): 501-10
- The long-term impact of early adversity on late-life psychiatric disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2013; (4): 352
- 5-HTTLPR short allele, resilience, and successful aging in older adults. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2012; (5): 452-6
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