AskScience: Got Questions? Get Answers.

Hello Reddit! We are researchers at the National Institute of Health's Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementia's (CARD) and National Institute on Aging (NIA). We are experts in data science and neuroscience working to advance dementia research. Today we're here to talk about a recent study published in Neuron that mined medical records to examine the link between viral illnesses and neurodegenerative disorders.

We will be here Monday, July 10, from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET (18-19 UT) and look forward to answering your questions!

We are:

• Kristin Levine, M.S., - Advanced Analytics Expert Group, CARD. I'm one of the lead authors on this study which helped identify links between virus infection and neurodegenerative diseases using health care data. My expertise is in data science and I have a special interest in health care, open science, and writing. I'm also a data scientist with Data Tecnica International.

• Hampton Leonard, M.S. - Advanced Analytics Expert Group, CARD. I'm one of the lead authors on this study and a data scientist with a passion for neurogenetics. My background is in applying data science and machine learning to genomics, specifically for neurodegenerative diseases. I'm also the collaborative research lead at Data Tecnica International.

• Keenan Walker, Ph.D. - NIH Distinguished Scholar, Tenure-Track Investigator, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, NIA. My research program focuses on understanding the role of abnormal immune function and inflammation in Alzheimer's disease and late-life cognitive decline. I use proteomic and genetic methods and neuroimaging to study inflammation in the body and brain and cognitive function.

• Michael Duggan, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, NIA I investigate the molecular biology underlying age-related neurodegenerative disorders utilizing neuroimaging, cognitive, proteomic, and genetic methods across large cohort studies. My particular focus is on the factors linked to immune dysregulation, including aging and viral infections.

• Mike Nalls, Ph.D. - Advanced Analytics Expert Group Lead, CARD. I'm the last author on the study. As a data scientist and the lead for CARD's Advanced Analytics Expert Group my research focuses on aspects of population-scale data and how a variety of risk factors may be associated with neurodegenerative diseases. I'm also the founder and CEO of Data Tecnica International. I love a good coffee and things with wheels.

• Susan Resnick, Ph.D. - Chief, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, NIA. I study brain-behavior associations in health and disease and I'm the principal investigator of the brain imaging component of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) where I focus on early structural and physiological brain changes that may be predictors of memory and cognitive change in older individuals.