Rachel Whitmer, PhD

Rachel Whitmer, PhD Kaiser Permanente Division of Research
2000 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 891-3400 (phone)
rachel.whitmer@kp.org

Rachel Whitmer, PhD, is an investigator at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research. Dr. Whitmer received her postdoctoral training in cardiovascular epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley; and she was an NIH faculty scholar in the joint University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine-Kaiser program, Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRWCH) from 2002 to 2005. Dr. Whitmer's research training is in aging epidemiology, specifically on predictors of cognitive decline and dementia. Her research program investigates population level risk factors for Alzheimer disease, dementia, and cognitive impairment. Dr. Whitmer's current focus is on metabolic, cardiovascular, and inflammatory predictors of cognitive aging and dementia. She is the principal investigator of two federally funded grants examining the relationship between diabetes and risk of dementia; as well as obesity, adipocytokines, and dementia and cognitive decline. Dr. Whitmer is also building a healthy aging registry as part of the Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health.

Current Position(s):

Research Scientist II, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Primary Research Interests:

Dementia epidemiology
Diabetes and dementia
Healthy aging
Midlife risk factors for Alzheimer disease
Obesity and Alzheimer disease
Blood sugar control and dementia
Metabolic predictors of cognitive impairment

Stroke, Seizures and VTE in Alzheimer's Disease: Incidence and Prevalence in Patients of Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Funder: Janssen AI R&D
Principal Investigator: Whitmer, Rachel

Sex Hormones, Related Polymorphisms and Cognitive Decline

This study seeks to ascertain the role of hormone replacement therapy in midlife on risk of dementia.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Principal Investigator: Whitmer, Rachel

Epidemiology of Glycemia, Inflammation and Cognition

The goal of this study is to determine the association of measures of glycemia and insulinemia with cognitive functioning.
Funder: Nat. Inst.of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disease
Principal Investigator: Whitmer, Rachel

Midlife Respiratory Function and Risk of Dementia

This study evaluates the association between midlife respiratory function and risk of dementia more than two decades later. A secondary aim is to ascertain how the association between respiratory function and dementia risk may vary by smoking status.
Funder: Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program
Principal Investigator: Whitmer, Rachel

Obesity, Adipocytokines and Cognitive Aging

This project examines the associations between overall obesity, visceral obesity, leptin, adiponectin and levels of cognitive functioning, as well as cognitive decline in a cohort of elderly community-dwelling Latinos.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Principal Investigator: Whitmer, Rachel

Assessing the Potential for Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Prevention and Treatment of Dementia

This project aims to investigate whether angiotensin receptor blockers are associated with a reduced risk of dementia, as well as dementia progression and death in two independent data sets.
Funder: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Principal Investigator: Whitmer, Rachel

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research