Family Medicine & Community Health
Medical School
Twin Cities
Award Year
2026
University Award
McKnight Land-Grant Professorship
Building Brain Resilience Through Neuroplasticity and Vascular Health in Response to Aging, Injury, and Disease
Jacqueline Palmer’s Brains in Motion Laboratory pioneers a resilience-focused framework in aging neuroscience, uncovering how neuroplasticity and cerebrovascular health enable exceptional motor and cognitive function in “fast-moving Super Agers.” Integrating advanced technology and imaging, her NIH-funded research challenges pathology-centered models of aging by identifying adaptive neural mechanisms that preserve mobility and cognition. Her groundbreaking work redefines our understanding of brain resilience and informs novel interventions to promote healthy aging.