Prof. Mohamed Salama
-A distinguished neuroscientist and public health researcher at The American University in Cairo
- Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University.
The Neuro - Exposome: Targeting Well!
MansouraUniversityThe Neuro-exposome: Targeting Well! | Knowture Research Hub
About This Research Video
Neurological disorders—such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD)—pose one of the most significant healthcare challenges of our time. While genetic predisposition plays a role, the brain’s lifelong exposure to environmental, occupational, nutritional, and social factors is equally critical. Yet, these gene–environment interactions remain underexplored, particularly in Arab and African populations. This gap limits the development of effective prevention strategies tailored to diverse communities.
In this insightful research presentation, Dr. Mohamed Salama, from The American University in Cairo, introduces The Neuro-exposome: Targeting Well! —A pioneering framework that examines how lifelong and cumulative exposures interact with genetics to shape brain health and aging. Moving beyond single-agent studies and patient-only cohorts, Dr. Salama advocates for a holistic, longitudinal approach that reflects the complexity of real-world exposures.
At the heart of this vision is the AL-SEHA study—a landmark longitudinal cohort of 20,000 Egyptians aged 50+, designed to track cognitive function, lifestyle, environmental hazards, biomarkers, and genetic profiles over decades. Egypt’s unique genetic diversity, Arab cultural context, and rapid demographic transition position it as a global hub for transformative research on healthy aging and neurodegeneration.
Who Should Watch
This research video is essential for:
• Neuroscientists, neurologists, and neuroepidemiologists.
• Public health researchers focusing on aging and dementia prevention.
• Environmental health scientists and toxicologists.
• Geneticists studying gene–environment interactions.
• Gerontologists, social scientists, and health policy experts.
• Postgraduate students in neuroscience, public health, and epidemiology.
Key Research Highlights
• Introduces the neuro-exposome as a comprehensive model linking cumulative lifetime exposures to neurological health.
• Identifies key research gaps:
o Overemphasis on single-agent studies versus complex, mixed exposures.
o Focus on symptomatic patients instead of high-risk healthy individuals.
o Fragmentation between disciplines such as toxicology, genetics, and social sciences.
• Positions AL-SEHA as a culturally contextualized, large-scale model for aging research in the Arab world and Africa.
• Six areas of innovation:
o Increase Arab and African representation in global aging studies.
o Investigate causal pathways to healthy aging in diverse populations.
o Study social and health inequalities in later life.
o Advance epidemiological understanding of AD/ADRD, including early detection of cognitive decline.
o Assess environmental hazards and climate change impacts on aging.
o Integrate genetic, biomarker, and lifestyle data to identify modifiable risk factors.
Why This Study Matters
The AL-SEHA initiative is not just an academic milestone—it is a call to action for globally inclusive brain health research. By adopting a human ecology perspective that spans biology, environment, and society, it offers:
• Evidence-based strategies to prevent or delay dementia.
• Insights into resilience factors in culturally and genetically diverse populations.
• Data to inform national and regional health policies on aging, dementia, and climate resilience.
Through its scope, scale, and vision, the neuro-exposome framework has the potential to redefine how the world approaches brain health and disease prevention.
About the Researcher
Dr. Mohamed Salama is a distinguished neuroscientist and public health researcher at The American University in Cairo and Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University. His expertise bridges neuroscience, environmental health, and aging studies, with research focus on how genetic and environmental factors interact across the lifespan to influence brain health, cognitive function, and resistance to neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Salama is an advocate for increasing Arab and African representation in global health research and is the principal investigator of the AL-SEHA project, addressing critical gaps in diversity and inclusion. His work has been featured in leading journals, including Nature Medicine, npj Parkinson’s Disease, Neuron, and the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, earning international recognition for its innovative integration of epidemiology, genomics, and environmental science
Full Research Publications
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- Nature Medicine: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03808-2
- Nature Arab-American Studies: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44400-025-00021-3
- npj Parkinson’s Disease: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41531-024-00826-8
- Neuron (Cell Press): https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(24)00277-0
- Journal of Parkinson’s Disease: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.3233/JPD-230382
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About Knowture
Knowture is a postgraduate digital learning and research platform by Mansoura University, Egypt, offering advanced research publications, specialized online courses, and academic resources in neuroscience, medical sciences, public health, biotechnology, and environmental studies.
Visit: https://knowture.mans.edu.eg
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