Abolfazl Avan, MD, PhD

Nash_160x180.jpgAdjunct Research Professor
E-mail: aavan2@uwo.ca

Appointments

  • Research Associate, Robarts Research Institute, Department of Clinical Neurological Science
  • Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Research Interests

  • Neuroepidemiology
  • Global Burden of Disease
  • Brain Health
  • Dementia, Stroke
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Risk factors
  • Prevention
  • Wilson's disease
  • Evidence-based medicine

Education

  • MD, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (2001-2009), Tabriz, Iran
  • MD-Internships, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (2007-2009)
  • PhD, Amsterdam University Medical Center (VU Medical Center) (2013-2015), Amsterdam, Netherlands

Short Bio

Abolfazl Avan, MD, PhD, is a Research Associate with the Dementia Prevention Initiative at Western University and an Adjunct Research Professor in the Epi Bio Department. He is also a senior collaborator of the Global Burden of Disease Study, member of the American Academy of Neurology, and advising member of the WHO Guideline Development Group for the risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia. His expertise includes brain health, neuroepidemiology, neurovascular research, and modifiable risk factors for stroke, heart disease, and dementia. Dr. Avan's research also focuses on the global, regional, and national socioeconomic, environmental, and metabolic risk factors associated with these conditions, with a strong emphasis on prevention potentials and to promote the implementation of lifelong measures to improve brain health globally and regionally.

Some of the key publications are listed below:

  • Avan A, Andersen R, Andersson N, Frisbee SJ, Singh S, Zhong S, Rogers K A, Whitehead S N, Hachinski V. An operational measurement of brain health: the ABCDS framework. Lancet Neurol. 2025 Apr; [in press]
  • Avan A, Hachinski V, Aamodt A-H, Alessi C, Ali S, Alladi S, Andersen R, Anderson K K, Azarpazhooh M R, Bassetti C L A, Brainin M, Brodtmann A, Buchan A M, Charway-Felli A, Cipriano L E, Endres M, Evans T G, Federico A, Feigin V L, Ferro J M, Freedman M, Frisbee S J, Fuster V, Ganten D, Gilliland J, Kimura J, Kirton J, Küey L, Martins S C O, Mokhber N, Nilanont Y, Nucera A, Oveisgharan S, Owen A M, Owolabi M O, Rogers K A, Rouleau G A, Sacco R L, Stranges S, Whitehead S N, Whitehouse P J, Wilk P. Brain health: Key to health, productivity, and well-being. Alzheimers Dement. 2022;18(7):1396-1407.
  • Avan A, Feigin VL, Bennett DA, Jaimie DS, Hachinski V, Stranges S, Owolabi MO, and 179 GBD Collaborators. The burden of neurological conditions in north Africa and the Middle East, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Glob Health. 2024 Apr 8:S2214-109X(24)00093-7.
  • Avan A, Hachinski V. Global, regional, and national trends of dementia incidence and risk factors, 1990–2019: A Global Burden of Disease Study. Alzheimers Dement. 2023;19(4):1281-1291.
  • Avan A and Hachinski V. Stroke and dementia, leading causes of neurological disability and death, potential for prevention. Alzheimers Dement. 2021; 17(6): 1072–6.
  • Avan A, Hachinski V. Dementia prevention: From idealism to realism. Lancet Neurol. 2024 May;23(5):S1474-4422(24)00133-9.
  • Avan A, Hachinski V. Increasing risks of dementia and brain health concerns. Lancet Public Health. 2024 Jul;9(7):e414-e415.