Sumreen Akhtar
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Shervin Assari
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Public Health + Psychiatry / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 5 – 3:40pm – 4:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors:
Presenter: 7
Abstract
The study of the social determinants of brain development and health with a focus on structural racism and discrimination is necessary for reducing developmental and mental health inequities and disparities. This paper studies the role of the hippocampus function and structure in explaining the effects of social adversity and low socioeconomic status on brain development, psychopathology, and mental health. This paper has great relevance to society, as it shows the negative effects of low socioeconomic status and stress on brain and cognitive development and subsequent mental health outcomes. The hippocampus, a medial temporal lobe structure, has significant implications in memory formation and learning and factors such as poverty, socioeconomic status (SES), stress, adversity, trauma, parenting, etc can have consequential impacts. In addition, analyses on hippocampus functions, socioeconomic status, adversity, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, parental education, and brain development are also critical in understanding and overcoming social and health inequities. However, much of the literature on the hippocampus is focused on the experiences of white Americans and middle-class people. It is critical to research more on racism and discrimination and the subsequent effects on brain and cognitive development.
Interdisciplinary, Public Health
