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Dr Laura Stankeviciute
Name:
Dr Laura Stankeviciute
Job Title:
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Place of work / study:
Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg
Area of Research:
My work focuses on sleep and its role in brain ageing and Alzheimer’s disease. I am particularly interested in understanding sex differences, and how they intersect with sleep and Alzheimer’s pathology to influence women’s vulnerability to developing the disease.
How is your work funded:
REAL AD study
Tell us a little about yourself:
My research focuses on sleep and its role in brain ageing and Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular interest in sex differences and how hormonal changes during menopause may influence women’s vulnerability to the disease. I use a multi-modal approach combining neuroimaging, fluid biomarkers, digital cognition and physiological sleep measures. I also hold a strong interest in health technology, particularly in digital biomarkers and wearable devices for early diagnostics and continuous monitoring to capture subtle changes in sleep and other physiological markers and assess their impact on brain ageing, AD biomarkers and cognitive performance.
Outside the typical academic workday, I dedicate time to science communication and public engagement. I believe that research should not end with the publication of academic papers, but must be translated into accessible knowledge for the wider public and policymakers. Only then can it move beyond academic recognition to help improve healthcare decisions and promote better health outcomes.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
During one of my travels, I unexpectedly ended up on Bangladeshi national television, which had become a memorable highlight of the trip!
Why did you choose to work in dementia:
I became a dementia researcher almost by chance, after doing my Master’s internship in an ageing and dementia unit investigating sleep. But from that moment on, I was drawn in by the curiosity to understand what drives neurodegeneration and the loss of cognitive abilities beyond ageing itself. I became especially interested in risk factors like sleep alterations and sex differences, and how they might interact in the earliest, preclinical stages of the disease. What motivates me now is the opportunity to identify risk early, support prevention, and ultimately foster healthier ageing.
What single piece of of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
Be brave enough to trust your instincts, bold enough to share your ideas openly, and resilient enough to ride the ever-changing waves of academic life.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton.
Favourite film of all time?
Not sure
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
Going for a run or a hike in nature. Having a slow morning on the weekend in my favourite cafe reading and people spotting.
UK DRI
