Isabella Tucci
Position
M.S.c Student Neuroscience, Research assistant
Credentials
B.S.c in Biopsychology (Hons) — University of Victoria
Contact & Links
isabellatucci@uvic.ca
Research Interests
Keywords: Menopause, Mild traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s Disease, Neuroimaging, Women’s aging, Estrogens
Estrogen plays a vital role in supporting brain health, and work aims to uncover how its decline during menopause, combined with the long-term effects of concussion, may contribute to changes in brain connectivity, cognitive function, and women’s elevated risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
For my Master’s thesis, I am examining how menopause-related hormone loss and concussion history interact to influence white matter integrity and cognitive performance in postmenopausal women. I am also exploring the potential neuroprotective effects of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) as a strategy to promote healthy brain aging and resilience following brain injury.
Beyond research, I am passionate about promoting awareness of menopause and its influence on women’s cognitive, physical, and emotional well-being. I aim to bridge the gap between research and the community to empower women with knowledge that supports healtheir aging across the lifespan.
Publications
Tucci, I., Lacey, C., & Gawryluk, J. (2025). The Maternal Brain: Examining the Influence of Parity on Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk in Postmenopausal Women. Manuscript submitted to the Neurobiology of Aging.
Snowden, T., Skaug, E, Morrison, J., Lacey, C., Saadat, N., Tucci, I., Braziller, O. ,Lugo, J.E., G. Spitz, McDonald, S.J., Shultz, S.R., Faubert, J., Gawryluk, J, Christie, B.R. (2025). Integrating Serum Biomarkers with Diffusion MRI to Investigate Prior Concussion Exposure. Manuscript submitted to The Lancet
other
Outside of the lab, I’m happiest at the beach and could easily spend the entire day there! I also love thrifting and spending quality time with my loved ones.