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Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to think and remember. VCI is predominately caused by different conditions that interrupt the flow of blood and oxygen supply to the brain and damage blood vessels in the brain. Any of the multiple causes of stroke that impair blood vessels (e.g., hypertension and diabetes)  can contribute to vascular cognitive impairment. 

Meet Our VCI Research Team

Heather SmithHeather Smith, MA, CCC-SLP, CBIS
Speech-Language Pathologist | Research Coordinator
Institute for Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases at UTHealth Houston

Seema AggarwalSeema Aggarwal, PhD, APRN, AGNP-C
Assistant Professor in the Cizik School of Nursing, Department of Research
UTHealth Houston

Myriam FornageMyriam Fornage, Ph.D.
Professor, Center for Human Genetics
Laurence and Johanna Favrot Distinguished Professor in Cardiology,

Sean SavitzSean Savitz, MD
Professor of Neurology and Frank M. Yatsu, M.D. Chair in Neurology
McGovern Medical School
Director, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease
UTHealth Houston

Kendra AndersonKendra Anderson, PhD
Neuropsychologist UTHealth Houston Neurosciences Neurocognitive Disorders Center
Assistant Professor of Neurology Department of Neurology
Division of Neuropsychology McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

Anjail SharriefAnjail Sharrief, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Director, Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program
McGovern Medical School
Director of Stroke Prevention, Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease at UTHealth Houston