Professor Yonas E. Geda: The Ethiopian Neurologist Who Won the 2022 Alzheimer Award

Professor Yonas E. Geda, MD, MSc, is one of the world's leading behavioral neurologists and neuropsychiatrists, best known for his research on how lifestyle factors influence brain aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease. In 2022, he became a joint recipient of the prestigious Alzheimer Award from the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (JAD), cementing his place among the most impactful researchers in the global fight against dementia.

Professor Yonas was born and educated in Ethiopia, where he earned his medical degree from Addis Ababa (Haile Selassie) University. He later pursued advanced training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, completing residencies and fellowships in psychiatry, behavioral neurology, and biomedical science between 1995 and 2001. He also earned a Master of Science degree in biomedical science and clinical research as an NIH Career Development scholar. His behavioral neurology fellowship was completed under the mentorship of Dr. Ronald Petersen, one of the foremost authorities on MCI research.

After more than two decades at Mayo Clinic, where he served as full Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology from 2014 to 2020, Professor Yonas joined the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, one of the world's premier centers for neurological research and care. There, he serves as a full Professor of Neurology, director of the Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Fellowship, and a research professor at Arizona State University.

The Alzheimer Award is presented annually by the JAD editorial board to the prior year's most impactful paper in Alzheimer's disease research. Professor Yonas shared the 2022 prize with Dr. Janina Krell-Roesch of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. Their winning study examined how physical activity affects cognitive trajectories in older adults. Using data from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, the team followed 2,060 unimpaired individuals who reported their physical activity levels in both midlife and late life, tracking changes across memory, language, attention, executive function, and visuospatial skill. The findings provided strong longitudinal evidence that physical activity, a modifiable lifestyle factor, can meaningfully preserve cognitive function over time.

This award-winning research is part of a broader body of work that has established Professor Yonas as a globally recognized authority in neuropsychiatry and brain aging. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles in journals including JAMA Psychiatry, JAMA Neurology, and Neurology. He is also the lead author of an international panel that developed the neurobiological theoretical model for investigating neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, a foundational framework that continues to guide research in the field.

Professor Yonas's honors span multiple continents. Early recognition includes the Mayo Brothers Distinguished Fellowship Award (1998), the Laughlin Fellowship Award from the American College of Psychiatry (1999), and the Medal of the City of Marseille (2003). He is board certified in both psychiatry and behavioral neurology, and has served as chair of the award committees of the American Neuropsychiatric Association and the Neuropsychiatric Professional Interest Area of the Alzheimer's Association.

Beyond his clinical and research work, Professor Yonas maintains a deep connection to Ethiopia. He is an associate fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences and has engaged in global health work in the country, including research on behavioral health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. He has delivered invited lectures across the United States, France, Norway, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Ethiopia, reflecting both his global standing and his commitment to advancing neuroscience in underserved regions.

Professor Yonas E. Geda's career represents a remarkable journey from Addis Ababa to the forefront of Alzheimer's research. His work on the role of exercise, mental activity, and lifestyle in protecting cognitive health offers practical, evidence-based hope to the millions worldwide at risk of dementia. For Ethiopia and the global scientific community alike, he stands as a model of rigorous scholarship and sustained impact.