Rebecca F. Gottesman, M.D., Ph.D.

Senior Investigator

Cognition and Neuroepidemiology Section, Stroke Branch

NINDS

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Building 10, Room 4D37
10 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20814

301-435-9321

rebecca.gottesman@nih.gov

Research Topics

Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID): Dr. Gottesman studies modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia. Through large epidemiologic cohorts, such as the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, she studies the association between vascular risk factors, especially in midlife, and cognitive decline and dementia. Using neuroimaging (with brain MRI and amyloid PET), she studies the mechanism of a vascular impact on cognition, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment and dementia. (PSCID): As part of the DISCOVERY study (Determinants of Incident Stroke Cognitive Outcomes and Vascular Effects on Recovery), which is a large cohort currently recruiting patients with stroke (ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage) across 30 U.S. sites, Dr. Gottesman and her team will evaluate the association between stroke and dementia, with a focus on disparities populations.

Cerebral small vessel disease: Dr. Gottesman studies risk factors for, progression of, and outcomes related to cerebral small vessel disease, in clinical cohorts as well as population-based studies, using neuroimaging and cognitive assessment.

Biography

Dr. Rebecca Gottesman joined the NINDS as the Chief of the Stroke Branch in May 2021. In addition to the Branch, she is also Chief of the Stroke, Cognition and Neuroepidemiology Section. Prior to NINDS, Dr. Gottesman was an investigator at The Johns Hopkins University where she made significant research contributions to understanding the cognitive impacts of stroke and other vascular disease, as well as short- and long-term associations between vascular risk factors, vascular disease, and dementias.

Degrees

  • MD; Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (2000)
  • PhD; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2007)

Residencies

  • Neurology; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2004)

Fellowships

  • Vascular Neurology; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2006)

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Psychiatry And Neurology (Neurology) (2005)
  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Vascular Neurology) (2008)

Selected Publications

  1. Koton S, Pike JR, Johansen M, Knopman DS, Lakshminarayan K, Mosley T, Patole S, Rosamond WD, Schneider ALC, Sharrett AR, Wruck L, Coresh J, Gottesman RF. Association of Ischemic Stroke Incidence, Severity, and Recurrence With Dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Cohort Study. JAMA Neurol. 2022;79(3):271-280.
  2. Gottesman RF, Wu A, Coresh J, Knopman DS, Jack CR Jr, Rahmim A, Sharrett AR, Spira AP, Wong DF, Wagenknecht LE, Hughes TM, Walker KA, Mosley TH. Associations of Vascular Risk and Amyloid Burden with Subsequent Dementia. Ann Neurol. 2022;92(4):607-619.
  3. Okine DN, Knopman DS, Mosley TH, Wong DF, Johansen MC, Walker KA, Jack CR Jr, Kantarci K, Pike JR, Graff-Radford J, Gottesman RF. Cerebral Microbleed Patterns and Cortical Amyloid-β: The ARIC-PET Study. Stroke. 2023;54(10):2613-2620.
  4. Eswaran S, Knopman DS, Koton S, Kucharska-Newton AM, Liu AC, Liu C, Lutsey PL, Mosley TH Jr, Palta P, Sharrett AR, Sullivan KJ, Walker KA, Gottesman RF, Groechel RC. Psychosocial Health and the Association Between Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Markers With Dementia: The ARIC Study. Stroke. 2024;55(10):2449-2458.
  5. Egle M, Groechel RC, Johansen MC, Kucharska-Newton AM, Gottesman RF, Koton S. Role of Morbidity Clusters in Midlife on Ischemic Stroke Incidence and Severity: The ARIC Study. Stroke. 2025.

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This page was last updated on Friday, September 5, 2025