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.