Brian Downer, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Population Health & Health Disparities
Director, Rehab Science Graduate Program

Physical address:
UHC, Suite 4.208
1005 Harborside Drive
Galveston, TX

Mailing address:
301 University Boulevard
Galveston, TX 77555-1150

Phone: (409) 266-9659
Fax: (409) 266-9659
Email: brdowner@utmb.edu

  • Brian Downer, PhD is an Associate Professor in the School of Public and Population Health (SPPH) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). He received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, MI) and a PhD in Gerontology from the University of Kentucky. He also completed an NIA T32 postdoctoral fellowship on Hispanic Health and Aging at the UTMB Sealy Center on Aging.

    Dr. Downer studies the influence of social and cultural context on life course pathways for dementia and cognitive decline in diverse older adult populations. He also investigates healthcare utilization by older adults, focusing on the quality and outcomes of post-acute care and differences in healthcare utilization by older adults with and without dementia.

    CV - Curriculum Vitae

    • R01 AG018016 – NIH, NIA
      The Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS)
      PI: Wong (Role: Co-I); time period 05/01/2023-01/31/2028
    • P30 AG059301 – NIH, NIA
      The Texas Resource Center on Minority Aging Research (RCMAR)
      PI: Markides (Role: Pilot study awardee); time period 5/31/22-06/30/24
    • RF1 AG068988 – NIH, NIA
      The influence of social and cultural context on life course pathways for Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, and care resources for older Mexican adults.
      PI: Downer; time period 06/01/21-05/31/24
    • R01 AG068392 – NIH, NIA
      Health of Aging Mexicans on Both sides of the Border
      PI: Riosmena (Role: co-investigator); time period 05/01/21-01/31/26
    • P30 AG024832-16 – NIH, NIA
      UTMB Claude Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
      PI: Volpi (Role: core co-leader); time period 07/01/20-06/30/25
    • K01 AG058789 – NIH, NIA
      Improvement in Patients’ Cognition and Relationship with SNF Quality Measures
      PI: Downer; time period 01/01/19-11/30/2
    • Grant# K01 AG0587892018 - 2023
      Source: NIH National Institute on Aging
      Study: Improvement in Patients’ Cognition and Relationship with SNF Quality Measures
      Role: Principal Investigator
    • Grant# RF1 AG0689882021 - 2024
      Title: The Influence of Social and Cultural Context on Life Course Pathways for Alzheimer’s Disease, Related Dementias, and Care Resources for Older Mexican Adults
      Source: NIH National Institute on Aging
      Role: Principal Investigator
    • Grant# P30 AG0248322020 - 2025
      Source: NIH National Institute on Aging
      Study: UTMB Claude Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC)
      Objective: The goal is to assemble a comprehensive map of the molecular changes that occur in response to movement and relate these changes to the benefits of physical activity.
      Role: Co-Leader Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core (PI: Volpi)
  • Quality and outcomes of post-acute care; Epidemiology of dementia and cognitive decline in diverse populations; Hispanic health and aging

  • Note: A complete list of all publications can be found on the UTMB Research Experts web page.