# Rachel Bennett Associate Professor ![smiling woman with brown hair who is wearing a lab coat](/sites/g/files/omnuum5476/files/styles/hwp_4_5__320x400/public/2026-08/Bennett_headshot.jpg?itok=vA4bYycK) location\_on 114 16th St. Room 2750 Charlestown, MA 02129 smartphone [617-726-1263](tel:617-726-1263) email laptop\_windows [Lab Website](https://www.bennettalzlab.com/) laptop\_windows [Publications](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/rachel.bennett.1/bibliography/public/) Neuron loss is the strongest pathological correlate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. The overarching goal of research in the Bennett Lab is to identify the mechanisms that drive neuronal degeneration and leverage this knowledge to develop more effective therapeutic strategies. Despite decades of research, a fundamental question remains unresolved: why do neurons die? The accumulation of protein aggregates, including amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles, is closely associated with neurodegeneration and has long been considered a central driver of disease. However, direct evidence linking these aggregates to neuronal death remains limited. Our research seeks to address this critical gap by determining whether protein aggregation directly causes neuronal loss or whether non-neuronal mechanisms contribute to disease progression. Current projects focus on understanding how tau pathology affects the cerebral vasculature, including vascular remodeling, blood–brain barrier function, and senescence-related pathways in endothelial cells. To investigate these questions, we combine longitudinal in vivo multiphoton microscopy with multiplex immunofluorescence, transcriptomic analyses, and advanced MRI approaches in both experimental models and human brain tissue. By integrating these complementary techniques, we aim to uncover how vascular dysfunction contributes to neurodegeneration and identify novel pathways that drive neuronal loss. Ultimately, this work will advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and provide new insights into the role of the brain vasculature in maintaining neuronal health and cognitive function - ## Location [Massachusetts General Hospital](/location/massachusetts-general-hospital) - ## Research Interests [Cell Biology of Neurons & Glia](/research-interests/cell-biology-neurons-glia) [Gene Expression](/research-interests/gene-expression) [Neuropathology & Disease](/research-interests/neuropathology-disease) - ## People [Faculty](/people/faculty)