Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarenga, MD, DSc, PhD

Biography

Dr. Lopez Alvarenga is an Associate Professor at the UTRGV School of Medicine, where he leads research and education on health challenges, especially metabolic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension along the US-Mexico border. As a teacher of clinical epidemiology at the UTRGV School of Medicine, he strives to connect the latest medical research with the practical health issues that local communities face.

His research focuses on understanding metabolic syndrome—a combination of conditions linked to diabetes, obesity, and hypertension—that disproportionately impacts Mexican American populations. By collaborating with Latin American institutions, he works to uncover the root causes of these health issues and explore practical solutions.

Recently, he joined the RCMAR network to tackle a growing concern: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). In the Rio Grande Valley, many Latino/Hispanic residents experience not only health challenges, but also significant social obstacles, such as poverty, high migration rates, and limited access to healthcare.

Through his VAscular DEmentia Research (VADER) Pilot Project, Dr. Lopez Alvarenga is exploring how metabolic disorders impact brain health. His research also looks at how socioeconomic status, education, and physical activity can influence brain changes related to diabetes to find new ways to protect brain health in high-risk communities.