Dhayana E Dallmeier Rojas, MD, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Epidemiology - Boston University School of Public Health
Biography
Aging is complex. Over the last few years I have focused on the epidemiology of ageing, with the aim of getting a better understanding on how to address and consider the heterogeneity of older adults in different research questions, such as determining biomarkers reference values for older adults, and treating medical conditions such as arterial hypertension. I am currently focusing on the concepts of biological age and frailty, and contrasting them with respect to the characterization of heterogeneity among older adults as part of the Collaborative Research Center "Aging at Interfaces" at the Ulm University in Germany (https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/einrichtungen/sfb-1506-aging-at-interfaces/). The role of diverse biomarkers such as high sensitive Troponins, Brain Natriuretic Peptides, GDF-15 and Cystatin C, as risk predictors for cardiovascular events, aging related comorbidities (falls, fractures, cognitive dysfunction), frailty and mortality and the possible presence of effect modifiers for these associations are also relevant questions of interest. Additionally, evaluating strategies to prevent sedentary behavior and the onset of delirium in older adults in clinical trials has been an important area of research. As part of the European project JOIN4JOY, we developed an intervention to promote physical activity among nursing home patients (https://www.join4joy.eu/), as well as freely accessible teaching modules for therapist and trainers working with older adults in nursing homes (https://www.join4joy.eu/free-course/). As an epidemiologist and clinical investigator, I also offer advice on the development of appropriate research questions, the identification of the adequate study populations, and the most efficient study designs.
Examining the heterogeneity of aging requires an interdisciplinary approach. This has enabled me to work with, and grow alongside, highly supportive cooperation partners, both personally and professionally. Lastly, teaching and providing mentoring to doctoral and master's students has become an important way of raising awareness of the complexity of ageing research and equipping the next generation with the necessary analytical skills.
I graduated from medical school at the Ruprecht- Karls University of Heidelberg in Germany. I trained in Internal Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, and completed an academic fellowship in General Internal Medicine at Boston University Medical Center. I hold a PhD in Epidemiology from Boston University School of Public Health. I am currently a member of the Society of Epidemiologic research, the German Society of Epidemiology, the German Society of Internal Medicine, the German and European Geriatrics Society, and the German Society of Aging Research. Since January 2025 I am Co-Chair of the Special Interest Group on Frailty at the European Society of Geriatric Medicine focusing on strategies to improve screening, diagnosis and management of this condition in the clinical settings.
Education
- Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg, MD Field of Study: Medicine-Internal
- Boston University School of Public Health, PhD Field of Study: Epidemiology
Publications
- Published on 6/6/2025
Rall-Scharpf M, Schlotter D, Koch P, Szafranski K, Groth M, Sahm A, Biber S, Castaño BA, Heitmeir B, Zengerling F, Deniz M, Dallmeier D, Braig S, Bonig H, Milyavsky M, Pospiech H, Wiesmüller L. Replication stress responses in human lymphocytes change sex-specifically during aging. Nucleic Acids Res. 2025 Jun 06; 53(11). PMID: 40530696.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 5/13/2025
Fotteler ML, Kocar TD, Willems J, Voigt-Radloff S, Leinert C, Dallmeier D, Hertneck C, Denkinger M. "What makes a good guideline? - A systematic review and analysis of 120 clinical practice guidelines in orthogeriatric care and related fields using the AGREE II tool". J Clin Epidemiol. 2025 Aug; 184:111830. PMID: 40374018.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 5/3/2025
Braig S, Denkinger MD, Dallmeier D, Klenk J, Rothenbacher D. Social isolation, loneliness and the relationship with serum biomarkers, functional parameters and mortality in older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2025 May 03; 37(1):140. PMID: 40317389.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 5/1/2025
Fritzenschaft L, Boehm F, Rothenbacher D, Denkinger M, Dallmeier D. Association of blood biomarkers with frailty-A mapping review. Ageing Res Rev. 2025 Jul; 109:102761. PMID: 40318768.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 3/10/2025
Kocar TD, Wolf P, Leinert C, Brefka S, Fotteler ML, Uihlein A, Wezel F, Wehling M, Rahbari N, Kestler H, Gebhard F, Dallmeier D, Denkinger M. SURGE-ahead postoperative delirium prediction: external validation and open-source library. Eur Geriatr Med. 2025 Jun; 16(3):851-859. PMID: 40064822.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 11/18/2024
Dallmeier D, Braisch J, Denkinger M, Koenig W, Rothenbacher D. Three-year changes in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin-T and total mortality in older adults. Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 18; 14(1):28412. PMID: 39557882.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 10/1/2024
Olsen PØ, Tully MA, Del Pozo Cruz B, Giné-Garriga M, Coll-Planas L, Roqué M, Rothenbacher D, Dallmeier D, Sansano-Nadal O, Blackburn NE, Wilson JJ, Skjødt M, Caserotti P. Effects of exercise referral schemes enhanced with behavioural self-management strategies on functional capacity and self-reported disability in community-dwelling older adults. Secondary results from the SITLESS multi-country, three-armed randomized controlled trial. Age Ageing. 2024 Oct 01; 53(10). PMID: 39468725.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 9/4/2024
Bahat G, Ribeiro H, Sheppard JP, Bogaerts JMK, Camafort M, Dallmeier D, De Backer T, Desideri G, Olszanecka A, Persu A, Protogerou A, Rajzer M, Virdis A, Ungar A, Weber T, Benetos A. Twelve hot questions in the management of hypertension in patients aged 80+ years and their answers with the help of the 2023 European Society of Hypertension Guidelines. J Hypertens. 2024 Nov 01; 42(11):1837-1847. PMID: 39253803.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 9/3/2024
Just KS, Pott LM, Sommer J, Scholl C, Steffens M, Denkinger MD, Rothenbacher D, Dallmeier D, Stingl JC. Association of Polymorphic Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Pathways with Falls in Multimedicated Older Adults. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2024 Nov; 25(11):105235. PMID: 39236770.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 8/2/2024
Wiegel P, Fotteler ML, Kohn B, Mayer S, Verri FM, Dallmeier D, Denkinger M. Perceived Benefit and Satisfaction With a Tablet Computer and an Emergency Smartwatch by Older Adults and Their Relatives: Prospective Real-World Pilot Study. JMIR Hum Factors. 2024 Aug 02; 11:e53811. PMID: 39104048.
Read At: PubMed
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