Paola Forti was born in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, in 1968. She graduated in Medicine and Surgery “cum laude” in 1993 at the University of Bologna (UNIBO). From UNIBO, she also obtained a Specialist Certification “cum laude” in Geriatric Medicine (1997) and a PhD in Physiopathology and the Biochemistry of Aging (2003).
From 2003 to 2006 she received a Grant Fellowship at the Department of Internal Medicine, Cardioangiology, and Hepatology, UNIBO, for the research project “Amnestic and vascular mild cognitive impairment in the elderly. Diagnosis, natural history, and risk factors”.
From 2006 to January 2021, she was Academic Researcher with assistential activity (a permanent position) at the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC) of UNIBO. From January 18, 2021 she is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the Scientific Disciplinary Sector MED/09 Internal Medicine at DIMEC-UNIBO. She is currently in the medical staff of the Unit of Internal Medicine and Neurovascular and Hepatometabolic Diseases and physician-in-charge for a Geriatric Ambulatory at the University Hospital S. Orsola-Malpighi of Bologna.
Her current teaching activity includes: “Geriatric Medicine” and “Instruments for Fragility Syndrome Screening” at the School of Medicine, “Internal Medicine” at the School of Podiatry, and post-graduate lectures in/on geriatric topics at the School of Specialization in Geriatrics, UNIBO. She also acts as Degree and Post-Degree Thesis Supervisor for students attending the Course of Medicine and Surgery and the School of Specialization in Geriatrics at UNIBO.
Professor Forti has authored 105 full-length articles published in peer reviewed international journals (Scopus H-index, 39; Google Scholar H-index, 49). She has participated in both national and international university research groups. Moreover, as a faculty member, she has regularly been awarded the annual Research Grant from the Focused Fundamental Research of UNIBO.
Her main research interests include:
-Endocrine, metabolic, and nutritional features of longevity, especially as regards their relationships with immune senescence and brain aging.
-Epidemiologic, diagnostic, and prognostic features of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in the elderly Italian population, especially as regards nutritional status, blood inflammatory markers, and vascular risk factors.
-Identification of risk factors for hospital outcomes of elderly patients with acute stroke (both ischemic and hemorrhagic).
Professor Forti is coordinator for the Center of Study and Research on Aging, DIMEC-UNIBO. She is currently in the Scientific Committee of the Italian Geriatric Academy and a member of the Italian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology.
Language skills: Italian (native), English (advanced), and French (basic).
H Index Google Scholar
