Mahtab Zarei
Mahtab Zarei is a PhD candidate in the Health Research Methodology program at McMaster University and a research assistant in the Centre for Integrated Care (CIC). Her research focuses on the nutritional determinants of health, with a particular emphasis on how long-term dietary behaviors influence population health and cognitive decline among older adults.
Mahtab’s experiences as a Registered Dietitian inspired her to look beyond individual food choices and focus on the long-term habits and environments that shape people’s health. She believes that many individuals know what constitutes a healthy diet, yet face environmental and social barriers—such as family eating patterns, food accessibility, equity, and the influence of meal companions—that limit their ability to make sustainable changes. Mahtab is passionate about people-centred care that integrates patients into the design of their dietary plans, recognizing that eating should remain an enjoyable and empowering part of life.
Integrate Care Related/ Research Interests:
Nutritional behavior, people-centered dietary practice, cognitive decline
Current and Ongoing Projects:
Developing a dietary scoring method in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and examining how meal companionship influences cognitive decline in older adults.