Vijeth Iyengar is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center. A cognitive neuroscientist by training, he is currently the director of global aging at AARP where he leads cutting-edge research, drives thought leadership on global aging issues, and cultivates relationships and strategic alliances to promote AARP’s vision for the global 50+ population.

Prior to joining AARP, Iyengar served in a number of roles in the US federal government including as brain health lead and technical advisor to the deputy assistant secretary for aging, as a policy advisor to the fourth US chief technology officer at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, as co-lead coordinator of the older adult working group for the US Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2020/2030 initiative, and as lead author of the 2018-2022 US country report for the Fourth Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing—a process overseen by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

He has co-authored articles appearing in venues including the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, JAMA Health Forum, Pan American Journal of Public Health, Scientific American, STAT News, and theUS National Academy of Medicine.

Among other recognitions, Iyengar was a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow, a US presidential management fellow, selected as an Aspen Ideas Festival health fellow, and a Bronze Telly award winner for work on AARP’s Aging Readiness & Competitiveness Initiative. He serves as an advisor to Ashoka’s New Longevity Initiative, principal member of the Meridian International Center Corporate Council, regional mentor for the Atlantic Fellows Equity in Brain Health Program, and a mentor for the Techstars Future of Longevity Accelerator.

A native of Louisiana, Iyengar was a visiting undergraduate student at Cornell University, received his bachelor’s degree from Tulane University and masters and doctoral degrees from Duke University.