Current Projects

Generally, our lab focuses on neuropsychological assessment and psychometric properties in older adults. We often integrate technology into our work and work to expand use of neuropsychological services broadly for underserved community members.     

 

Cognition, Everyday Functioning, and Social Determinants of Health in Older Adults

We are exploring predictors of cognitive change in cognitively healthy older adults and individuals with mild cognitive impairment. This includes examining how social and structural factors influence cognitive and brain health among diverse older adult populations. We collaborate with others including Dr. Robert Newton and Dr. Owen Carmichael at Pennington Biomedical Research Center on this work. Some examples of current projects include:

 

  • Evaluating shared norms, beliefs, and values around everyday functioning in Black older adults.
  • Developing and exploring the feasibility of providing cost-free neuropsychological evaluations through a community clinic for
    underserved populations.
  • Examining whether process scores developed and studied primarily in White older adult samples are similarly robust predictors of cognitive impairment among Black and Latino older adults.
  • Exploring how social and structural determinants of health shape cognitive and brain health trajectories in Black and Latino older adults.


Technology and Psychometrics

We conduct studies to both examine the psychometric properties of existing neuropsychological tests as well as to examine these properties for newly developed measures. An emphasis on this work is on using technology in assessment. Examples of current projects include:

 

  • Validating a new iPad-administered auditory measure of cognitive processing speed.
  • Examining practice effects and other psychometric properties of Smartwatch-based measures of neuropsychological functioning.
  • Investigating the feasibility of videoconferencing. tele-neuropsychological assessment with older adults in the community.
  • Examining the feasibility of using artificial intelligence to streamline the development, scoring, and automated reporting of neuropsychological assessments, enhancing access to evaluation across settings.