Alyssa Gamaldo
Biographic Data
| ID | 3573971 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Alyssa Gamaldo |
| GIVEN NAMES | Alyssa |
| FAMILY NAME | Gamaldo |
| SIGNATURE | GAMALDO A |
| AFFILIATIONS | (Psychological Sciences Section) |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 92 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 68 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 26 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 66 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Racial Discrimination Accelerates Age-Related Increases in Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Among African American Women
These findings suggest that racial discrimination may contribute to the acceleration of age-related changes in sNfL, a biomarker of neurodegeneration. They further indicate that magnitude of increases in sNfL with age may be sensitive to external stressors and so highlight the potential for targeted interventions to mitigate stress-related risks for accelerated sNfL among African American women
Association Between Social Engagement Frequency and the Risk of Depression in South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom
Background Although a greater social engagement is often associated with a reduced risk of depression, longitudinal studies that account for diverse social structures and cultural contexts among middle-aged or older are limited. Methods This study utilized cohort data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (n = 11,174; 2006–2020) in South Korea (KR), the Health and Retirement Study (n = 42,405; 2004–2019) in the United States, and the Englis…
Who declines, who maintains? Trajectories of physical function and the role of social determinants of health in adults aging with physical disability
Objectives This study sought to explore longitudinal trajectories of physical function in middle-aged and older adults living with long-term physical disability and to evaluate the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on physical function over time. Methods This study utilized 3 waves of an existing longitudinal survey on aging and disability, collected over a 2-year span. Participants were adults aged 45 and older with physical disabil…
How does life course exposure to contextual disadvantage accelerate biological aging? The role of psychological symptoms
Objectives Recent research has found that life course exposure to contextual socioeconomic disadvantage may accelerate biological aging, providing key insight into an upstream driver of health disparities. However, questions about the intervening mechanisms remain. We examine the role of psychological symptoms in the direct and indirect relationships between cumulative neighborhood disadvantage and accelerated biological aging. Methods We leverag…
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Prevalence and Disparities Among U.S. Adults
Objectives The purposes of this study are to examine (i) to what extent job loss and food insecurity accounted for racial disparities in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) risk among adults in the United States during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; and (ii) to what extent the COVID-19 vaccination mitigated such risk, especially among older adults. Methods First, we analyzed data from the U.S. Household Pulse Survey to report on…
Edentulism, Social Mobility, and Cognitive Aging
Objectives While edentulism and social mobility have each been linked to cognitive decline, few studies have examined their joint effects or how these relationships vary across age groups. This study investigated the independent and joint effects of edentulism and intergenerational social mobility on cognitive function, with a focus on age-specific patterns. Methods We analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2020), including 23,1…
Patterns of Perceived Control That Buffer Against Cognitive Decline in Midlife and Old Age
Objectives The relationship between domain-general or global perceptions of control and cognition is well-established. However, little is known about how these domain-general beliefs combine with domain-specific perceptions in central life domains to form multifaceted patterns of control that may buffer against cognitive declines in midlife and old age. Methods We used 9-year data from the Midlife in the United States Study (n = 2,734, Mage = 55 …
Subjective well-being mediates the longitudinal effect of insomnia symptoms on internalizing symptoms in community-dwelling older adults
This study demonstrates that insomnia symptoms exert a longitudinal influence on subsequent internalizing symptoms, but not the opposite, and subjective well-being operates as a mediating variable. Subjective well-being is identified as a modifiable factor that could be strategically targeted to alleviate the adverse effects of insomnia symptoms on internalizing symptoms in older adults
Mental health literacy predicts depression in older adults in China
The interpretable predictive model facilitates a more precise estimation of the risk of depression in older individuals by health care professionals, providing better prevention plans and treatment targets. Additionally, this transparent framework enhances the clarity of the model, making it easier to understand the reliability of the predictions for mental health concerns
The role of life purpose on psychosocial health
Adults in subsidized housing were at higher-than-average risk for poorer mental health. • Low-income adults perceive constraints on accessibility of recreational resources. • Effects of education on health and leisure participation differ by life purpose. • Bayesian estimates show education-purpose interaction on health/leisure perception. • Potential benefits incorporating life purpose in health interventions with low-income older adults. This s…
Diminished Returns of Higher Parental Education on Cognition for Black Adults in Middle and Later Life
OBJECTIVES: Mounting evidence suggests that the protective effects of one's own higher socioeconomic status (SES) on health are diminished among minoritized racial/ethnic groups in the United States. This study extends this area of research to childhood SES and cognition in middle and later life, focusing on the protective effects of higher parental education among non-Hispanic Black and White adults. METHODS: Harmonizing data from individuals ag…
Cognitive Functioning and the Quality of Survey Responses
Social support moderates association between area deprivation index and changes in physical health among adults in the Baltimore Study of Black Aging (BSBA)
Despite the association of neighborhood quality with poorer adult health, limited research has explored the association between neighborhood disadvantage, e.g. Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and older Black adults' health, prospectively. This observational study examined the association between ADI and changes in longitudinal physical health within older Black adults. The analytic sample ( n = 317) included data from waves 1 & 2 of the Baltimore S…
Higher Number of Children Is Associated With Increased Risk of Generalization Deficits in Older African American Women
Generalization tasks may better capture early changes in cognitive performance in older African American women who have had children than standardized neuropsychological assessments. This finding may be explained by the fluctuations in estrogen associated with having children. Future studies should explore how these findings can be applied to protecting cognitive function and preventing Alzheimer's disease in older African American women who have…
Longitudinal Associations Between Multimorbidities and Patient-Reported Quality of Life
These results contribute to the current conversation about the long-term impacts of structural and systemic barriers experienced by minoritized groups. We further discuss the public health implications of multimorbidity in older adulthood
Associations Between Loneliness, Epigenetic Aging, and Multimorbidity Through Older Adulthood
These results suggest that the impact of loneliness on multimorbidity may, in part, operate through DNA methylation. The specific intermediary, physiological mechanisms that are involved will require further research, but EAA measures like GrimAge are promising in helping to understand the health impacts of loneliness
Discrimination and Cognition in Midlife Black Women
Discrimination had unexpected positive associations with learning and attention-based cognitive skills for midlife Black women. Discrimination might enhance vigilance, which could be facilitated by higher levels of emotional support. There is an opportunity for clinical and public health interventions for cognitive health and discrimination focused on Black women to better incorporate emotional support as a coping resource
Cortical Surface Area Profile Mediates Effects of Childhood Disadvantage on Later-Life General Cognitive Ability
Childhood disadvantage may contribute to later-life GCA differences partly by influencing the spatial patterning of cortical SA in a way that deviates from the normative cortical organizational principle
Investigating the Effects of Discrimination Experiences on Everyday Metamemory Accuracy
These findings add to our understanding of how psychosocial stress in the form of daily discrimination experiences may impair metamemory processes contributing to increased subjective cognitive complaints. Future research should consider the contribution of daily experiences of discrimination across the lifespan to poor cognitive outcomes in later life
Socioeconomic Inequalities in Dementia Risk Among a Population-Based Cohort
Adhering to a healthy lifestyle may prevent dementia across all socioeconomic groups, but socioeconomic inequalities in dementia cannot be fully addressed by promoting healthy lifestyles alone. The social determinants of dementia need to be better addressed
Interpersonal, Community, and Societal Stressors Mediate Black–White Memory Disparities
Elements of structural racism may contribute to cognitive disparities via disproportionate stress experiences at multiple contextual levels among Black older adults. Future research should consider multilevel protective factors that buffer against negative impacts of racism on health
Loneliness and Mode of Social Contact in Late Life
Although older adults engage in both in-person and phone contact when they feel lonely, it appears that only in-person contact may reduce loneliness. Digital contact was not widely adopted as a response to momentary loneliness among these older adults. Findings underscore older adults' willingness to maintain regular contact with close ties. Interventions addressing older adults who are lonely may consider innovative approaches to increase in-per…
The Effects of Apoe Alleles, Cognitive Activities, and Social Activities on Cognitive Decline in African Americans
Results replicate prior findings linking APOE4 to cognitive decline and highlight the importance of APOE2 and social activities in delaying cognitive decline in African Americans
Activity Diversity and Well-Being in Daily Life
Divergent patterns were observed in the within-person associations between activity diversity and well-being across participants. Results are discussed in the context of time use and well-being in older age
Subjective–Objective Sleep Discrepancy in a Predominately White and Educated Older Adult Population
In older adults with insomnia, worse working memory may be a contributing factor to sleep discrepancy. Future investigations of underlying neurophysiological factors and consideration of other objective sleep measures (actigraphy) are warranted. Prospective findings may help determine whether sleep discrepancy is a potential marker of future cognitive decline
Perceived neighborhood characteristics predict severity and emotional response to daily stressors
Education Desegregation and Cognitive Change in African American Older Adults
Overall, these findings suggest a slight advantage of desegregated schooling for cognitive performance, but no advantage of desegregated schooling on the rate of cognitive change over time in this sample
Shifting of Cognitive Assessments Between Face-to-Face and Telephone Administration
Differences by mode of administration are apparent in cognitive measurement in older adults, albeit to a small degree in our study, and most pronounced for tests of memory and attention. The importance of accounting for mode differences ultimately depends on one's research question and study sample: not all associations may be affected by mode differences, and such modification may only be apparent among those with lower cognitive functioning
The Effects of Selective Survival on Black Adults’ Cognitive Development
Findings suggest a selective survival effect for inductive reasoning ability among Blacks. With decline evident so early, common cognitive intervention programs targeting adults 65+ may come too late for Blacks, signifying the importance and urgency for early health interventions and public policy designed to promote cognitive reserve
A Preliminary Study of the Correlates of Leisure Interests and Constraints Among Adults Residing in Public Housing
This preliminary study explored the correlates of leisure interests and constraints among 39 adult public housing residents from North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Most preferred activities included walking, volunteering, reading, cards, dining out, travel, movies, and music. Pearson and Spearman correlations revealed significant associations between education quality and leisure interests. Education quantity and quality, pain severity and interfer…
Racial Differences in Self-Reports of Short Sleep Duration in an Urban-Dwelling Environment
Although racial disparities in sleep duration are minimized when the environment is equivalent between blacks and whites, the underlying demographic and health explanations for short sleep durations may vary between whites and blacks
Discrimination and Cognition in Midlife Black Women
Discrimination had unexpected positive associations with learning and attention-based cognitive skills for midlife Black women. Discrimination might enhance vigilance, which could be facilitated by higher levels of emotional support. There is an opportunity for clinical and public health interventions for cognitive health and discrimination focused on Black women to better incorporate emotional support as a coping resource
Direct and Indirect Effects of Socioeconomic Status and Discrimination on Subjective Cognitive Decline
Results of the present study add to a growing literature indicating that living in a racialized society is a central factor in explaining the high risk for dementia among Black Americans. Future research should continue to emphasize the various ways that exposure to racism over the life course effects cognition
Living Well” Trajectories Among Family Caregivers of People With Mild-to-Moderate Dementia in the Ideal Cohort
The findings indicate the importance of prompt identification of, and support for, caregivers at risk of the declining capability to "live well" and may assist in identifying those caregivers who could benefit most from targeted support
Identifying Cognitive Impairment Among Older Participants in a Nationally Representative Internet Panel
The results permit analyses of predictors, correlates, and consequences of cognitive impairment in web surveys where relevant cognitive test and functional abilities items are available. We discuss challenges and caveats that may affect the findings
Cognition and Health in African American Men
Results suggest that lung function is important to consider when examining cognitive function in African American men. Understanding the role of health in cognition and implications for quality of life in this population will be critical as life expectancies increase
Exploring the Within-Person Coupling of Blood Pressure and Cognition in Elders
In this study, we examined the relationship between within-person blood pressure and cognitive functioning. We conducted an analysis on 36 community-dwelling elderly individuals (age range = 60-87 years). Participants measured their blood pressure and completed cognitive tasks (i.e., the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task, the Letter Series test, and the Number Comparison test) twice a day over 60 consecutive days. We observed a significant intera…
Association Between Social Engagement Frequency and the Risk of Depression in South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom
Background Although a greater social engagement is often associated with a reduced risk of depression, longitudinal studies that account for diverse social structures and cultural contexts among middle-aged or older are limited. Methods This study utilized cohort data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (n = 11,174; 2006–2020) in South Korea (KR), the Health and Retirement Study (n = 42,405; 2004–2019) in the United States, and the Englis…
Patterns of Perceived Control That Buffer Against Cognitive Decline in Midlife and Old Age
Objectives The relationship between domain-general or global perceptions of control and cognition is well-established. However, little is known about how these domain-general beliefs combine with domain-specific perceptions in central life domains to form multifaceted patterns of control that may buffer against cognitive declines in midlife and old age. Methods We used 9-year data from the Midlife in the United States Study (n = 2,734, Mage = 55 …
Associations Between Loneliness, Epigenetic Aging, and Multimorbidity Through Older Adulthood
These results suggest that the impact of loneliness on multimorbidity may, in part, operate through DNA methylation. The specific intermediary, physiological mechanisms that are involved will require further research, but EAA measures like GrimAge are promising in helping to understand the health impacts of loneliness
Interpersonal, Community, and Societal Stressors Mediate Black–White Memory Disparities
Elements of structural racism may contribute to cognitive disparities via disproportionate stress experiences at multiple contextual levels among Black older adults. Future research should consider multilevel protective factors that buffer against negative impacts of racism on health
The Effects of Apoe Alleles, Cognitive Activities, and Social Activities on Cognitive Decline in African Americans
Results replicate prior findings linking APOE4 to cognitive decline and highlight the importance of APOE2 and social activities in delaying cognitive decline in African Americans
The Mode Effect of Web-Based Surveying on the 2018 U.S. Health and Retirement Study Measure of Cognitive Functioning
The difference in mode may be nonignorable for many uses of the HRS cognitive measure. In particular, it may require reconsideration of some cutscore-based approaches to identify impairment
Associations of Perceived Stress and Psychological Resilience With Cognition and a Modifiable Dementia Risk Score in Middle-Aged Adults
Higher perceived stress and lower resilience were associated with poorer cognition and a greater burden of modifiable dementia risk factors. Intervention studies are required to determine if lowering stress and building resilience can mitigate cognitive deficits and reduce dementia risk
Associations Between Longitudinal Loneliness, DNA Methylation Age Acceleration, and Cognitive Functioning
Current findings suggest that DNAm biomarkers of aging, particularly GrimAge Accel, have promise for explaining the prospective association between loneliness and cognitive functioning outcomes
More Than Just Race
Differential Associations Between the Area Deprivation Index and Measures of Physical Health for Older Black Adults
The findings suggest that national- and state-level place-based characteristics should be considered along with individual-level factors, which can enrich the scientific understanding of how neighborhood characteristics relate to varying health indicators among older Black adults
Subjective Cognitive Decline Is Associated With Lower Baseline Cognition and Increased Rate of Cognitive Decline
The observed results reveal that older adults with SCD+ have lower baseline cognition and steeper declines in cognition over time compared to SCD-. Older adults with SCD may be aware of subtle cognitive declines that occur over time in global cognition, episodic memory, semantic memory, perceptual speed, visuospatial ability, and working memory compared to those without SCD
Covid-19-Stress Associated With Worse Sleep Quality, Particularly With Increasing Age
These results suggest that at least some aspects of one's well-being may be more susceptible to the negative consequences of stress with increasing age. Our results might be better understood via the strength and vulnerability integration model, which posits that older adults have increased susceptibility to prolonged and unavoidable stress
When I’m 64
Life-span cognitive performance shows a nonlinear pattern, with gradual decline over early and mid-adulthood, followed by a transition in the 60s to notably accelerated, but more variable, decline. Some people show less decline than others, and some cognitive abilities show less within-person decline than others
Exploring the Within-Person Coupling of Blood Pressure and Cognition in Elders
In this study, we examined the relationship between within-person blood pressure and cognitive functioning. We conducted an analysis on 36 community-dwelling elderly individuals (age range = 60-87 years). Participants measured their blood pressure and completed cognitive tasks (i.e., the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task, the Letter Series test, and the Number Comparison test) twice a day over 60 consecutive days. We observed a significant intera…
An Examination of Dedifferentiation in Cognition Among African–American Older Adults
Factor Structure of Cognitive Ability Measures in Older African Americans
Racial Differences in Self-Reports of Short Sleep Duration in an Urban-Dwelling Environment
Although racial disparities in sleep duration are minimized when the environment is equivalent between blacks and whites, the underlying demographic and health explanations for short sleep durations may vary between whites and blacks
Cognition and Health in African American Men
Results suggest that lung function is important to consider when examining cognitive function in African American men. Understanding the role of health in cognition and implications for quality of life in this population will be critical as life expectancies increase
Education Desegregation and Cognitive Change in African American Older Adults
Overall, these findings suggest a slight advantage of desegregated schooling for cognitive performance, but no advantage of desegregated schooling on the rate of cognitive change over time in this sample
Perceived Control Predicts Pulse Pressure in African American Men
These findings suggest that greater belief in one's own efficacy is a protective factor for cardiovascular health among African American men. Future research should examine whether enhancing perceived control can have an appreciable impact on the immense CVD burden in this and other at-risk populations
Daily Fluctuations in Everyday Cognition
These findings demonstrate that within-person performance fluctuations can be observed for everyday cognition tasks, and these fluctuations are consistent with daily changes in basic cognitive abilities
The Association Between Lipoproteins, Disability, and Physical Function Among Older Costa Rican Adults
Lower levels of lipoproteins may suggest worse physical function, but the association may differ by sex
Can Cognitive Speed of Processing Training Improve Everyday Functioning Among Older Adults With Psychometrically Defined Mild Cognitive Impairment
Results indicate that further investigation of cognitive intervention strategies to improve everyday functioning in patients with MCI is warranted
The Association between Subjective Memory Complaints and Sleep within Older African American Adults
Evaluation of sleep may be warranted when older adults, particularly African Americans, communicate concerns regarding their memory. Insufficient sleep may be a useful marker of acute daytime dysfunction and, perhaps, cognitive decline. Given memory problems are the hallmark of dementia, our findings support further evaluation of whether poor sleep can aid in the diagnosis of cognitive impairment
Perceived neighborhood characteristics predict severity and emotional response to daily stressors
Older Black Adults’ Satisfaction and Anxiety Levels After Completing Alternative Versus Traditional Cognitive Batteries
Computer-based cognitive batteries appear to be less intimidating than the commonly used paper-and-pencil neuropsychological tests for Black adults. Thus, these cognitive batteries may be useful tools for monitoring older Blacks' cognitive status
Predicting Control Beliefs in Older Adults
Our findings showed the differentiated antecedents of locus of control and perceived competence, the unique role of sleep self-efficacy, positive affect, and negative affect in understanding antecedents of both, as well as the need to study well-being and cognition antecedents of control beliefs in future studies
Correlates of Life Satisfaction Among Middle-Aged and Older Black Adults
Subjective Age and Late-Life Functional Status
The findings contribute to our understanding of the underlying mechanism through which SA predicts long-term functioning sequelae by underscoring the indirect effect of depressive symptoms. They further indicate the importance of gauging the effects of SNtD on these longitudinal relationships. Present results may further contribute to establishing an integrative model for predicting long-term functional outcomes based on older adults' earlier sub…
When I’m 64
Life-span cognitive performance shows a nonlinear pattern, with gradual decline over early and mid-adulthood, followed by a transition in the 60s to notably accelerated, but more variable, decline. Some people show less decline than others, and some cognitive abilities show less within-person decline than others
Reaction Time Intraindividual Variability Reveals Inhibitory Deficits in Single- and Multiple-Domain Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment
RT IIV may detect subtle differences in inhibition deficits between aMCI subtypes that may not be evident with conventional behavioral measures. Findings support the supplementary use of RT IIV when assessing early executive function deficits
Bidirectional Within- and Between-Person Relations Between Physical Activity and Cognitive Function
The lack of bidirectional within-person relations indicates that shorter time lags may be needed to capture time-ordered within-person relations. The link between higher physical activity at baseline and less decline in episodic memory recall over time may indicate a protective effect of physical activity on episodic memory recall
The Association of Stress, Metabolic Syndrome, and Systemic Inflammation With Neurocognitive Function in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos and Its Sociocultural Ancillary Study
These cross-sectional analyses suggest that stress appraisal, MetS, and systemic inflammation may be targets to reduce neurocognitive dysfunction among Hispanics/Latinos
Depressive Symptoms, Leisure Activity Engagement, and Global Cognition in Non-Hispanic Black and White Older Adults
Depressive symptoms may disproportionately affect cognition among Blacks through a greater negative impact on engagement in cognitively stimulating activities that have been shown to promote cognitive reserve. Additional research is necessary to identify other mechanisms linking depressive symptoms and cognition
The Effects of Selective Survival on Black Adults’ Cognitive Development
Findings suggest a selective survival effect for inductive reasoning ability among Blacks. With decline evident so early, common cognitive intervention programs targeting adults 65+ may come too late for Blacks, signifying the importance and urgency for early health interventions and public policy designed to promote cognitive reserve
Pain and Functional Limitations Among Midlife and Older Canadians
Future research needs to further examine the impact of discrimination on Indigenous peoples' aging process. High rates of discrimination coupled with a greater burden of pain means that Indigenous midlife and older adults may require additional and targeted health and social service resources to age successfully
Prevalence of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Difficulties and Associated Cognitive Predictors Across Racial/Ethnic Groups
Our study supports previous work suggesting that Black older adults are at increased risk for IADL disability. This is the first study we are aware of that examined the association between specific cognitive domains and IADL performance across multiple racial/ethnic groups. Findings indicate that cognitive functioning has similar associations with self-reported IADL disability across diverse groups, and that executive functioning plays a particul…
Change in Episodic Memory With Spousal Loss
Our findings suggest that social networks, social activities, and loneliness are related to levels of cognitive function at the time of spousal loss and that social relationships can buffer negative effects of spousal loss on cognitive function. Implications for future research are discussed
Psychology (84 works) · Medicine (65 works) · Cognition (51 works) · Gerontology (50 works) · Psychiatry (46 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (45 works) · Developmental psychology (40 works) · Clinical Psychology (29 works) · Cognitive psychology (23 works) · Dementia (20 works)