Our lab investigates both the vulnerabilities and strengths that shape the experience of aging. We are particularly interested in the concept of adaptive aging — the psychological, emotional, and cognitive capacities that not only help older adults maintain well-being despite age-related challenges, but in some cases even allow them to outperform younger adults in emotional regulation, perspective-taking, and life satisfaction. Alongside this, we study risk factors for maladaptive outcomes in later life, including suicidal ideation and cognitive decline.

Our work spans multiple domains: examining how interpersonal factors such as perceived burdensomeness contribute to suicide risk; exploring psychological flexibility as a core mechanism of resilience against depression using network analysis; and identifying how cognitive and brain reserve may protect against the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Current studies in this area include:

1) Interpersonal Risk Factors for Suicide in Late Life
2) Psychological Flexibility and Depression in Aging: A Network Perspective
3) Cognitive and Brain Reserve as Protective Factors Against Alzheimer’s Disease