Gene E. Alexander

The dynamics of explore-exploit decisions suggest a threshold mechanism for reduced random exploration in older adults

This paper uses a drift diffusion model to show that older adults have higher decision thresholds, which may compensate for lower signal-to-noise ratios, leading to reduced random exploration.

Your Brain Doesn't Look a Day Past 70! Cross-Sectional Associations with Brain-Predicted Age in the Cognitively-Intact Oldest-Old

The paper assesses brain-predicted age differences in cognitively-intact oldest-old adults and finds no association between brain aging and cognitive performance or health history, suggesting high cognitive reserve and survivorship effects.

Functional assessments of short-term spatial memory in the Dog Aging Project identify strong associations with age that are not moderated by body mass

The paper develops two novel spatial memory tests for dogs and finds age-related cognitive decline is consistent across body sizes, suggesting no moderation by body mass.

"Surviving and Thriving": Evidence for Cortical GABA Stabilization in Cognitively-Intact Oldest-Old Adults

The paper examines age-related GABA level changes in cognitively-intact oldest-old adults, finding that GABA decline flattens after age 80, suggesting a link between GABAergic function and successful cognitive aging.

Genome-wide association study of liking of physical activity in the UK Biobank

This study identifies 19 genome-wide significant loci associated with liking of physical activity traits using UK Biobank data and validates findings in twin cohorts.

Larger and more dentated hippocampal structure is associated with better memory in the oldest-old.

The paper examines the relationship between hippocampal structure and episodic memory in oldest-old adults, finding a significant correlation between hippocampal morphology and memory performance.

Genetic insights into the causal relationship between physical activity and cognitive functioning

This study uses Mendelian randomization to show that moderate and vigorous physical activity causally improve cognitive functioning, but not average activity or reverse effects.

Genome-wide association study of habitual physical activity in over 277,000 UK Biobank participants identifies multiple variants including CADM2 and APOE

This study identifies 26 genetic loci associated with physical activity using UK Biobank data, including APOE and CADM2, and finds genetic correlations with educational attainment and psychiatric traits.