Amber Watts, Ph.D.

A. Watts, Ph.D., Professor, photo
  • Professor

Contact Info

Fraser Hall, Room #417
1415 Jayhawk Blvd
Lawrence, KS 66045

Personal Links

Biography —

My research investigates health behaviors and biological processes associated with healthy aging, cognitive aging, & Alzheimer's disease. My current projects focus on menopause and its influence on cognition, brain aging, and Alzheimer's disease risk. My projects are part of the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in Kansas City and the Women's Health Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Lawrence, KS.

Education —

Ph.D. in Gerontology, University of Southern California
M.A. in Experimental Psychology
B.A. in Psychology

Research —

My research falls into four main categories: 1) Biomarkers and genetics in cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease, 2) Physical activity, sleep, and cognitive performance in older adults, 3), Lifestyle interventions for Alzheimer's disease prevention, and 4) Menopause, cognitive function, and Alzheimer's disease risk

Research Interests

  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Aging
  • Physical Activity
  • Health
  • Older Adults
  • Accelerometry
  • Sleep
  • Sedentary Behavior
  • Lifestyle Interventions
  • Neighborhoods

Teaching —

I currently direct the undergraduate Honors in Psychology program (PSYC 460). At the graduate level, I teach Design and Analysis for Developmental Research (PSYC 815) and Biological Foundations (PSYC 961)

Selected Publications —

Honea, R. A., Watts, A. (co-first authors), Donofry, S. D., Molina-Hidalgo, C., Ripperger, H. S., Aghjayan, S. L., Kang, C., Gujral, S., Oberlin, L. E., Grove, G., Huang, H., Sutton, B. P., Burns, J. M., Vidoni, E. D., Kramer, A. F., McAuley, E., Hillman, C. H., Marsland, A. L., Kamboh, M. I., & Erickson, K. I., (2026). Lifespan exposure to hormone therapies and structural brain morphometry in older women. NeuroImage, 121974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121974

Watts, A., Donofry, S., Ripperger, H., Eklund, N. M., Wan, L., Kang, C., Grove, G., Oberlin, L. E., Gujral, S. Vidoni, E. D., Burns, J. M., McAuley, E., Hillman, C. H., Kramer, A., F., Kamboh, M. I., & Erickson, K. I. (2025). Lifetime estrogen exposure and domain-specific cognitive performance: Results from the IGNITE study. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 17, 1524474. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1524474

Watts, A., Lewis, G., McDaniel, M., Muller, E., Hassan, Z., Monroe-Gulick, A., Meister, M., & Honea, R. (under review). Early and Premature Menopause and Brain Health Across the Adult Lifespan: A Scoping Review of Neuroimaging and Neuropathological Outcomes. Manuscript submitted for review. Pre-print available at: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/etyk5_v1

Losinski, G. M., Key, M. N., Vidoni, E. D., Clutton, J., Morris, J. K., Burns, J. M., Watts, A. (2025). Postmenopausal sex differences in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease biomarker risk profiles: An exploratory multimodal neuroimaging study. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1531062

Watts, A., Szabo-Reed, A., Baker, J., Vacek, J., Clutton, J., Mahnken, J., Key, M. N., Vidoni, E. D., & Burns, J. M. (2024). LEAP! Rx: A pragmatic approach to lifestyle medicine prescription. Alzheimer’s and Dementia, 20(12), 8374-8386. PMID: 39376152. (IF: 13.0) https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14265

Watts, A., Haneline, S., Welsh-Bohmer, K. A., Wu, J., Alexander, R., Swerdlow, R.H., Burns, D. K., Saunders, A. M. (2023). TOMM40 ‘523 genotype distinguishes patterns of cognitive improvement for executive function in APOE ε3 homozygotes. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 95(4), 1697-1707. PMID: 37718796. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-230066

Hicks, H., & Watts, A. (2023). Differential effects of chronotype on physical activity and cognitive performance in older adults. Frontiers: Epidemiology, 3, 1029221. PMID: 38455930. https://doi.org/10.3389/fepid.2023.1029221

Selected Presentations —

Velasquez, K., Cloete, E., & Watts, A. (2026, October). Centering majority world voices: A community-led explanatory sequential mixed-method study of menopause in rural Philippines. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of The Menopause Society, San Diego, CA.
Muller, E., Lewis, G., Meister, M., & Watts, A. (2026, October). Factor Structure of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery in Peri- and Recently Post-Menopausal Women. Poster to be presented at the 46th annual conference of National Academy of Neuropsychology, Chicago, IL.
Watts, A., Honea, R., Lewis, G., Muller, E., Morris, J. K., & Wilkins, H. (2026, July). Study design for investigating risk and protective factors for cognitive function in the menopause transition (MenoCog). As part of the Featured Research Session [Curtis, A. F. & Watts, A. (co-chairs & presenters), Barha, C., & McCrae, C. S.] “Menopause as a Window of Alzheimer’s Disease Risk: Neurocognitive Pathways in Women”. Annual meeting of the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), London, United Kingdom.
Watts, A.,Curtis, A. F., Barha, C., Dhanavanthri Muralidhara, S., Ding., L., & Muller, E. (November, 2025). Risk and protective factors related to menopause, women’s healthy aging, and cognition. (Symposium Chair, Discussant). Symposium presented at the Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
Muller, E., Thangwaritorn, P., Perales-Puchalt, J., Meister, M., & Watts, A. (November, 2025). Adverse childhood events are associated with physical, psychological, and cognitive health in menopause. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.

Grants & Other Funded Activity —

2024-2028
A. Watts (Research Project Leader)
Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and NIH Office of the Director (OD)
COBRE title: Leveraging Big Data to Improve Women’s Health
Project title: Risk and Prevention Factors for Cognitive Function in the Menopause Transition
1P20GM152280

2026 - 2027
A. Watts (PI)
Landon Center on Aging
Project title: Establishing the mitochondrial menopause paradigm and its role in Alzheimer's disease risk

2022-2023
A. Watts (PI)
Developing a Representative Cohort to study Midlife Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease
Developmental Award, KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
P30AG035982

2022-2023
A. Watts (PI)
Sex-based disparities in Alzheimer’s disease risk at Midlife
General Research Fund, KU

Service —

  • Co-Director, Brain Behavior and Quantitative Science Doctoral Program
  • Director, Undergraduate Honors in Psychology
  • Board of Directors, Brain Health Training Program, University of Kansas Medical Center

Memberships —

  • Fellow, Gerontological Society of America
  • KU Senior Administrative Fellows (2025-2026)
  • Menopause Society Mentorship Program (2022-2024)
  • KU Public Scholars Trainee (2022)
  • KU Keeler Fellowship (Spring 2021)