Amber Watts, Ph.D.

Amber Hall
  • Associate Professor
  • ***Dr. Watts will be considering applicants for Fall 2025 admission***
  • University of Kansas, Psychology
She/her/hers

Contact Info

Phone:
785-864-2604
Fraser Hall, Room 426
Lawrence
1415 Jayhawk Blvd
Lawrence, KS 66045

Personal Links

Biography —

The mission of my research is to promote health in midlife and older age. My research projects include studies of the bio-behavioral risk factors for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s Disease, the benefits of physical activity for healthy aging, and women's healthy aging and menopause. Many of my research projects are conducted in cooperation with the KU Alzheimer's Disease Center in Kansas City.

Education —

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

Research —

The topics of my research fall into three main categories: 1) the benefits of physical activity for healthy brain aging and Alzheimer's prevention, 2) the role of biomarkers and genetic risk factors in cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease, 3) women's midlife risk factors for cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease, including menopause.

Research Interests

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

Teaching —

I currently teach Research Methods at the graduate level and Honors in Psychology at the undergraduate level.

Teaching Interests

  • Clinical Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Genetics
  • Biological Foundations of Psychopathology
  • Statistics and Research Methods

Selected Publications —

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. doi: 10.3233/JAD-230066

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

Watts, A., Chalise, P., Hu, H., Hui, D., Pa, J., Andrews, S., Michaelis, E. K., & Swerdlow, R. (2022). A mitochondrial DNA haplogroup defines patterns of five-year cognitive change. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. doi:10.3233/JAD-220298

Ghosal, R., Varma, V. R., Volfson, D., Hillel, I., Urbanek, J., Hausdorff, J. M., Watts, A., & Zipunnikov, V. (2021). Distributional data analysis via quantile functions and its application to modelling digital biomarkers of gait in Alzheimer’s Disease. Biostatistics, kxab041 doi:10.1093/biostatistics/kxab041.

Rhyner, K. T., & Watts, A. (2016). Exercise and depressive symptoms in older adults: A

systematic meta-analytic review. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 24(2), 234-246. DOI:10.1123/japa.2015-0146.

Service —

Board of Directors, Brain Health Training Program, KU Medical Center

Board of Directors, Night of Hope

Director, Undergraduate Honors in Psychology Program

Faculty Advisor, Nu Rho Psi