Amber Watts, Ph.D.

Amber Hall
  • Associate Professor

Contact Info

Phone:
785-864-2604
Fraser Hall, Room #417
Lawrence
1415 Jayhawk Blvd
Lawrence, KS 66045

Personal Links

Biography —

The mission of my research is to promote cognitive 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 Research Center in Kansas City.

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 teach Research Methods at the graduate level and the Psychology Honors Thesis course at the undergraduate level.

Teaching Interests

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

Selected Publications —

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., and 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:10.3389/fnagi.2025.1524474

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. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14265

Wiranto, Y., Siengsukon, C., Vidoni, E., Mazzotti, D., Burns, J. M., & Watts, A. (2024). Sex differences in the role of sleep on cognition in older adults. Sleep Advances, 5(1), zpae066. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleepadvances/zpae066

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. 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

Grants & Other Funded Activity —

Current Funding

  • Risk and Protective Factors for Cognitive Function in the Menopause Transition (MenoCog)
  • Leveraging Big Data to Improve Women’s Health, Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), NIH Office of the Director (OD)
  • P20GM152280

Service —

  • Board of Directors, Brain Health Training Program, KU Medical Center
  • Director, Undergraduate Honors in Psychology Program
  • Faculty Advisor, Nu Rho Psi
  • KU Senior Administrative Fellows