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The Lifespan Development & Clinical Geropsychology Lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding the social dynamics of gene expression for various age-related outcomes, including cognitive functioning, personality, depressive symptomatology, loneliness, and dementia risk. We mainly use quantitative genetic data (“twin and sibling data”) collected longitudinally to carry out our research. However, we have been known to use population-based data (e.g., Midlife Development in the United States, National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, and the Health and Retirement Study) to test our hypotheses. We also focus on the association between social relationships and psychopathology. The following is a list of current research projects in the lab:

1. Sex differences in the genetic and environmental causes of dementia risk
2. Genetic and environmental influences of stressful life events on dementia risk
3. Effects of loneliness on cognitive decline and dementia risk
4. Estimation of latent dementia index scores with nonclinical diagnostic dementia data
5. Development of a group-based intervention for prolonged bereavement
6. Measurement of social pain
7. Temporal dynamics of phenotype-environment correlation as a driver of differentiation of personality, cognition, and affect