Kathy F. Yates, PhD

I am a licensed psychologist and neuropsychologist with extensive experience in neuropsychological and psychological assessment. I serve as a Co-Investigator on multiple, funded NIH/NIA grants with the role of developing the cognitive and psychological test batteries to address research questions. In addition, I work closely with the testing technicians to ensure that testing sessions are conducted uniformly, in a standardized fashion, and that tests are scored appropriately. I also contribute to the data interpretation, writing, and manuscript preparation for these studies.

Areas of research interest include exploring the impact of obesity and excess weight related illnesses on brain structure and function, as well as intervention studies involving the effect of weight loss on cognition. I am involved in studies assessing the impact of sleep disturbance as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in race/ethnic heterogeneous populations as well as in research in multi-sites involving novel treatment approaches in aMCI individuals. I am also involved in health disparities framework aging studies that examine socio-structural determinants of health among heterogeneous racial/ethnic groups in sleep disturbance and AD outcomes. I have been a funded NIH co-investigator on adolescent and adult studies, both cross-section and longitudinal in nature.

During my career in clinical research, I have mentored several hundred master students, many of whom have completed their PhDs and now work in clinical research or academic settings.

I have years of experience working with cognitively impaired populations, mostly from brain injury and/or severe psychiatric illness, and my expertise with diverse patient/participant populations extrapolates to my expertise in all aspects of clinical research.