Alexandra Fiocco

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Director, Stress and Healthy Aging Research (StAR) Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University Professor Faculty of Arts Department of Psychology Toronto, Ontario afiocco@torontomu.ca Office: (416) 979-5000 ext. 553008

Bio/Research

Training Background: Dr. Fiocco’s approach to research is multidisciplinary, incorporating different branches of learning, including psychology, neuroscience, and epidemiology. She obtained a MSc in Psychology with a specialization in Neuroscience from Carleton University in 2002, followed by a P...

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Bio/Research

Training Background: Dr. Fiocco’s approach to research is multidisciplinary, incorporating different branches of learning, including psychology, neuroscience, and epidemiology. She obtained a MSc in Psychology with a specialization in Neuroscience from Carleton University in 2002, followed by a PhD in Neuroscience from McGill University in 2008. Following her doctoral training, she pursued postdoctoral training at the University of California San Francisco in clinical and epidemiological research and completed a second postdoctoral fellowship at Baycrest in Toronto.

Program of Research: Dr. Fiocco’s research interests center around cognitive function, brain health, and emotional wellbeing in late life. Her work examines the biological, psychological, and social factors that determine cognitive function and wellbeing in later adulthood. Dr. Fiocco also examines preventive measures that facilitate healthy aging.

Some specific research questions that are explored in Dr. Fiocco’s lab include:

•What factors are associated with high and low cognitive function in older adults?

•What is the association between biopsychosocial factors, brain activity, and cognitive function?

•How may stress reactivity and allostatic load be modified?

• Do prevention strategies, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, and other lifestyle behavioural changes associate with better cognitive function and other correlates of healthy aging?

•How can we enhance cognitive function and wellbeing among persons living in residential care?

Research Interests: Stress and aging; lifestyle behaviours and their impact on wellbeing; biopsychosocial determinants of health; mindfulness and contemplative practices; group-based interventions.


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