Arizona State University expert directory

Ross Andel's research examines risk factors for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease, with a focus on work, retirement, and cognitive aging.

A trained gerontologist, Andel’s research focuses on what accelerates—or protects against—cognitive decline as we age, with particular expertise in how work, retirement, and modifiable life experiences shape brain health over time.

He connects everyday life factors to long-term cognitive outcomes, offering insights that are highly relevant to today’s aging workforce, policy conversations and the general public. His additional scientific work spans disaster preparedness, long-term care quality, and broader issues in health and aging.

Internationally recognized, Andel is the Administrative Core Lead for the ASU Roybal Center and is affiliated with institutions in the Czech Republic and Australia. He’s a former Fulbright Distinguished Chair to Australian National University, where he delivered a TED Talk. In 2023, he was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his contributions to understanding cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.