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    AGE STRONG

    Welcome! The Age Strong Lab is located at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada. Our research broadly addresses a variety of issues related to aging and late life, mental health, & cognition.

  • Who We Are

    Jessica V Strong, PhD, ABPP

    ​she/her

    I'm a board certified and licensed geropsychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island. I am passionate about working with and serving older adults in both my clinical work and in my research. Clinically, I conduct cognitive assessments for differential dementia diagnoses and provide psychotherapy for mental health issues in late life. I supervise students in the clinical Doctor of Psychology program at UPEI on developing geropsychology competencies.

     

    My primary research interest is in cognition and aging, cognitive reserve, and how musical training and involvement protect against cognitive decline and promote well-being. I also enjoy program development, implementation, and evaluation of services for older adults across settings. More recently, I have been involved in research related to the geriatric workforce and how this pipeline may be impacted by factors including ageism and norms.

    Jodi

    ​she/her

    Jodi is a sixth year student in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology program. She is completing her dissertation on adult children caring for parents with dementia. Specifically, she is interested in how prior relationship quality impacts unmet needs and mental health in adult children caregivers. Jodi completed her clinical residency 2024-2025 in Oshawa, Ontario!

    Warren

    he/him

    Warren is a fifth year student in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology program. He is completing his dissertation on sleep and dreaming in older adults. He completed his clinical residency 2024-2025 in Edmonton, Alberta!

    Vincent

    he/him

    Vincent is a fourth year student in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology program. His dissertation focuses on the neuropsychological underpinnings of reminiscence, building on work he did for his undergraduate honours thesis. Vincent is applying to complete his clinical residency in neuropsychology during the 2026-27 year.

    Allison

    she/her

    Allison is a third year student in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology program. She has had a longstanding interest in geriatrics and is completing her dissertation on evaluating a manualized Cognitive Stimulation Therapy group on the acute geriatric psychiatry unit at the local psychiatric hospital. Allison is applying to complete her clinical residency during the 2026-27 year.

    Trishia

    she/her

    Mabuhay! I am a recent grad from UPEI’s Psych program. I’m currently in my journey to gain more experience in the field of mental health both in work and education. I’m always happy and grateful to be part of Dr. Strong’s lab team!

    Ashton

    he/him

    I am a third-year Psychology student at UPEI with a passion for neuropsychology, particularly in the prevention and rehabilitation of psychological and neurological illnesses through physical and cognitive health measures. Alongside my academic interests, I work at Lennon Recovery House, where I support Islanders in their addiction recovery journey through peer-based care and psychoeducation sessions.

    Julia

    she/her

    I am entering my fourth year at UPEI as an honours psychology student. I have a strong interest in learning about mental health, research, and the stories of all I meet. I also work with the Alzheimer Society of PEI, where I have developed a deep passion about dementia care that is not just effective, but also compassionate.

    Ashmita

    she/her

    I graduated from UPEI as a psychology major, arts program. I hope to work with families and children in the future in a clinical setting so I'm working towards it at the moment. I'm planning to start my graduate degree in a couple of years so I'm absolutely excited about that.

    Reghan

    she/her

    Fourth year psychology student, second year with Age Strong lab, aspiring occupational therapist... or veterinary technician!

    Alissa

    she/her

    Hello! I am a 3rd year psychology student from Brazil.

    Maddy

    she/her

    Madeleine (Maddy) is a fourth-year honours student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island. Her honours research, supervised by Dr. O’Meara, investigates the relationships between OCD symptom severity, time spent in schooling, and field of study within undergraduate populations. Following graduation, she hopes to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology.

    Bronwen

    she/her

    I am truly passionate about helping those in my community achieve a sense of belonging and fulfillment in their everyday life. As I wrap up my BSc in Psychology at UPEI, I aspire to soon attend a Masters program for counseling so I can continue towards achieving my dream of becoming a behavioural therapist. I love traveling to experience new cultures and ways of life and learning about skills that create a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

    Alison

    she/her

    Alison holds graduate training in Clinical Epidemiology, Mental Health and Addictions, and Occupational Health and Safety. She has contributed to peer-reviewed publications on rural health, medical education, and physician practice patterns, and brings research experience spanning community health, mental health outcomes, and health equity.

    Lab Associates and Collaborators

    Kirsten Graham, PhD

    Kate King, PsyD

    Olive Bryanton, PhD

    Cindy Woolverton, PhD

    William Montelpare, PhD

    Evan Plys, PhD

    Blake Peeples, PhD student

    Lab Alumni

     

    Dr. Emily Jewell, PsyD, Health PEI

    Dr. Rachel Kerzner, PsyD, Health BC

    Clare Murphy (OT, Health PEI)

    Rhiannon McQuaid (PEI School Board)

    Aiping Yu (Law School)

    Ryan Bowley (OT, Health PEI)

    Telimoye Mac-Ikpulu (UPEI PsyD student)

    Lanlan Xin (Master's in Family Studies and Gerontology, MSVU)

    Maria MacLean (employed at Alzheimer Society PEI)

    Kaitlyn Graves (Master's in Applied Psychology, MUN)

    Maria Mullally (Master's in School Psychology, MSVU)

    Martin Herink (UPEI PsyD student)

    Lindsay Campbell (UPEI PsyD student)

  • Current Projects

    Below is a list of ongoing and planned projects

    Alzheimer Society of PEI

    This program evaluation is in collaboration wth the Alzheimer Society of PEI, helping them evaluate their support services through the First Link program. We are working closely with their board to develop the evaluation, and will be sending out surveys and running focus groups through the spring 2026.

    This is DivineAsia's dissertation study.

    Stay tuned!

    The Impact of Music on Aging and Cognition (Impact of MAgiC)

    This is a longitudinal study that follows adults over 60 for 3 years, measuring cognitive, social engagement, physical activity, and musical training. We are interested in how formal musical training is related to cognitive functioning over time and how casual involvement in music is related to quality of life and mood.

    *Aiping analysed the Time 1 data for this study as part of her honour's thesis on age of music acquisition and cognition.

    *Ryan analysed Time 1 and some Time 3 data on physical health and well-being for his honour's thesis.

    We are entering and cleaning data! (no new participants needed)

    Neuropsychological Underpinnings of Reminiscence

    This study examines the relationship between cognitive functioning (memory, language, and executive functions), reminiscence functions, and reminiscence (responding to a prompt).

    This is Vincent's dissertation study. Maria analysed the relationship between cognition and loneliness for her honour's thesis.

    This study has completed data collection and data analysis is underway! (no new participants needed)

    Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Evaluation at Hillsborough Hospital

    This study implemented and evaluated Cognitive Stimulation Therapy on the Acute Geriatric Psychiatry Unit at our local psychiatric hospital.

    This is Allison's dissertation study

    Data collection is completed! We are analysing results

    Dream Content in Older Adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment

    This study examined dream content in older adults living in the community. Participants track their dreams for one month using a dream record form.

    This is Warren's dissertation study.

    We are currently analysing data! No new participants needed

  • Publications and Presentations

    (bolded names are current and former lab members)

    Publications (selected)

    Weissberger, G., Strong, J. V., Stefandis, K., Summers, M., Bondi, M. W., & Stricker, N. H. (2017). Diagnostic accuracy of memory measures in Alzheimer’s dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuropsychology Review, doi:10.1007/s11065-017-9360-6

     

    Strong, J. V. & Mast, B. T. (2018) The Cognitive Functioning of Older Adult Instrumental Musicians and Non-musicians. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2018.1448356

     

    Strong, J. V. & Midden. A. (2018) Cognitive Differences between Older Adult Instrumental Musicians: Benefits of Continuing to Play. Psychology of Music

     

    Deason, R. G., Strong, J. V., Tat, M. J., Simmons-Stern, N. R., & Budson, A. E. (2018). Explicit and Implicit Memory for Music in Healthy Older Adults and Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology

     

    Strong, J. V., Allen, R. S., Tighe, C., Jacobs-Dodson, M. L., Dorman, H., & Mast, B. T. (2019). What geropsychology trainees think geropsychologists do and what we actually do: A Mixed Methods. Gerontology and Geriatrics Education

     

    Strong, J. V., Bamonti, P., Jacobs-Dodson, M. L., & Moye, J. (2019). Capacity assessment training in geropsychology: Creating and evaluating an outpatient capacity clinic to fill a training gap. Gerontology and Geriatrics Education.

     

    Schwartz, A. W., Hawley, C. E., Strong, J. V., Philips, S. C., Amir, O., Ludwin, B. M., Ngoc Phung, E. T., &. Moye, J. A. (2020). A Workshop for Interprofessional Trainees using the Geriatrics 5Ms Framework. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

     

    Strong, J. V., Plys, E., Hartmann, C., Hinrichs, K. & McCullough, M. (2020). Successful strategies for implementing group mental health interventions in a VA Community Living Center. Clinical Gerontologist

     

    Dorman, H., Strong, J. V., Tighe, C., Mast, B. T., & Allen, R. (2021) The Pipeline of Geropsychology: Integration of Clinical and Academic Career Trajectories. The Journal of Clinical Psychology

     

    Strong, J. V., Fonda, J., Grande, L., Milberg, W., McGlinchey, R., & Leritz, E. (2021) Cognitive reserve mediates the relationship between metabolic syndrome and cognitive functioning in middle aged and older adults. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition.

     

    Strong, J. V., Plys, E., Hinrichs, K. L. M., Hartmann, C., & McCullough, M. (2021) Music for your mental health? The development and evaluation of a group mental health intervention in subacute rehabilitation. Aging and Mental Health

     

    Shea, A., Woolverton, C., Biccum, K., Yu, A., & Strong, J. V. Students’ attitudes and intention to work with older adults in the era of COVID-19. The Journal of Gerontopsychology and Geriatric Psychiatry 

     

     

    Poster Presentations

    Galloway, C. & Strong, J. V. (2021). Comparing Working Memory and Verbal Learning in Older Adult Musicians and Non-musicians. Presented at the 73rd Annual Meeting for the Gerontological Society of America

    Inman, M., Murphy, C., & Strong, J. V. (2021). Physical Activity, Social Support, and Mood in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Presented at the 73rd Annual Meeting for the Gerontological Society of America

    Woolverton, C., Biccum, K., Yu, A., Xin, L., & Strong, J. V. (2021).The Impact of Mental Health Stigma and Ageism on Students’ Intention to Work with Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Design. Presented at the 73rd Annual Meeting for the Gerontological Society of America

    Shea, A., Yu, A., & Strong, J. V. (2021). Ageism and Undergraduate Attitudes towards Older Adults during COVID-19. Presented at the 73rd Annual Meeting for the Gerontological Society of America

     

     

  • If you are interested in participating in a study please let us know what study you are interested in, your name and contact information using the link below!

    You can also contact us at strongresearchlab@gmail.com or (902) 566-0941. Please be sure to tell us what study you heard about in addition to the best way to reach you!