Andrew Bender

Andrew Bender serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Neuroscience Program at Michigan State University. His research focuses on lifespan developmental trajectories for brain health and cognitive functioning, investigating how social, vascular, inflammatory, and genetic factors influence longitudinal changes in brain structure and function.

Dr. Bender's research interests center on understanding why some individuals maintain neural integrity and cognitive abilities well into older age while others experience pronounced declines. His work extensively utilizes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine age-related changes in cerebral gray and white matter and subcortical structures, particularly their relationship to memory performance. A significant methodological component of his research involves validation and optimization of neuroimaging processing methods for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis of white matter pathways, high-resolution imaging of hippocampal subfields, and regional brain volumetry.

His recent publication trends reveal a strong focus on Alzheimer's disease neuropathology classification using clinical and MRI measurements, longitudinal developmental trajectories in hippocampal subfield and memory development, and the application of advanced imaging techniques to understand age-related differences in white matter. His research spans cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging methodology, and the intersection of brain structure with cognitive functioning across the lifespan.

Dr. Bender has contributed to significant collaborative efforts including the Hippocampal Subfields Group, advancing standardized approaches to hippocampal segmentation and analysis.

• Classifying Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology Using Clinical and MRI Measurements (2024)
• Disparities in structural brain imaging in older adults from rural communities (2024)
• Instructing Use of an Effective Strategy Improves Recognition Memory (2023)
• Dynamic modeling of practice effects across the healthy aging-Alzheimer's disease continuum (2022)

His research demonstrates a consistent commitment to understanding the complex interplay between brain structure, cognitive function, and various modifying factors across the human lifespan, with implications for both normal aging and neurodegenerative conditions.