Benjamin Katz

Benjamin Katz is an Associate Professor at Virginia Tech, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and the Department of Human Development and Family Science. He leads the Cognitive Aging and Translational Science Laboratory, focusing on aging, cognitive health, and lifestyle interventions.

• Current faculty member since at least 2024
• Accepting graduate students and recruiting for research team

Research Interests:

• Cognitive aging and neural mechanisms
• Nutrition’s impact on executive function
• ADHD effects in later life
• Ultra-processed foods and cognition
• Neuroimaging of locus coeruleus
• Physical activity and cognitive resilience
• Intergenerational caregiving and cognition

Scientific Focus: His recent publications emphasize hydration, dietary patterns, and physical health metrics in cognitive aging, often utilizing longitudinal datasets like the Health and Retirement Study.

Laboratory: The Cognitive Aging and Translational Science Laboratory investigates interventions to enhance cognitive function in older adults through nutrition, exercise, and neurostimulation techniques.