Laura Umfleet

Laura Umfleet, PsyD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She also holds an appointment as Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Dr. Umfleet is actively involved with multiple research centers including the Center for Microbiome Research, Neuroscience Research Center, and Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience (WINS), reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to neurodegenerative research.

Dr. Umfleet's research focuses on neuropsychological aspects of cognitive aging and neurodegeneration. Her work examines mild cognitive impairment (MCI) phenotypes, cerebrovascular reactivity in cognitive decline, and the emerging relationship between gut microbiome and brain health in Alzheimer's disease. She employs advanced neuroimaging techniques and quantitative analysis methods to identify cognitive subtypes and understand the neural correlates of cognitive performance. Her research program bridges clinical neuropsychology with translational neuroscience to develop more precise diagnostic and intervention approaches.

Dr. Umfleet maintains an active grant portfolio as Principal Investigator on multiple studies funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, and other sources. Her current projects investigate neurovascular uncoupling in non-amnestic MCI, the intersection of GLP-1, gut microbiota, and brain connectivity in prodromal Alzheimer's disease, and initiatives to improve neurodegenerative research in Black American populations. She is also a Co-Investigator on NIH-funded studies examining cognitive outcomes in congenital heart disease and neuroimaging biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease.

Her publication record demonstrates expertise in neuropsychological assessment across diverse populations including those with Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and congenital heart disease. Recent publications highlight her work on cerebrovascular reactivity in MCI, cognitive subtyping using graph theory, and the relationship between cognitive reserve and brain structure in different MCI phenotypes.

Dr. Umfleet is board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in Clinical Neuropsychology and maintains active clinical practice alongside her research and teaching responsibilities. She has contributed significantly to the development of neuropsychological assessment tools and methodologies, with numerous publications on test validity, reliability, and clinical application.