We examine the bidirectional relationship between sleep and cognition in older adults, focusing on how sleep disruption, including insomnia symptoms, altered sleep architecture, and circadian factors, contributes to cognitive vulnerability and trajectories of cognitive change. Our work demonstrates that these relationships are shaped by interacting psychological, physiological, and contextual factors, including anxiety, pain, rurality, physiological arousal, substance use, and subjective-objective sleep discrepancies. Using behavioral, physiological, and neurocognitive approaches, we identify mechanisms linking sleep and cognition and opportunities for targeted prevention and intervention to preserve cognitive health.

We investigate how biological sex, menopausal transition, and interacting behavioral and biological factors influence cognitive aging and risk for neurodegenerative disease. Our work aims to identify sex-specific pathways contributing to cognitive vulnerability and resilience, with a focus on advancing precision approaches to optimize women’s neurocognitive health across midlife and older adulthood.

We evaluate, optimize, and test innovative cognitive interventions designed to preserve and enhance neurocognitive health across diverse and cognitively vulnerable populations. Our work focuses on developing patient-centered approaches that integrate cognitive training with complementary strategies, including music, sleep optimization, and other modifiable health behaviors, to address the unique needs of individuals at risk for cognitive decline. Through personalized, evidence-based interventions, we aim to improve cognitive function, promote resilience, and support healthy brain aging across the lifespan.

COGMUSE-MCI: Adaptive Cognitive Training and Combined Music Listening Intervention for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Funded provided by the Florida High Tech Corridor & USF Research & Innovation Early-Stage Innovation Fund

We are optimizing a novel computerized cognitive training program combined with music listening (COGMUSE, patent pending) for older adults with MCI and insomnia. We will evaluate key stakeholders and target end-user feedback on the intervention and test its impact on several key outcomes including cognition and sleep.  

AI-Driven Insights into Sex Differences in Sleep, Neuroinflammation, Neurocognition, and Neurodegeneration: An ADNI Cohort Analysis

Funded provided by the USF College of Nursing Pilot to Advance Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) Grant Mechanism

This study will leverage the longitudinal, prospective Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset, and evaluate in older adults across the cognitive spectrum, from cognitively healthy individuals to those with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and AD, how sex-specific interactions among sleep, circadian function, and inflammatory/immune markers influence changes in cognition and neurodegeneration.

Research on insomnia, cognition, and sex differences in older adults (RISE-OA) 

Funded provided by the Women in Leadership & Philanthropy, University of South Florida Foundation

This meta-analysis evaluates the current evidence regarding sex differences in the association between sleep disorders [insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea and combined insomnia and sleep apnea (COMISA)] and cognitive function in older adults (aged 60 and up) at baseline and over time, as well as the association between sleep disorders and risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Middle-age Investigation of Variability in Sleep and Pain: Understanding Their Association with Cognitive Change Across Menopause (MID-VISTA)

Funding provided by the Judy Genshaft Women’s Health Collaborative Seed Grant Fund

This study critically advances our work by examining how menopause impacts relationships among modifiable Alzheimer’s disease risk factors (sleep and pain) and cognition in middle-aged women. Middle-aged women aged 44-64 with insomnia and memory complaints completed remote computer assessments at baseline, 3-month follow-up and 6-month follow-up. Data is currently under analysis and manuscripts are in preparation.

Novel Adaptive Cognitive Training in Autistic Adults with Co-Occurring Insomnia (COGMUSE-AUT)

Funding provided by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation
This study aims to address challenges faced by autistic adults in terms of cognition and adaptive functioning, exacerbated by the high prevalence of insomnia (~80%) among this population. Through a mixed-methods approach, we iteratively optimized an adaptive cognitive training program for autistic adults with insomnia (COGMUSE-AUT; Stage-1). We then pilot tested (Stage-2) COGMUSE-AUT in a sample of autistic adults with co-occurring insomnia, assessing its impact on cognition, sleep, and daytime functioning outcomes.  Manuscripts are in preparation.

Metacognitive Awareness of Objective Cognition in Older Adults: Does Insomnia Matter? (MAIN-OA)

Funding provided by the Sleep Research Society Foundation

This study investigated the impact on sleep on subjective and objective measures of cognitive functioning in older adults with and without insomnia (ages 60+).  Manuscripts are in submission.Cognitive Training in Mild Cognitive Impairment (TRAIN-MCI)

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04899089
Funded provided by the University of Missouri School of Medicine TRIUMPH Initiative award mechanism 
We are investigating the effects of computerized cognitive training games on sleep, mental abilities and mood in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and insomnia. We are currently recruiting adults aged 60+ with mild cognitive impairment and trouble sleeping. If eligible, participants will undergo an 8 week at home training program consisting of several weekly sessions of computerized training. The entire study will be completed remotely (online and teleconferencing). Participants will be provided with compensation for completing the study.

Computerized Cognitive Training in Middle-Aged Adults with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Pilot Study (COGMA)

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04421690
Funded provided by the University of Missouri 
We investigated the effects of computerized cognitive training games on anxiety, sleep, and cognition (mental abilities) in middle-aged adults with high levels of anxiety or have been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Eligible participants an 8 week at home training program consisting of several weekly sessions of computerized training. The entire study was completed online/remotely.  Data collection is now complete, and analyses are manuscripts are currently in preparation.

Playing brain games for better sleep and cognition in older adults (PLAY)

Clinical Trials identifier: NCT04282642
Funding provided by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation 
We investigated the effects of computerized games on sleep and cognition in older adults aged 60+ years with insomnia. Eligible participants completed a six week at home training program consisting of several weekly sessions of computerized game playing. Data collection is now complete, and analyses are manuscripts are currently in preparation.

Daily patterns of sleep and cognitive functioning of adults with and without insomnia (DAYPAT)

Funded provided by the University of Missouri
We investigated the associations between mood, affect, vocational, and physical activity factors with daily sleep and cognition patterns in young adults (University of Missouri students ages 18-30) and older adults (ages 60+). We are also examining the influence of various demographic factors (such as age and sex) on these relationships.

Cognition, Anxiety, and Sleep in Middle-aged and Older adults During COVID-19 (CAGES)

Funding provided by the University of Missouri
We are investigating the associations between COVID-19 related psychological factors with sleep, cognition, and other behaviors in middle-aged and older adults in the United States. We are also exploring the impact of demographic factors (such as age and sex) on these relationships. Participants completed an online survey and several online tasks that measured objective cognition/mental abilities. Data collection is now complete. Analyses and manuscripts from the CAGES project are currently in preparation.

Impact of Sleep on Cueing Attention in Older Adults (CUES)

Funding provided by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation 
We investigated the impact of different types of cues (visual and auditory cues) on attention functioning in older adults with and without insomnia (ages 60+).

2026

• Dr. Curtis represented the CASH Lab at the 2026 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in London, UK on July 12! She served as both Co-Chair and Presenter for the Featured Research Session, “Menopause as a Window of Alzheimer's Disease Risk: Neurocognitive Pathways in Women.”

• Welcome to the CASH lab’s newest undergraduate research assistants: Aidan Connors and Devanshi Gollamudi. We are excited to have these students working in the CASH Lab!

• Doctoral Trainee, Natasa Billeci attended the Genomics for Social Scientists Workshop hosted at The University of Michigan. This workshop was designed to help expand her training in genetic and epigenetic approaches to studying reproductive aging, sleep and circadian health, and cognitive aging across the lifespan

• Dr. Ashley Curtis, CASH Lab alumni Dr. Amy Costa, doctoral trainee Natasa Billeci, and graduate research assistant Susan Rodriguez represented the CASH Lab at the 2026 SLEEP Conference in June in Baltimore, Maryland. Congratulations to Dr. Curtis for presenting 2 symposiums. Congratulations to Dr. Costa for presenting her dissertation work on subjective-objective discrepancies in cognition in older adults. Congratulations to Natasa for presenting research on sex differences in spectral signatures of sleep related to cognitive function in older adults, and to Susan for presenting research on sex differences in cognitive rumination and sleep-related autonomic dysregulation in older adults.

• Dr. Curtis was featured in a Fox News Health article where she discussed new research on a common sleep medication and its potential impact on next-day driving impairment. Read the full article here: https://www.foxnews.com/health/people-taking-common-sleep-drug-may-realize-theyre-impaired-drive-study-finds

• Congratulations to Doctoral Trainee, Natasa Billeci, and Graduate Research Assistant, Susan Rodriguez, for receiving multiple awards from the Sleep Research Society. Natasa received the Sleep Research Society First-Time Attendee Award and Grant Writing Workshop Award. Susan received the Sleep Research Society Diversity Travel Award. We are proud to celebrate their national recognition and research achievements!

• Dr. Curtis recently collaborated with colleagues from the University of Missouri (Dr. Miller) on a study published in Addiction! This research examined how real-time memory testing can help predict alcohol-induced blackouts and support harm-reduction strategies. Read the full article here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.70446

• Congratulations to, now former, undergraduate research assistants, Livia Hertel, Manisha Katwal, and Aisia Walden for graduating from USF. We could not be more proud of these young ladies, and we cannot wait to see everything they accomplish!

• New CASH Lab collaborative manuscript published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine! Congratulations to Dr. Curtis and SHINE Science and University of Missouri colleagues on the publication which examines how brain structure may influence the relationship between sleep and pain in individuals with fibromyalgia and insomnia. Read the full manuscript here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15402002.2026.2664874

• Congratulations to Graduate Research Assistant, Susan Rodriguez, for competing in the 3MT state competition at the University of Florida!

• Congratulations to Anjali Mukkamalla who received the 2026 OneUSF Undergraduate Research Excellence Award!

• In April, the CASH Lab was well represented at the OneUSF conference by three of our undergraduate students. Congratulations to Gabriella Waldbauer, who presented both a poster and an oral presentation, as well as Mary Degenhardt and Anjali Mukkamalla, who each presented a research poster which highlighted our recent work in cognitive aging, sleep function, physical activity and more!

• Dr. Curtis was featured in a news article by Tom’s Guide, where she shared evidence-based insights on healthy sleep duration, restorative sleep, and their importance for cognitive and overall health. Read the full article here: https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/sleep/no-6-5-hours-isnt-enough-sleep-4-ways-to-sleep-for-longer-starting-from-tonight

• Doctoral trainee Nataša Billeci represented the CASH Lab at the Sigma Creating Healthy Work Environments Conference in Washington, D.C. She presented her research “The Reproductive Cliff: How the Menopause Transition Drives Women’s Brain Aging,” which reveals how the menopausal transition and circadian biology may influence women's brain health and Alzheimer's disease risk. At the conference, she was also nominated for the Sigma Rising Star Award. Congratulations!

• Graduate Student, Susan Rodriguez, was featured in a USF Health article highlighting all of the exciting work that was presented at USF Health Research Day this year. The article showcases how researchers across disciplines are coming together to advance health science and improve patient care. Read the full article here: https://www.usf.edu/health/news/2026/ideas-converge-at-usf-health-research-day.aspx

• In March, the CASH Lab was well represented at USF Health Research Day. Doctoral Trainee Natasa Billeci, Graduate Research Assistant Susan Rodriguez, and undergraduate students Lewis Lopez and Aisia Walden all presented their own posters which showcased our recent work in cognitive aging, sleep function, and more!

• Congratulations to CASH Lab Graduate Research Assistant, Susan Rodriguez, for competing in the 3MT regional competition at Louisiana State University! She presented her thesis “Lingering Anger, Lasting Cardiovascular Strain,” all in just three minutes with one slide.

• New CASH Lab manuscript published in SLEEP! Congratulations to Dr. Curtis on the publication highlighting how day-to-day sleep–cognition dynamics can provide novel insights into brain health and cognitive aging. Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaf326

• Congratulations to Dr. Curtis for receiving an Early Stage-Innovation Fund Grant from the Florida High Tech Corridor and USF Research & Innovation! The will support the project “COGMUSE: Adaptive Cognitive Training and Combined Music Listening Intervention”, to optimize COGMUSE for older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

• Congratulations to Dr. Curtis for receiving a Pilot to Advance Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) Grant from the USF college of nursing! This grant will be used to help support our project “AI-Driven Insights into Sex Differences in Sleep, Neuroinflammation, Neurocognition, and Neurodegeneration: An ADNI Cohort Analysis"

2025

• Congratulations to Dr. Curtis for receiving a Rising Star Award from the Academy of Science, Medicine and Engineering-Florida! She travelled to the University of Central Florida in November to present at the ASEM-FL conference and receive her award.

• Graduate Research Assistant Susan Rodriguez participated in the Great American Teach-In Day! She shared her work experience and passions with students in Hillsborough County to help them explore different career paths down the line.

• Congratulations to undergraduate trainee Lewis Lopez, who participated in the Emerging Nurse Scientist program at USF, and presented his poster “Moderating Impact of Sex and Gastrointestinal Comorbidity on the Relationship between Chronic Pain and Insomnia in Aging Adults.”

• Congratulations to undergraduate trainee Aisia Walden, who participated in the Emerging Nurse Scientist program at USF, and presented her poster “Sleep, Cognition, and Aging: Exploring Sex Differences in the Overlooked Roles of Urinary and Mobility Health.”

• Dr. Curtis and doctoral trainee Natasa Billeci represented the CASH Lab at the 2025 Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting on November 12-15th in Boston, Massachusetts. Congratulations to Dr Curtis for chairing the “Sex Differences in Sleep Health and Aging” Symposium with her talk titled “The Sleep-Heart-Brain Connection: Sex-Specific Modifiable Risk Factors and Cognitive Impact in Mid-to-Late Life,” and presenting in the “Risk and Protective Factors Related to Menopause, Women’s Healthy Aging and Cognition” Symposium with her talk “The Menopausal Mind: How Sleep and Immune Function Shape Cognitive Health.” Congratulations to Natasa Billeci for presenting her poster titled “Rhythm and Rest: Sex, Circadian Preference and Sleep During Aging!”

• Congratulations to CASH Lab Graduate Research Assistant, Susan Rodriguez, for placing 1st in the USF Office of Graduate Studies and Professional Student Council 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition with her thesis “Lingering Anger, Lasting Cardiovascular Strain.” She will be representing USF at both the Statewide Competition at the University of Florida (UF) and the Regional Competition at Louisiana State University (LSU) in the upcoming months!

• Dr. Curtis spoke with WFLA News! In this interview, she discussed the science behind daylight savings time. Watch the interview here: https://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=0c42435c-9b5b-4b7a-aa10-e976f710e9be

• Congratulations to Dr. Curtis on receiving the Arthur Spielman Early Career Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award from the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine!

• Congratulations to CASH Lab’s Emerging Nurse Scientist Fellow, Aisia Walden, on being crowned the 2025 USF Homecoming Queen!

• Dr. Curtis spoke at the USF’s Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Symposium! She was a part of the Health and Wellness Panel, which contributed to an important conversation on Midlife Women’s Health.

• Dr. Curtis virtually presented on the Society Behavioral Sleep Medicine Webinar panel, discussing Menopause, Sleep & Cognition on September 24th.

• Dr. Curtis presented her work “The Sleep- Cognition Connection in Aging: Sex-Specific Moderators and Intervention Targets” at the University of Michigan Sleep Medicine Grand Rounds on September 10th

• Congratulations to Dr. Curtis for receiving the Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Award and the Faculty Excellence in Research & Scholarship Award at the USF College of Nursing Fall Kick-off event!

• Congratulations to Graduate Research Assistant Susan Rodriguez, who successfully defended her master’s thesis this August! Her work titled "Cognitive and Physiological Correlates of Angry and Depressive Rumination: A Comparison Study", explored the cognitive and cardiovascular impacts of several rumination subtypes.

• Welcome to the CASH lab’s newest Emerging Nurse Scientist Fellows: Aisia Walden and Lewis Lopez! We are thrilled to mentor them and have them apart of the CASH Lab team!

• Welcome to the CASH lab’s newest undergraduate research assistants: Anjali Mukkamalla and Gabriella “Bella” Waldbauer. We are excited to have these students working in the CASH Lab!

• In August, Doctoral Trainee Natasa Billeci attended the Genomics for Social Scientists – Epigenetics Workshop at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research! This intensive training combined lectures, discussions, and hands-on experience in analyzing DNA methylation data

• Congratulations to Doctoral Trainee Amy Costa! In July, she successfully defended her dissertation “Eye of the Beholder: Exploring Correlates of Subjective Cognition in Older Adults With and Without Insomnia!” She graduated USF’s PhD program in psychology, with a Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social concentration. Dr. Costa is now working as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh in the T32 Research Training Program in Sleep and Circadian Science.

• Dr. Curtis, doctoral trainee Amy Costa, and graduate research assistant Susan Rodriguez represented the CASH Lab at the 2025 SLEEP conference on June 9th-11th in Seattle, Washington. The lab presented 4 posters (Curtis, Costa, Rodriguez) and 1 oral presentation (Costa)!

2024

• New CASH Lab collaboration paper with CON’s Dr. McCrae and Dr. Stearns just published in Advances in Psychiatry and Behavioral Help: “Tackling insomnia in late life: Roles of age, sex differences, sleep apnea, the menopausal transition, and caregiving.”

• Dr. Curtis presented at the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine annual conference in Chicago, IL, in September.  Her talk “Sex and Modality Specific Considerations for Sleep-Related Attention Bias in Older Adults” was part of the Symposium “Insomnia Unlocked: Optimizing Assessments and Behavioral Interventions."

• Dr. Curtis was featured in FOX Digital News article on Game Show Engagement in Older Adults!

• Congratulations to CASH Lab summer undergraduate trainee Lauren Stuart, who completed the Emerging Nurse Scientist Summer program at USF and presenting her poster “Sex-Specific Contributions of Alcohol Use on Pain and Stress in Mid-to-Late Life”.

• The CASH lab was well-represented at the Annual SLEEP conference in Houston, TX in June.  Congratulations to doctoral student Amy Costa for presenting her poster on “You Don’t Snooze, You Lose (Awareness): Sleep’s Role on Awareness of Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment” and to undergraduate trainee Celestine Sebastian for presenting her poster on “Beat Right, Sleep Tight: Pilot Study of Depression’s Role on Blood Pressure and Sleep in Older Adults with Insomnia”. Congratulations to Dr. Curtis for presenting in the symposium “Beyond the Night: Circadian Rhythms, Sleep and Neurocognitive Health in Aging Adults” and for presenting two posters: “Does XX or XY Mark the Spot: Sex-specific Analysis of Polysomnographic Sleep and Cognition in Older Adults” & “Sleep Sightlines and Soundwaves: Exploring Sex Differences in Sleep-Related Attentional Bias in Older Adults”. 

• Dr. Curtis presented at the Byrd/Neuroscience Institute Seminar Series at USF Health on May 16th! 
  
  

• Dr. Curtis presented on her American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation (AASMF) funded work “Cognitive Exploration of Sleep in Aging: Training and Sex-Specific Insights” at the AASMF Sleep Grand Rounds on May 8th!   
  
  

• Congratulations CASH Lab undergraduate research assistant Celestine Sebastien for receiving a Sleep Research Society Foundation Undergraduate Trainee Travel Scholarship to present her work at the SLEEP conference this June in Houston, TX! 
  
  

• Congratulations CASH Lab MU doctoral trainee Madison Musich for publishing her thesis on how cognition and insomnia status impact sleep discrepancy in older adults in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences! 
  
  

• Congratulations Dr. Curtis on receiving the Valerie D. Riddle, M.D., Award in Health from the Women in Leadership & Philanthropy Faculty Excellence Award Program!  Learn more about her program of research on women, sleep and cognitive health.

• Congratulations CASH Lab MU doctoral trainee Madison Musich for publishing her thesis on how cognition and insomnia status impact sleep discrepancy in older adults in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences! 

• New CASH Lab USF and MU manuscript collaboration published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences!  Check out our work on preliminary effects of American Elderberry Juice for improving aspects of cognition and inflammation in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

• New CASH Lab article evaluating COVID-19 anxiety and sleep in mid-to-late life published in Brain Sciences.

• Congratulations to doctoral trainee Amy Costa and undergraduate student Celestine Sebastien for winning poster awards at the USF Health Research Day!  Amy won the College of Nursing Basic Science/Clinical Research Doctoral award and Celestine won the Best Undergraduate Basic and Clinical Science Award. 

• Congratulations to CASH lab trainees on their presentations at USF Health Research Day! Amy Costa – You Don’t Snooze, You Lose (Awareness): Sleep’s Role on Awareness of Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment.; Celestine Sebastien - Right, Sleep Tight: Pilot Study of Depression’s Role on Blood Pressure and Sleep in Older Adults with Insomnia; Ashlynn Gilbert – Substance Use for a Comfortable Snooze? How Alcohol and Nicotine Affect the Relationship between Stress and Sleep in Middle-Aged and Older Adults; Alvina Nguyen – If You Press Snooze, Do You Lose? Examining Sex Differences in Chronotype and Sleep in Middle-aged and Older Adults; Storm Burton – The Interplay Between Rest and Stress in Women Across the Lifespan. 

2023

• The CASH Lab and McCrae Sleep Research Lab collaborative review article is now published online! “Fibromyalgia and the Brain: What’s Sleep got to do with it?” can be found in Current Sleep Medicine Reports. Read it here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40675-023-00268-3

• Congratulations to Dr. Curtis for receiving the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation Bridge to Success grant! This project “COGMUSE-AUT” will optimize and pilot test a new cognitive training intervention for autistic adults with insomnia.  https://foundation.aasm.org/2023-career-development-grant-recipients-cycle-2/

• Dr. Curtis received a new grant from the Judy Genshaft Women’s Health Collaborative Seed Grant Fund.  This project “MID-VISTA” will be investigating how sleep, pain, and cognitive abilities are related in pre-menopausal, menopausal, and post-menopausal women. Congratulations to Dr. Curtis and USF team: Dr. Christina McCrae, Dr. Melanie Stearns, Dr. Fareeha Hussaini, Dr. Laura Szalacha, Dr. Ellen Daley and Dr. Amy Brown!

• The CASH Lab attended their first Gerontological Society of America conference in Tampa, FL in November 2023.  Congratulations to Dr. Curtis for chairing the “Out of the Medicine Cabinet:  Nonpharmacological Approaches to Improve Cognition and Associated Functions”, for her symposium talks titled “Cognitive Training Approaches to Improve Cognition and Associated Functions in Mid to Late Life”, and “Interactive Role of Sleep and Arousal on Cognition and Brain Structure in Chronic Pain Patients”, and for her poster titled, “Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Novel Multimodal Cognitive Training ‘COGMUSE’ in Older Adults with Insomnia”. Congratulations to Amy Costa for her paper talk, “Anxiety and Memory Complaints in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: The Moderating Role of Physical Activity”!

• Congratulations to Dr. Curtis for presenting at a symposium at the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine conference. She presented on “Sex-specific Patterns of Alcohol Use and Objective Sleep in Older Adults.”

• New manuscript from the CASH Lab by lead author Amy Costa! “Sleep characteristics and pain in middle-aged and older adults: Sex-specific impact of physical and sitting activity” was published in Sleep Medicine. Read it here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389945723003635?via%3Dihub

• New CASH Lab and McCrae Sleep Research Lab collaboration!  Check out our new paper published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine “Preliminary investigation of the interactive role of physiological arousal and insomnia complaints in gray matter volume alterations in chronic widespread pain”. Read it here: https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/abs/10.5664/jcsm.10860

• Welcome to the CASH lab’s newest undergraduate research assistants: Alvina Nguyen, Ashlynn Gilbert, Celestine Sebastian, Indu Parameswaran, and Naomi “Storm” Burton.  We are thrilled to have these bright undergraduate students working in the CASH lab!

• Congratulations to graduate research assistant Amy Costa for being invited to present at the Cognition, Neuroscience, and Social Psychology Colloquia! She presented her work titled, “Metacognitive Awareness of Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults: Does Sleep Matter?”

• New Manuscript from the CASH Lab by lead author Dr. Curtis just published! This study, “Sex as a moderator of the sleep and cognition relationship in middle-aged and older adults: A Preliminary Investigation” was published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine! Read it here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15402002.2023.217729

• Dr. Curtis gave a talk for APA Division 20 Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Special Interest Group in June, 2023.  Her talk was titled, “Cognition in Aging Adults: Sex-Specific Patterns of Associations with Modifiable Risk Factors of Alzheimer’s Disease.”

• Congratulations to graduate research assistant Maddie Musich for successfully defending her masters thesis at the University of Missouri, “Subjective-Objective Sleep Discrepancy in Older Adults with and without Insomnia: Examining the Role of Cognition and Arousal”!

• Congratulations to graduate research assistant Amy Costa and summer medical student Lauren Nowakowski for each receiving the Sleep Research Society Trainee Merit Award for SLEEP 2023!

• The CASH Lab was well represented at the SLEEP 2023 conference in Indianapolis, IN! Congratulations to graduate research assistant Amy Costa for her talk and poster, “Does the Early Bird Get the Worm? Association of Waketime Variability and Metacognition in College Students”, Dr. Curtis on her poster, “Sound vs. Sight: A Modality-Specific Preliminary Investigation of Sleep-Related Attentional Bias in Older Adults”, graduate research assistant Maddie Musich on her poster, “Subjective and Objective Sleep in Older Adults: Does Cognitive Functioning Matter?”, and summer medical student Lauren Nowakowski for her talk and poster, “Power Nap or Cognitive Trap? Role of Age in Associations Between Napping and Cognition”.

• New CASH Lab manuscript published in the Journal of Women’s Health! Congratulations to first author Madison Musich on the publication assessing sex-specific associations between alcohol use, hypertension, and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults. Check it out here: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jwh.2022.0462

• Congratulations to CASH Lab graduate student Amy Costa for being selected as the Distinguished Masters Thesis Award recipient at the University of Missouri for her thesis exploring the moderating impact of sleep on subjective and objective cognitive function. Read the publication here: https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/abs/10.5664/jcsm.10070

• Dr. Curtis participated in the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine Virtual Journal Club panel today alongside Drs. Michelle Dreup and Alaina Tiani.  Great discussion on Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation adherence and efficacy in veterans with comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea.

• Congratulations to CASH Lab graduate trainee Amy Costa (USF) and Madison Musich (University of Missouri) for being selected as Sleep Research Society Foundation Small Research Grant recipients! https://sleepresearchsociety.org/congratulations-to-the-2022-srsf-small-research-grant-recipients/

• Congratulations to graduate research assistant Amy Costa for being invited to speak at the Missouri S&T Psychological Sciences Colloquium in March. Her presentation was titled ‘Paradoxical relationship between subjective and objective cognition: The role of sleep.

• New CASH Lab manuscript published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine journal. We examined sex differences in associations between sleep and cognitive function in older adults. Check it out here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15402002.2023.2177293

• New CASH Lab Manuscript published in Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine! Congratulations to first author Amy Costa for the recent publication evaluating how personality impacts the relationship between subjective and objective cognition. Check it out here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/23337214221146663

• The CASH lab has moved to south to the University of South Florida College of Nursing!

(Selected)

*current or former mentee, first or senior author

Musich*, M., Costa*, A. N., Halder*, P., McCrae, C. S., & Curtis, A. F. (in press). The Role of Rurality on Self-Reported Sleep and Cognition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Preliminary Study. Rural & Remote Health.

Curtis, A. F., Nair, N., McGovney*, K., Stearns, M., Shoemaker, S., DeJonge, H., Craggs, J., & McCrae, C. S. (in press). Neural structural moderation of sleep architecture-pain relationships in fibromyalgia and insomnia: A pilot study. Behavioral Sleep Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2026.2664874

Musich*, M., Curtis, A. F., Ferguson, B. J., Drysdale, D., Thomas, A. L., Greenlief, M., Shenker, J. I., & Beversdorf, D. Q. (2025). Preliminary effects of American Elderberry Juice on cognitive functioning in Mild Cognitive Impairment patients: A secondary analysis of cognitive composite scores in a randomized clinical trial. Antioxidants, 14, 131.https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14020131

Costa*, A. N., Halder*, P., McCrae, C. S., & Curtis, A. F. (2025). City lights, countryside nights: Rurality, anxiety and sleep in mid-to-late life. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 49(2), 101–113. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000280

Musich*, M., Beversdorf, D. Q., McCrae, C. S., & Curtis, A. F. (2024). Subjective-objective sleep discrepancy in a predominately white and educated older adult population: Examining the associations with cognition and insomnia. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. 79(7), gbae074. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbae074

Curtis, A. F., Musich*, M., Costa*, A. N., Gonzales, J., Gonzales, H., Ferguson, B. J., Kille, B., Thomas, A. L., Wei, X., Liu, P., Greenlief, C. M., Shenker, J., & Beversdorf, D. Q. (2024). Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of American elderberry juice for improving cognition and inflammation in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 4352.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms2508435248       

Curtis, A. F., Jagannathan*, S., Musich*, M., Miller, M. B., & McCrae, C. S. (2024). Mid-to-late life anxiety and sleep during initial phase of COVID-19: Age and sex-specific insights to inform future pandemic healthcare. Brain Sciences, 2024, 14, 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14040346

Curtis, A. F., Miller, MB, Costa*, A. N., Musich*, M., & McCrae, C. S. (2024). An overview of sex and gender considerations in sleep and alcohol use. Current Addiction Reports, 11, 316-326. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00539-7

McCrae CS, Curtis A. F., Stearns MA, & Craggs JC. (2023). Fibromyalgia and the Brain: What’s Sleep got to do with it? Current Sleep Medicine Reports, 9, 235-246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40675-023-00268-3

Curtis, A. F., Nair, N., Hayse, B., McGovney*, K., Mikula, C., Halder*, P., Craggs, J. G., Kiselica, A., & McCrae, C. S. (2024). Preliminary Investigation of the Interactive Role of Physiological Arousal and Insomnia in Gray Matter Volume Alterations in Chronic Widespread Pain. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.10860

Costa*, A. N., Coman*, A., Musich*, M., Beversdorf, D. Q., McCrae, C. S., & Curtis, A. F. (2023). Sleep Characteristics and Pain in Middle-aged and Older Adults: Sex-Specific Impact of Physical and Sedentary Activity.  Sleep Medicine, 111, 180-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2023.09.030

McCrae, C. S., Curtis, A. F., Stearns, Nair, N., Golzy, M., Shenker, J., Beversdorf, D. Q., Cottle, A., & Rowe, M. (2023). Development and Initial Evaluation of Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Rural Family Caregivers of People With Dementia (NiteCAPP): Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Aging. 6(1), e45859.

Musich*, M., Costa*, A. N., Salathe*, V., Miller, M. B., & Curtis, A. F. (2023). Sex-Specific contributions of alcohol and hypertension on everyday cognition in middle-aged and older adults. Journal of Women’s Health. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2022.0462

Curtis, A. F., Costa*, A. N., Musich*, M., Schmiedeler*, A., Jagannathan*, S., Connell*, M., Atkinson*, A., Miller, M. B., & McCrae, C. S. (2023). Sex as a moderator of the sleep and cognition relationship in middle-aged and older adults. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2023.2177293

Costa*, A. N., Nowakowski*, L., McCrae, C. S., Cowan, N., & Curtis, A. F. (2023). Objective cognition and subjective memory in middle-aged and older adults: The role of personality. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 9.  https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721422114

Freeman*, L., Sparrow, E., Simenson, A., Miller, M. B., Costa*, A. N., Musich*, M., McCrae, C. S., & Curtis, A. F. (2022). Sex differences in associations between alcohol use and sleep in mid-to-late life. Sleep Medicine, 100, 298-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2022.08.016 

Costa*, A. N., McCrae, C. S., Cowan, N., & Curtis, A. F. (2022). Paradoxical Relationship Between Subjective and Objective Cognition: The Role of Sleep. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 18, 2009-2002. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.10070 

Curtis, A. F., Schmiedeler*, A., Musich*, M., Connell*, M., Miller, M. B., & McCrae, C. S. (2022). COVID-19 related anxiety and cognition in middle-aged and older adults: Examining sex as a moderator.  Psychological Reports. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211064820 

McCrae, C. S., Craggs, J. G., Curtis, A. F., Nair, N., Kay, D., Staud, R., Berry, R. B., & Robinson, M. E. (2022). Neural activation changes following cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with comorbid fibromyalgia and insomnia: A pilot study. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 18, 203–215. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.9540 

Curtis, A. F., Rodgers*, M., Miller, M. B., & McCrae, C. S. (2022). Impact of sex on COVID-19 media exposure, anxiety and perceived risk in middle-aged and older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 34, 51-59.  https://doi.org/10.1177/08982643211025383  

Curtis, A. F., Dzierzewski, J. M., Buman, M. P., Giacobbi, P. R., Roberts, B. L., Aiken-Morgan, A. T., Marsiske, M., & McCrae, C. S. (2021). Preliminary Investigation of Interactive Associations of Sleep and Pain with Cognition in Sedentary Middle-aged and Older Adults. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 17, 233–242. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.8856 

Curtis, A. F., Roth, A. J., Sears, S. F., Conti, J. B., Berry, R. B., Dzierzewski, J. M., & McCrae, C. S. (2020). Associations between Pain, Objective Sleep Efficiency and Cognition in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators. Sleep Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.03.029 

McCrae, C. S., Curtis, A. F., Williams, J., Dautovich, N. D., McNamara, J. P. H., Stripling, A., Dzierzewski, J., Berry, R. B., McCoy, K., & Marsiske, M. (2019). Effects of brief behavioral treatment for insomnia on daily associations between self-reported sleep and objective cognition in older adults.  Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 18 (5), 577-588. https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2019.1632201 

Curtis, A. F., Miller, M. B., Rathinakumar*, H., Robinson, M., Staud, R., Berry, R. B., & McCrae, C. S. (2019). Opioid use, pain intensity, age and sleep architecture in patients with fibromyalgia and insomnia. PAIN, 160:2086–2092. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001600 

Curtis, A. F., Roth, A., Sears, S. F., Conti, J. B., Berry, R. B., Dzierzewski, J. M., Rathinakumar, H.*, & McCrae, C. S. (2018). Cognitive performance in patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs): Associations with objective sleep duration, age and anxiety. Journal of Sleep Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.12810 

Curtis, A. F., Masellis, M., Camicioli, R., Davidson, H., & Tierney, M. C. (2018).  Cognitive profile of non-demented Parkinson’s disease: Meta-analysis of domain and sex- specific deficits. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2018.10.014 

Curtis, A. F., Williams, J. M., McCoy, K., & McCrae, C. S. (2018). Chronic pain, sleep, and cognition in older adults with insomnia: A daily multilevel analysis. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 14,1765–1772. http://dx.doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.7392 

McCrae, C. S., Mundt, J. M., Curtis, A. F., Craggs, J. G., O’Shea, A. M., Staud, R., Berry, R. B., & Perlstein, W. M. (2018). Gray matter changes following cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with comorbid fibromyalgia and insomnia: a pilot study. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 14, 1595-1603. http://dx.doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.7344 

Curtis, A. F., Miller, M. B., Boissoneault, J., Robinson, M., Staud, R., Berry, R. B., & McCrae, C. S. (2018). Discrepancies in sleep diary and actigraphy assessments in adults with fibromyalgia: Associations with opioid dose and age. Journal of Sleep Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.12746 

McCrae, C. S., Curtis, A. F., Williams, J., Dautovich, N. D., McNamara, J. P. H., Stripling, A., Dzierzewski, J., Berry, R. B., McCoy, K., Chan, W. S., & Marsiske, M. (2018). Efficacy of brief behavioral treatment for insomnia in older adults: Examination of sleep, mood, and cognitive outcomes. Sleep Medicine, 51, 153-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2018.05.018 

McLaughlin, P. M., Curtis, A. F., Comrie, J., Branscombe-Caird, L., & S. J. E., Murtha. (2018). The feasibility and potential impact of brain-training games on cognitive and emotional functioning in middle-aged adults. Games for Health Journal, 7, 67-74. https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2017.0032 

Tierney, M. C., Curtis, A. F., Chertkow, H., & Rylett, R. J. (2017). Integrating sex and gender into neurodegeneration research: A six-component strategy. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions, 3, 660-667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trci.2017.10.006 

Curtis, A. F., Turner, G. R., Park, N. W., & Murtha, S. J. E. (2017). Improving visual spatial working memory in younger and older adults: Effects of cross-modal cues. Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition, e-publish ahead of print: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2017.1397096 

Curtis, A. F., Masellis, M., Hsiung, G-Y. R., Moineddin, R., Zhang*, K., Au, B., Millett*, G., Mackenzie, I., Rogaeva, E., & Tierney, M. C. (2017). Sex differences in the prevalence of genetic mutations in FTD and ALS: A meta-analysis. Neurology, 89, 1633-1642. http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000004494   

Ashley Curtis, PhD

Assistant Professor
Director, Cognition, Aging, Sleep and Health (CASH) Lab
MDC Annex Bldg 1407B | ashleycurtis@usf.edu | 813-396-0254 (Teams)