Allison Aiello, PhD

  • James S. Jackson Healthy Longevity Professor of Epidemiology (in the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center)
  • Interim Director, Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center

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Overview

Dr. Aiello’s research explores how economic​, psychological, and biological factors shape healthy longevity, cognitive function, and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Her work focuses on how stressful experiences across the life course influence biological aging, particularly immune system aging (immunosenescence), as a key pathway linking stress and health throughout the aging process. As Deputy Director of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), Dr. Aiello led the development of the Add Health Cognitive Assessment, Physical and Sensory Function protocol (“Add CAPS”). Through the integration of digital assessments, Add CAPS has created a landmark US representative neurocognitive dataset of nearly 12,000 participants in early midlife. She also directed the collection of physical and sensory function measures- important early indicators of cognitive decline. Together, these efforts are expanding the nation’s research capacity to understand how biological and social factors shape cognitive aging and dementia risk long before symptoms appear.

Academic Appointments

  • James S. Jackson Healthy Longevity Professor of Epidemiology (in the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center)
  • Interim Director, Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center

Administrative Titles

  • Interim Director, Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • BS, 1995 University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
  • MS, 1998 University of North Carolina, School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
  • PhD, 2003 Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY

Committees, Societies, Councils

Member, Methods Exam Committee, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health

Honors & Awards

2019 Carol J. Rowland Hogue Award for Outstanding Mid-Career Achievement in Epidemiology, from the Society for Epidemiological Research (SER)

2010 Yerby Visiting Associate Professorship, Dept of Epidemiology, Harvard University

2009 John G. Searle Assistant Professorship of Public Health, University of Michigan

2006, 2007 Junior Faculty Training Award, Univ of Michigan Older Americans Independence Center Research Career Development Core, National Institute on Aging

2004 Anna C. Gelman Award for Outstanding Achievement and Promise in the Field of Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health

Research

Research Interests

  • Aging
  • Chronic disease
  • Community Health
  • Genetics
  • Infectious Diseases

Grants

R01 AG087158 (Aiello, Belsky, Handa, MPI)

Testing effects of cash transfers on biological aging and risk for Alzheimer's Disease

R01 AG075719 (Noppert, Aiello, MPI)

Immunosenescence, Socioeconomic Disadvantage, and Dementia in the US Aging Population

U01 AG071450 (Aiello, Hummer, MPI)

National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health): Wave VI Cognition and Early Risk Factors for Dementia Project

7R01 MD013349-06 (Aiello, Harris, MPI)

The Add Health Epigenome Resource: Life course stressors and epigenomic modifications in adulthood

R01 AG066498 (McQueen, Aiello, Harris, Krauter, MPI)

The microbiome and biological aging in the Add Health Study

Selected Publications

1. Aiello AE, Momkus J, Stebbins RC, et al. Risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and cognitive function before middle age in a U.S. representative population-based study. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2025;45:101087. Published 2025 Apr 5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2025.101087

2. Momkus J, Harris KM, Yang YC, Martin CL, Edwards JK, Aiello AE. Life course socioeconomic disadvantage and persistent infection burden: Links to cellular immunosenescence in U.S. young adults. Soc Sci Med. 2025;383:118398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118398

3. Rob FI, Stebbins RC, Momkus J, Martin CL, Harris KM, Aiello AE. Social relationships and immune aging in early midlife: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Brain Behav Immun Health. 2025;45:100993. Published 2025 Apr 12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2025.100993

4. Aiello AE, Mishra AA, Martin CL, et al. Familial Loss of a Loved One and Biological Aging: NIMHD Social Epigenomics Program. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(7):e2421869. Published 2024 Jul 1. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21869

5. Uddin M, Aiello AE, Wildman DE, et al. Epigenetic and immune function profiles associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010;107(20):9470-9475. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0910794107

Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Aiello+AE