Dr. Alejandra Morlett Paredes is an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). A native of Tijuana, Baja California, Dr. Morlett Paredes focuses her research on understanding the barriers and attitudes of older Latinos toward participating in Alzheimer’s Disease research, particularly studies that involve biomarker procedures. Her personal journey, including her family’s emigration to the U.S. in 2001 greatly influences her commitment to addressing health disparities in underrepresented communities. As the first in her family to pursue higher education, she has navigated numerous challenges, shaping her passion for both scientific research and mentorship.
Dr. Morlett’s interest in Alzheimer’s disease is deeply personal. Her grandfather passed away from complications related to dementia in 2012, and her grandmother was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2019. These family experiences not only strengthened her connection to the field of neurocognitive aging but also fueled her dedication to improving the understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease in Latino populations. The challenges her family faced highlighted the gaps in culturally relevant resources and research for Latino communities, motivating her to focus on bridging these gaps through her work.
Dr. Morlett earned her PhD in Health Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and completed a two-year NIMH T32 research fellowship in geriatric mental health at UCSD, followed by a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in the Study of Latinos – Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA) lab. Her academic path began as an undergraduate at San Diego State University, where she was part of the Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) T34 Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program. This early exposure to research led to an internship at Yale University School of Medicine, resulting in her first scientific publication.
As the principal investigator of the MILPAS Lab, Dr. Morlett leads efforts to increase Latino representation in Alzheimer’s research, aiming to reduce health disparities and improve the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease in underserved communities. In addition to her focus on Alzheimer’s research, Dr. Morlett has contributed to the development of normative data for widely used neuropsychological tests in Latin America, Spain, Italy, and South Africa. Her work has resulted in numerous publications and presentations in the U.S., Mexico, Colombia, and Spain. Through her dedication to inclusivity and advocacy for increased Latino participation in research, she continues to break new ground in cognitive health studies while mentoring the next generation of Latino scientists.
You could be part of the MILPAS lab!
If you are a student interested in joining the MILPAS Lab and contributing to our research on Alzheimer’s Disease and Latino health, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to Dr. Morlett for more information about available opportunities.
Learn more about her current students HERE