Dr. Alexandra Fiocco
Biography
Training Background: Dr. Fiocco’s approach to research is multidisciplinary, incorporating different branches of learning, including psychology, neuroscience, and epidemiology. She obtained a MSc in Psychology with a specialization in Neuroscience from Carleton University in 2002, followed by a PhD in Neuroscience from McGill University in 2008. Following her doctoral training, she pursued postdoctoral training at the University of California San Francisco in clinical and epidemiological research and completed a second postdoctoral fellowship at Baycrest in Toronto.
Program of Research: Dr. Fiocco’s research interests center around cognitive function, brain health, and emotional wellbeing in late life. Her work examines the biological, psychological, and social factors that determine cognitive function and wellbeing in later adulthood. Dr. Fiocco also examines preventive measures that facilitate healthy aging. Some specific research questions that are explored in Dr. Fiocco’s lab include:
- What factors are associated with trajectory in cognitive function in later adulthood?
- How may stress reactivity and allostatic load be modified?
- Do prevention strategies, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, and other lifestyle behavioural changes associate with better cognitive function and other correlates of healthy aging?
Research Interests: Stress and aging; lifestyle behaviours and their impact on wellbeing; biopsychosocial determinants of health; mindfulness and contemplative practices; group-based interventions.
Supervision
Dr. Fiocco supervises clinical and psychological science graduate students and undergraduate thesis students in the Department of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Select Publications (Please see lab website for full publication list)
(* denotes student under my supervision)
Hytman, L.,* Ramana, S.,* Yumna, S.,* Raja Rao Nagaraj, S.,* Ueberholz, R.,* Fiocco, A.J. (2026). Understanding the experiences of older Canadian immigrant women participating in mindfulness training: Qualitative Analysis at Post-intervention and Follow-up. Aging and Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2026.2703106
Hytman, L.,* Amestoy, M., Ueberholz, R.,* & Fiocco, A.J. (2025). Cultural adaptations of mindfulness-based interventions for psychosocial wellbeing in ethno-racial minority populations: A systematic narrative review. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02501-8
Marshall, M.,* Peck, K., Hunter, R.,* Totosy de Zepetnek, J., & Fiocco, A.J. (2024). Revisiting Eysenck: Examining the association between personality and stress reactivity. MDPI Behavioural Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111098
Millett, G.*, Franco, G.*, & Fiocco, A.J. 1 (2024). A mixed-methods feasibility study of a virtual group-based social support program for older adults in residential care. Aging and Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2024.2345776
D’Amico, D.,* Alter, U., & Fiocco, A.J. (2023) Cumulative stress exposure and cognitive function among older adults: The moderating role of a healthy lifestyle. Journals of Gerontology: Series B. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbad116
Fiocco, A.J. & Hytman, L.* (2022). Preliminary evidence for lasting benefits following mindfulness training among family caregivers of persons with neurodegenerative disease. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-02005-3
Obomsawin, A.*, D’Amico, D*., Fiocco, A.J. (2022). The association between Mediterranean diet adherence and allostatic load in older adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 114, 105840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105840