Andreana Miquela Benitez

Title
InstitutionMedical University of South Carolina
DepartmentNeurology
AddressP.O. Box MSC 606
Clinical Science Bldg. - 96 Jonathan Lucas St.
Phone843-876-8479
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0002-8294-7809 Additional info
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    Collapse education and training
    Kent State University, Kent, OHPhD08/2010Clinical Psychology/Neuropsychology
    UCLA, Los Angeles, CAPost-doctoral Fellowship10/2011Clinical Neuropsychology
    MUSC, Charleston, SCPost-doctoral Fellowship06/2013Neuroimaging

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    I am a clinical neuropsychologist who conducts patient-oriented research using neuropsychological and MRI methods. I have a PhD in Clinical Psychology/Neuropsychology and both clinical and research post-doctoral training, with both fellowships focused on aging and Alzheimer’s disease. My work over the past 10+ years has focused on developing novel diffusion MRI-based biomarkers of cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease. To do this work I have been supported with KL2 and K23 Career Development Awards and an R01 on preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. I also serve as Co-PI/Co-I on grants to do clinical trials of high-dose, accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for mild cognitive impairment, and observational studies of cannabis use in aging, the association between oral microbial dysbiosis and cognition in aging, and olfaction in aging.
    Collapse keywords
    Aging, Dementia, Geriatrics, Healthy Volunteer Studies, Brain, Memory Loss, Cognition, Alzheimers, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    Collapse research activities and funding
    R01DC019078     (SCHLOSSER, RODNEY JON)Aug 1, 2021 - Jul 31, 2026
    NIH
    Olfactory Dysfunction in Aging Adults
    Role: Co-Investigator
    R01AG055132     (JOSEPH, JANE E)Sep 30, 2017 - Jun 30, 2022
    NIH
    Using connectomics to characterize risk for Alzheimer's Disease
    Role: Co-Investigator
    R01AG054159     (BENITEZ, ANDREANA)Sep 15, 2017 - May 31, 2022
    NIH
    Quantitative Neuroimaging Assessment of White Matter Integrity in the Context of Aging and AD
    Role: Principal Investigator
    K23AG044434     (BENITEZ, ANDREANA)May 1, 2015 - Apr 30, 2021
    NIH
    White Matter Tract Integrity biomarkers of neurodegeneration in aging and MCI
    Role: Principal Investigator

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    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Fountain-Zaragoza S, Liu H, Benitez A. Functional Network Alterations Associated with Cognition in Pre-Clinical Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Connect. 2023 Mar 17. PMID: 36606679.
      Citations:    Fields:    
    2. Fountain-Zaragoza S, Horn O, Thorn KE, Kraal AZ, Benitez A. Validity of Normative Volumetric Estimates from Open Access Software in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 2023; 10(2):236-243. PMID: 36946450.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    3. Moss HG, Benitez A, Jensen JH. Optimized rectification of fiber orientation density function with background threshold. Magn Reson Imaging. 2023 Jan; 95:80-89. PMID: 36368495; PMCID: PMC9695117.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    4. Schlosser RJ, Dubno JR, Eckert MA, Benitez AM, Gregoski M, Ramakrishnan V, Matthews L, Soler ZM, Schlosser RJ, Dubno JR, Eckert MA, Benitez AM, Gregoski M, Ramakrishnan V, Matthews L, Soler ZM. Unsupervised Clustering of Olfactory Phenotypes. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2022 Nov; 36(6):796-803. PMID: 35837713; PMCID: PMC10031609.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. Benitez A, Jensen JH, Thorn K, Dhiman S, Fountain-Zaragoza S, Rieter WJ, Spampinato MV, Hamlett ED, Nietert PJ, Falangola MF, Helpern JA, Benitez A, Jensen JH, Thorn K, Dhiman S, Fountain-Zaragoza S, Rieter WJ, Spampinato MV, Hamlett ED, Nietert PJ, Falangola MF, Helpern JA. Greater Diffusion Restriction in White Matter in Preclinical Alzheimer Disease. Ann Neurol. 2022 06; 91(6):864-877. PMID: 35285067; PMCID: PMC9106903.
      Citations:    
    6. Dhiman S, Fountain-Zaragoza S, Jensen JH, Falangola MF, McKinnon ET, Moss HG, Thorn KE, Rieter WJ, Spampinato MV, Nietert PJ, Helpern JA, Benitez A. Fiber Ball White Matter Modeling Reveals Microstructural Alterations in Healthy Brain Aging. Aging Brain. 2022; 2. PMID: 36324695; PMCID: PMC9624504.
      Citations: 2     
    7. Lench DH, Keith K, Wilson S, Padgett L, Benitez A, Ramakrishnan V, Jensen JH, Bonilha L, Revuelta GJ, Lench DH, Keith K, Wilson S, Padgett L, Benitez A, Ramakrishnan V, Jensen JH, Bonilha L, Revuelta GJ. Neurodegeneration of the Globus Pallidus Internus as a Neural Correlate to Dopa-Response in Freezing of Gait. J Parkinsons Dis. 2022; 12(4):1241-1250. PMID: 35367969.
      Citations:    
    8. Orr RK, Hoehn JL, Col NF, Fountain-Zaragoza S, Braun SE, Horner MD, Benitez A. Comparison of conventional and actuarial neuropsychological criteria for mild cognitive impairment in a clinical setting. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2021 09; 43(7):753-765. PMID: 34962226; PMCID: PMC8881966.
      Citations:    
    9. Luo Z, Fitting S, Robinson C, Benitez A, Li M, Wu Y, Fu X, Amato D, Ning W, Funderburg N, Wang X, Zhou Z, Yu X, Wagner A, Cong X, Xu W, Maas K, Wolf BJ, Huang L, Yu J, Scott A, Mcrae-Clark A, Hamlett ED, Jiang W, Luo Z, Fitting S, Robinson C, Benitez A, Li M, Wu Y, Fu X, Amato D, Ning W, Funderburg N, Wang X, Zhou Z, Yu X, Wagner A, Cong X, Xu W, Maas K, Wolf BJ, Huang L, Yu J, Scott A, Mcrae-Clark A, Hamlett ED, Jiang W. Chronic cannabis smoking-enriched oral pathobiont drives behavioral changes, macrophage infiltration, and increases ?-amyloid protein production in the brain. EBioMedicine. 2021 Dec; 74:103701. PMID: 34826801; PMCID: PMC8626580.
      Citations:    
    10. Li H, Benitez A, Neelon B, Li H, Benitez A, Neelon B. A Bayesian hierarchical change point model with parameter constraints. Stat Methods Med Res. 2021 01; 30(1):316-330. PMID: 32921225; PMCID: PMC8980247.
      Citations:    
    11. Szeles DM, Milano NJ, Moss HJ, Spampinato MV, Jensen JH, Benitez A, Szeles DM, Milano NJ, Moss HJ, Spampinato MV, Jensen JH, Benitez A. Brain Reserve in a Case of Cognitive Resilience to Severe Leukoaraiosis. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2021 01; 27(1):99-108. PMID: 32539895; PMCID: PMC7738360.
      Citations:    
    12. Benitez A, Lauzon S, Nietert PJ, McRae-Clark A, Sherman BJ, Benitez A, Lauzon S, Nietert PJ, McRae-Clark A, Sherman BJ. Self-reported cognition and marijuana use in older adults: Results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions-III. Addict Behav. 2020 09; 108:106437. PMID: 32330763; PMCID: PMC7282995.
      Citations:    
    13. Scott EP, Brennan E, Benitez A, Scott EP, Brennan E, Benitez A. A Systematic Review of the Neurocognitive Effects of Cannabis Use in Older Adults. Curr Addict Rep. 2019 Dec; 6(4):443-455. PMID: 32477850; PMCID: PMC7259587.
      Citations:    
    14. Scott EP, Sorrell A, Benitez A, Scott EP, Sorrell A, Benitez A. Psychometric Properties of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery in Healthy Older Adults: Reliability, Validity, and Agreement with Standard Neuropsychological Tests. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2019 09; 25(8):857-867. PMID: 31256769; PMCID: PMC6733640.
      Citations:    
    15. Benitez A, Jensen JH, Falangola MF, Nietert PJ, Helpern JA, Benitez A, Jensen JH, Falangola MF, Nietert PJ, Helpern JA. Modeling white matter tract integrity in aging with diffusional kurtosis imaging. Neurobiol Aging. 2018 10; 70:265-275. PMID: 30055412; PMCID: PMC6195210.
      Citations:    
    16. Silver CH, Benitez A, Armstrong K, Tussey CM, Silver CH, Benitez A, Armstrong K, Tussey CM. Voices of leadership: wisdom from women leaders in neuropsychology. Clin Neuropsychol. 2018 02; 32(2):252-262. PMID: 29471747.
      Citations:    
    17. Sachs BC, Benitez A, Buelow MT, Gooding A, Schaefer LA, Sim AH, Tussey CM, Shear PK, Sachs BC, Benitez A, Buelow MT, Gooding A, Schaefer LA, Sim AH, Tussey CM, Shear PK. Women's leadership in neuropsychology: historical perspectives, present trends, and future directions. Clin Neuropsychol. 2018 02; 32(2):217-234. PMID: 29376466.
      Citations:    
    18. Bettcher BM, Ard MC, Reed BR, Benitez A, Simmons A, Larson EB, Sonnen JA, Montine TJ, Li G, Keene CD, Crane PK, Mungas D, Bettcher BM, Ard MC, Reed BR, Benitez A, Simmons A, Larson EB, Sonnen JA, Montine TJ, Li G, Keene CD, Crane PK, Mungas D. Association between Cholesterol Exposure and Neuropathological Findings: The ACT Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2017; 59(4):1307-1315. PMID: 28731431; PMCID: PMC5604311.
      Citations:    
    19. Vivot A, Power MC, Glymour MM, Mayeda ER, Benitez A, Spiro A, Manly JJ, Proust-Lima C, Dufouil C, Gross AL, Vivot A, Power MC, Glymour MM, Mayeda ER, Benitez A, Spiro A, Manly JJ, Proust-Lima C, Dufouil C, Gross AL. Jump, Hop, or Skip: Modeling Practice Effects in Studies of Determinants of Cognitive Change in Older Adults. Am J Epidemiol. 2016 Feb 15; 183(4):302-14. PMID: 26825924; PMCID: PMC4753282.
      Citations:    
    20. Gross AL, Benitez A, Shih R, Bangen KJ, Glymour MM, Sachs B, Sisco S, Skinner J, Schneider BC, Manly JJ, Gross AL, Benitez A, Shih R, Bangen KJ, Glymour MM, Sachs B, Sisco S, Skinner J, Schneider BC, Manly JJ. Predictors of Retest Effects in a Longitudinal Study of Cognitive Aging in a Diverse Community-Based Sample. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2015 Aug; 21(7):506-18. PMID: 26527240; PMCID: PMC4783169.
      Citations:    
    21. Bangen KJ, Gu Y, Gross AL, Schneider BC, Skinner JC, Benitez A, Sachs BC, Shih R, Sisco S, Schupf N, Mayeux R, Manly JJ, Luchsinger JA, Bangen KJ, Gu Y, Gross AL, Schneider BC, Skinner JC, Benitez A, Sachs BC, Shih R, Sisco S, Schupf N, Mayeux R, Manly JJ, Luchsinger JA. Relationship Between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cognitive Change in a Multiethnic Elderly Cohort. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015 Jun; 63(6):1075-83. PMID: 26096383; PMCID: PMC4477832.
      Citations:    
    22. Schneider BC, Gross AL, Bangen KJ, Skinner JC, Benitez A, Glymour MM, Sachs BC, Shih RA, Sisco S, Manly JJ, Luchsinger JA, Schneider BC, Gross AL, Bangen KJ, Skinner JC, Benitez A, Glymour MM, Sachs BC, Shih RA, Sisco S, Manly JJ, Luchsinger JA. Association of vascular risk factors with cognition in a multiethnic sample. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2015 Jul; 70(4):532-44. PMID: 24821298; PMCID: PMC4462669.
      Citations:    
    23. Sisco S, Gross AL, Shih RA, Sachs BC, Glymour MM, Bangen KJ, Benitez A, Skinner J, Schneider BC, Manly JJ, Sisco S, Gross AL, Shih RA, Sachs BC, Glymour MM, Bangen KJ, Benitez A, Skinner J, Schneider BC, Manly JJ. The role of early-life educational quality and literacy in explaining racial disparities in cognition in late life. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2015 Jul; 70(4):557-67. PMID: 24584038; PMCID: PMC4462668.
      Citations:    
    24. Benitez A, Hassenstab J, Bangen KJ, Benitez A, Hassenstab J, Bangen KJ. Neuroimaging training among neuropsychologists: a survey of the state of current training and recommendations for trainees. Clin Neuropsychol. 2014; 28(4):600-13. PMID: 24215451; PMCID: PMC4017003.
      Citations:    
    25. Benitez A, Fieremans E, Jensen JH, Falangola MF, Tabesh A, Ferris SH, Helpern JA, Benitez A, Fieremans E, Jensen JH, Falangola MF, Tabesh A, Ferris SH, Helpern JA. White matter tract integrity metrics reflect the vulnerability of late-myelinating tracts in Alzheimer's disease. Neuroimage Clin. 2014; 4:64-71. PMID: 24319654; PMCID: PMC3853114.
      Citations:    
    26. Lee CY, Tabesh A, Benitez A, Helpern JA, Jensen JH, Bonilha L, Lee CY, Tabesh A, Benitez A, Helpern JA, Jensen JH, Bonilha L. Microstructural integrity of early- versus late-myelinating white matter tracts in medial temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2013 Oct; 54(10):1801-9. PMID: 24032670; PMCID: PMC3844560.
      Citations:    
    27. Fieremans E, Benitez A, Jensen JH, Falangola MF, Tabesh A, Deardorff RL, Spampinato MV, Babb JS, Novikov DS, Ferris SH, Helpern JA, Fieremans E, Benitez A, Jensen JH, Falangola MF, Tabesh A, Deardorff RL, Spampinato MV, Babb JS, Novikov DS, Ferris SH, Helpern JA. Novel white matter tract integrity metrics sensitive to Alzheimer disease progression. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2013 Nov-Dec; 34(11):2105-12. PMID: 23764722; PMCID: PMC3962262.
      Citations:    
    28. Alosco ML, Benitez A, Gunstad J, Spitznagel MB, McCaffery JM, McGeary JE, Poppas A, Paul RH, Sweet LH, Cohen RA, Alosco ML, Benitez A, Gunstad J, Spitznagel MB, McCaffery JM, McGeary JE, Poppas A, Paul RH, Sweet LH, Cohen RA. Reduced memory in fat mass and obesity-associated allele carriers among older adults with cardiovascular disease. Psychogeriatrics. 2013 Mar; 13(1):35-40. PMID: 23551410; PMCID: PMC3806216.
      Citations:    
    29. Lindwall M, Cimino CR, Gibbons LE, Mitchell MB, Benitez A, Brown CL, Kennison RF, Shirk SD, Atri A, Robitaille A, Macdonald SW, Zelinski EM, Willis SL, Schaie KW, Johansson B, Praetorius M, Dixon RA, Mungas DM, Hofer SM, Piccinin AM, Lindwall M, Cimino CR, Gibbons LE, Mitchell MB, Benitez A, Brown CL, Kennison RF, Shirk SD, Atri A, Robitaille A, Macdonald SW, Zelinski EM, Willis SL, Schaie KW, Johansson B, Praetorius M, Dixon RA, Mungas DM, Hofer SM, Piccinin AM. Dynamic associations of change in physical activity and change in cognitive function: coordinated analyses of four longitudinal studies. J Aging Res. 2012; 2012:493598. PMID: 23029615; PMCID: PMC3457643.
      Citations:    
    30. Mitchell MB, Cimino CR, Benitez A, Brown CL, Gibbons LE, Kennison RF, Shirk SD, Atri A, Robitaille A, Macdonald SW, Lindwall M, Zelinski EM, Willis SL, Schaie KW, Johansson B, Dixon RA, Mungas DM, Hofer SM, Piccinin AM, Mitchell MB, Cimino CR, Benitez A, Brown CL, Gibbons LE, Kennison RF, Shirk SD, Atri A, Robitaille A, Macdonald SW, Lindwall M, Zelinski EM, Willis SL, Schaie KW, Johansson B, Dixon RA, Mungas DM, Hofer SM, Piccinin AM. Cognitively Stimulating Activities: Effects on Cognition across Four Studies with up to 21 Years of Longitudinal Data. J Aging Res. 2012; 2012:461592. PMID: 23024862; PMCID: PMC3449118.
      Citations:    
    31. Brown CL, Gibbons LE, Kennison RF, Robitaille A, Lindwall M, Mitchell MB, Shirk SD, Atri A, Cimino CR, Benitez A, Macdonald SW, Zelinski EM, Willis SL, Schaie KW, Johansson B, Dixon RA, Mungas DM, Hofer SM, Piccinin AM, Brown CL, Gibbons LE, Kennison RF, Robitaille A, Lindwall M, Mitchell MB, Shirk SD, Atri A, Cimino CR, Benitez A, Macdonald SW, Zelinski EM, Willis SL, Schaie KW, Johansson B, Dixon RA, Mungas DM, Hofer SM, Piccinin AM. Social activity and cognitive functioning over time: a coordinated analysis of four longitudinal studies. J Aging Res. 2012; 2012:287438. PMID: 22991665; PMCID: PMC3444000.
      Citations:    
    32. Keary TA, Gunstad J, Benitez A, Spitznagel MB, McCaffery J, McGeary JE, Poppas A, Paul RH, Sweet LH, Cohen RA, Keary TA, Gunstad J, Benitez A, Spitznagel MB, McCaffery J, McGeary JE, Poppas A, Paul RH, Sweet LH, Cohen RA. TCF7L2 polymorphism and cognitive test performance in cardiovascular disease. Psychogeriatrics. 2012 Jun; 12(2):93-8. PMID: 22712642; PMCID: PMC4289601.
      Citations:    
    33. Benitez A, Gunstad J, Benitez A, Gunstad J. Poor sleep quality diminishes cognitive functioning independent of depression and anxiety in healthy young adults. Clin Neuropsychol. 2012; 26(2):214-23. PMID: 22335237.
      Citations:    
    34. Benitez A, Horner MD, Bachman D, Benitez A, Horner MD, Bachman D. Intact cognition in depressed elderly veterans providing adequate effort. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2011 Apr; 26(3):184-93. PMID: 21278197.
      Citations:    
    35. Spitznagel MB, Benitez A, Updegraff J, Potter V, Alexander T, Glickman E, Gunstad J, Spitznagel MB, Benitez A, Updegraff J, Potter V, Alexander T, Glickman E, Gunstad J. Serum ghrelin is inversely associated with cognitive function in a sample of non-demented elderly. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2010 Dec; 64(6):608-11. PMID: 21029250.
      Citations:    
    36. Benitez A, Gunstad J, Hughes J, Glickman E, Alexander T, Spitznagel MB, Juvancic-Heltzel J, Murray L, Benitez A, Gunstad J, Hughes J, Glickman E, Alexander T, Spitznagel MB, Juvancic-Heltzel J, Murray L. Troponin and S100 beta are associated with depression in healthy older adults. Aging Ment Health. 2009 Nov; 13(6):894-8. PMID: 19888709.
      Citations:    
    37. Gunstad J, Benitez A, Hoth KF, Spitznagel MB, McCaffery J, McGeary J, Kakos LS, Poppas A, Paul RH, Jefferson AL, Sweet LH, Cohen RA, Gunstad J, Benitez A, Hoth KF, Spitznagel MB, McCaffery J, McGeary J, Kakos LS, Poppas A, Paul RH, Jefferson AL, Sweet LH, Cohen RA. P-selectin 1087G/A polymorphism is associated with neuropsychological test performance in older adults with cardiovascular disease. Stroke. 2009 Sep; 40(9):2969-72. PMID: 19590054; PMCID: PMC2752956.
      Citations:    
    38. Gunstad J, Benitez A, Smith J, Glickman E, Spitznagel MB, Alexander T, Juvancic-Heltzel J, Murray L, Gunstad J, Benitez A, Smith J, Glickman E, Spitznagel MB, Alexander T, Juvancic-Heltzel J, Murray L. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor is associated with cognitive function in healthy older adults. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2008 Sep; 21(3):166-70. PMID: 18503034.
      Citations:    
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