Layla Santana, a doctoral student in the School of Aging Studies, received the Poster Presentation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences category (including Education) for her poster presentation at the 2026 USF Graduate Student Research Symposium.
Her poster, "Can Social Activity Participation Attenuate Age-Related Cognitive Decline? A 12-Year Longitudinal Analysis," was co-authored with Debra Dobbs, PhD, professor and director of the School of Aging Studies, and Dr. Hongdao Meng, PhD, professor and director of the doctoral program in the School of Aging Studies.
Layla Santana with her poster presentation.
Santana's research explores how staying socially active may help protect against memory loss and cognitive decline as people age. Using data from more than 6,000 adults tracked over 12 years, the study found that individuals who regularly participated in social activities maintained better cognitive function over time. The findings also suggest that increasing social engagement, even later in life, may help slow the rate of cognitive decline.
This work highlights the important role that social connection plays in supporting brain health and underscores the value of programs and policies that encourage social engagement among older adults.
Annually, the Office of Graduate Studies, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, and the Graduate and Professional Student Council host the Graduate Research Symposium to showcase the research of graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and visiting scholars in all disciplines, allowing them to obtain feedback from faculty and peers. The event brings together graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, as well as faculty mentors and judges, in an effort to foster further academic collaboration.