Alexandra's research focuses on patient-physician communication and psychological responses to bad news, particularly in the context of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Her most recent projects evaluated 1) whether physicians adopted a patient-centered style when communicating the diagnosis of dementia and 2) how well patients, caregivers, and other professionals comprehend a diagnosis of dementia. Other ongoing research includes a longitudinal assessment of patient and caregiver depression/anxiety after hearing a dementia diagnosis.

Prior to studying at Washington University, Alexandra worked in a research laboratory investigating structural and functional brain changes in Huntington's and Alzheimer's diseases.

Rosas, H.D., Salat, D.H., Lee, S.Y., Zaleta, A.K., Pappu, V., Fischl, B., Greve, D., Hevelone, N., Hersch, S.M. (2008). Cerebral cortex and the clinical expression of Huntington's disease: Complexity and heterogeneity. Brain, 131(4), 1057-1068.

Salat, D.H., Tuch, D.S., van der Kouwe, A.J., Greve, D.N., Pappu, V., Lee, S.Y., Hevelone, N.D., Zaleta, A.K., Growdon, J.H., Corkin, S., Fischl, B., Rosas, H.D. (2010). White matter pathology isolates the hippocampal formation in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of Aging, 31(2), 244-256.

Zaleta, A.K., & Carpenter, B.D. (2010). Patient-centered communication during the disclosure of a dementia diagnosis. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, 25(6), 513-520.

Zaleta, A.K., Carpenter, B.D., Porensky, E.K., Xiong, C., & Morris, J.C. (in press). Agreement about diagnosis among patients, companions, and professionals following a dementia evaluation. Alzheimer’s Disease and Associated Disorders.

Campus Box 1125

One Brookings Drive

Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis, MO 63130

Lab: (314) 935-6173
E-mail: zaleta@wustl.edu