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Randal Lawrence Williams, Psy.D., is a 2025 graduate of the Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, New England

Dissertation Committee:

Katherine Evarts, PsyD, Chairperson

Gina Pasquale, PsyD, Committee Member

Casey Culligan-Benoit, PsyD, Committee Member

Professional headshot of Dr. Randal L. Williams

Dr. Randal Lawrence Joseph Correia Williams

Keywords

Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), cognitive health, dementia prevention, ageism, allostatic load (AL), aging and clinical psychology, stress and coping, thematic analysis

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), the self-perceived decline in cognitive abilities, is recognized as a preclinical marker for neurocognitive disorders (Jessen et al., 2014). Understanding the contextual factors informing SCD experience remains a research priority in this domain. At-risk older adults have heritable markers associated with dementia. Chronic exposure to embedded ageism burdens allostatic load (AL) and exacerbates epigenetic risk for cognitive decline (Levy, 2022; McEwen, 2020; Miller et al., 2021). The current qualitative study explored how ageism shapes the lived experience of SCD among at-risk older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants, all doctoral level clinical practitioners, aged 60 to 79 and analyzed using thematic analysis, guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC). Findings revealed that ageism pervades three ecological domains—intrapersonal, interpersonal, and systemic—­contributing to emotional distress, behavioral restriction, and reduced healthcare engagement. The present study extends the current literature on this topic by identifying ageism as a socio-cultural determinant of perceived cognitive health, shaping the outcome trajectory. The findings underscore the need to address ageism through clinical interventions and systemic reforms. Such strategies to reduce AL burden, through reduction of stigma and promotion of preventive healthcare engagement, may delay or even prevent onset of dementia among at-risk older adults. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and Ohio LINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Comments

ORCID No.: 0009-0000-4593-3339

Dr. Willians on a hike above a lake with pine trees in the background, wearhing a baseball cap, a backpack, and carrying a walking stick

Dr. Randal L. Williams

Bio:

Randal Williams brings a person-centered approach to holistic care, informed by three decades of mindfulness-based education and the study of traditional healing systems. He holds graduate degrees in Religion and Culture (M.A.) and Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.). His doctoral research explored the potential for preventive care among at-risk older adults in the pre-clinical phase of dementia. Randal currently serves as an integrative care behavioral health clinician with Behavioral Health Network (BHN) and as an educator with Canyon Ranch.

Publications

Conference Poster Presentations

  • Williams, R. L. (2023a, November). Exploring subjective cognitive decline and ageism: At-risk older adults’ lived experience [Poster presentation]. Massachusetts Psychological Association (MPA) Annual Conference: Raising the Next Generation—Innovation to Address the Evolving Needs of Youth and the Profession, Norwood, MA.
  • Williams, R. L. (2023b, November). Exploring subjective cognitive decline and ageism: At-risk older adults’ lived experience [Poster presentation]. Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA) 37th Annual Convention, Yale University West Campus, Orange, CT.
  • Ogram Buckley, C., & Williams, R. (2019, April). Jogging your memory: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of exercise interventions on global cognitive functioning in patients with dementia [Poster presentation]. Rhode Island Alzheimer’s Disease Research Conference, Warwick, RI.
  • Ogram Buckley, C., & Williams, R. (2018, October). Jogging your memory: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of exercise interventions on global cognitive functioning in patients with dementia [Poster presentation]. National Academy of Neuropsychology Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
  • Van Patten, R., Williams, R., Greif, T., Britton, K., & Tremont, G. (2018, May). The relationship between SPECT hypoperfusion and neuropsychological performance in mild cognitive impairment [Poster presentation]. Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society, Boston, MA.
  • Rodgers, S., Studeny, J., Gisonno, H., Sklar, M., & Williams, R. (2018, April). Individual differences and moderating factors in mild traumatic brain injury [Poster presentation]. Antioch University: Multicultural Center for Research and Practice, Keene, NH.
  • Williams, R., Alvarez, B., Masseratagah, T., Neizvestnaya, M., Pell, M., & Sklar, M. (2018, March). Mindfulness and heartfulness: Heart rate variability, loving-kindness, and executive function [Poster presentation]. New England Doctoral Student Conference, Nashua, NH.
  • Williams, R. (2017, August). Heart as neural circuit: Convergence of Indian Samkhya and Western psychology systems of cognition [Poster presentation]. American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.

Conference Paper Presentations & Symposia

  • Williams, R. L., & Peterson, R. L. (2019, January). Donald R. Peterson: A complete bibliography. Paper presented at the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP), New Orleans, LA.
  • Peterson, R. L., Defossez, C., Duffield, M., Hoffman, T., Williams, R., & Newman, G. (2019, January). Donald R. Peterson as a disrupter of clinical psychology training. Paper presented at the NCSPP, New Orleans, LA.
  • Rogers, S., Thompson, A., Lambos, K., Maiwald, A., Alvarez, B., Williams, R., & Roysircar, G. (2018, August). Structural oppressions: After Charlottesville and mass traumas. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students, San Francisco, CA.
  • Williams, R. (2018, April). Trauma-informed mindfulness-based yoga practices for women in an urban residential treatment site. In G. Roysircar (Chair), Trauma-informed mindfulness-based yoga practices for women in an urban residential treatment site [Symposium]. Antioch University: Multicultural Center for Research and Practice, Keene, NH.
  • Williams, R. (2017, October). Heart as neural circuit: Indian Samkhya and Western psychology converge on mindfulness. Lecture presented at the Boston University School of Theology, 3rd Annual Religion and Science Conference, Boston, MA.

Submitted Abstracts

  • Lee, A. K., Mandel, N., Popescu, D., Williams, R., Alber, J., & Thompson, L. Dual disclosure of APOE genotyping and amyloid PET results to cognitively normal older adults: A qualitative analysis. Abstract proposal submitted for the 2020 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (pending).

Publications (Selected)

  • Thompson, L., Lee, A. K., Williams, R., Salloway, S., & Alber, J. (2019). P4-375: Subjective cognitive decline before and after APOE and Amyloid PET disclosure in cognitively normal older adults screening for Alzheimer’s disease prevention trials. Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 15, 1444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.4046
  • Ogram Buckley, C., & Williams, R. (2018). Jogging your memory: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of exercise interventions on global cognitive functioning in patients with dementia. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 33(6), 703–794. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acy061.33

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