Alan Castel

Dr. Alan Castel is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, specializing in memory, attention, and cognitive aging. Castel's research centers on the psychology of aging, examining how cognition changes with age and the extent to which individuals are aware of their own memory abilities. He earned his doctorate from the University of Toronto and completed a fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis before joining the UCLA faculty. At UCLA, Castel leads the Memory and Lifespan Cognition Lab, which employs laboratory-based tasks, naturalistic observation studies, and structured interviews to investigate changes in memory and attention throughout the lifespan.

Castel has received recognition for his contributions to cognitive psychology and aging research, including the Springer Early Career Achievement Award in Research on Adult Development and Aging from the American Psychological Association and the UCLA Department of Psychology Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award. He was also named a Fulbright Scholar in Israel. His work, supported by the National Institute on Aging, explores not only memory decline but also strategies for individuals of all ages to enhance memory performance. Castel's research includes studies on how goals can motivate and improve memory in both younger and older adults.

In addition to his academic work, Castel is active in science communication. He delivers seminars to community groups and organizations focused on older adults, and his research has been featured in media outlets such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Men's Health, and AARP. Castel has consulted for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. His TEDx talk, "How We Learn As We Age," has reached a global audience, and he lectures internationally on topics related to cognitive aging and memory.

Castel is the author of "Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging," published by Oxford University Press. The book offers an accessible perspective on successful aging, integrating research findings with insights and interviews from older adults, including John Wooden, Maya Angelou, John Glenn, Frank Gehry, Jared Diamond, and Bob Newhart. The book has been featured in Time Magazine, recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the best books on aging well, and received the Living Now Book Award in the Mature Living/Aging category. Through his research, writing, and public speaking, Castel contributes to a broader understanding of cognitive aging, emphasizing that growing older can involve wisdom, focus, and cognitive strength.