Winter 2020 Resources

Cultural Variables In Neuropsychological Assessments - materials

Elena Tsoy, Ph.D, Possin Lab & Boon Lead Tee, MD, MSc., ALBA Lab

In this talk, we aim to provide an overview of cultural considerations in cognitive assessment of culturally, racially/ethnically, and linguistically diverse individuals as well as current disparities in neuropsychological practice. We will discuss critical issues in evaluation of cognitive abilities in diverse populations specifically as they relate to the field of neurodegenerative research and clinical practice.

Healthy aging

Cutter Lindbergh, Ph.D., Kramer Lab , Alexandra Apple, Ph.D., Kramer Lab, Breton Asken, Ph.D., Kramer Lab

The goals of this talk are to orient learners to differing trajectories of the brain- and cognitive-aging (e.g. healthy aging vs typical/normative aging vs dementia) with a focus on “healthy aging.” We will discuss genetic and environmental factors that may influence brain aging trajectories, resilience/reserve, and how we study and measure cognition in this population.

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder - materials

Benedetta Milanini, Ph.D., Valcour Lab

Brain and cognitive changes are still described in the setting of HIV despite viral suppression due to antiretroviral therapy. The challenge of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is increasing as patients age. What are the clinical features of HAND? What are the mechanisms of neural injury in HIV? Are people with HIV at increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease? This talk will try to answer these questions and provide an overview of the HIV-focused research at the MAC.

Suggested reading:

1. Operationalizing and evaluating the Frascati criteria for functional decline in diagnosing HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in adults.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31745823

2. Neuroinflammation in treated HIV-positive individuals: A TSPO PET study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26911637

3. Differentiating HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders From Alzheimer's Disease: an Emerging Issue in Geriatric NeuroHIV.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28779301

Behavioral and Emotional characteristics of bvFTD - materials

Fatemeh Noohi, Ph.D., CAN Lab

In this session, we will talk about research in the field of emotion. We will discuss how the socio-emotional behaviors are altered in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and how different methods of assessing emotions in laboratory settings are implemented to characterize these alterations. This session should provide you a basic level of understanding of the neuronal, physiological, and behavioral manifestations of bvFTD.