Episode 20 | The Interplay Between Cerebrovascular Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease – With Dr. Adam Brickman
Adam Brickman, Ph.D., returns to discuss the involvement of white matter disease in Alzheimer’s disease progression and clinical presentation. Dr. Brickman discusses his research on the presence of biomarkers of cerebrovascular disease (e.g., white matter hyperintensities), which are present in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Although cerebrovascular disease is traditionally associated with its own unique cognitive profile, Dr. Brickman discusses evidence suggesting that the cognitive deficits and underlying etiologies often commingle and complicate our case conceptualization. Additionally, he proposes the integral role that cerebrovascular disease may play in predicting (and possibly initiating) disease progression and cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.
Episode 19 | Redefining Alzheimer’s Disease: Does Cognition Matter? – With Dr. Adam Brickman
The estimated annual cost of healthcare for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or other dementias is almost $300 billion. In addition to this financial burden, the number of adults aged 65 or older is projected to double and it is expected an estimated 10 million of these individuals will develop AD by 2050. Despite global efforts to understand and ultimately assess, diagnose, and treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD) more effectively, a consensus definition of AD still does not exist. In 2018, the National Institute of Aging – Alzheimer’s Association (NIA-AA) Research Framework recommended that we should shift the definition of AD from a syndrome (i.e., the cognitive/behavioral symptoms that individuals present with) to a purely biological construct, specifically the presence of βamyloid deposition, pathologic tau, and neurodegeneration (the “A/T/N” model). In this episode, we talk with Dr. Adam Brickman about the NIA-AA Research Framework biological definition of AD, the role of vascular contributions, assumptions about the amyloid hypothesis, and implications of not including the clinical syndrome in the diagnosis of AD.
Episode 33 | Neuropsychology 3.0 – With Dr. Robert Bilder
Research has repeatedly demonstrated the benefits of neuropsychological evaluations to patients and their families. However, there is great potential for advancement and improvement in the field. For example, there is growing interest in improving the validity of neuropsychological tests in the assessment and prediction of complex medical conditions using biological, statistical, and informatic techniques. We discuss these issues with Robert “Bob” Bilder, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, a leader in the conceptual and technical evolution of the field. We also discuss the problem of inertia, ecological and physiological validity, item response theory, computerized neuropsychological testing, and the National Neuropsychology Network (NNN).
Episode 30 | The NIH Toolbox – With Dr. Julie Hook
Dr. Hook is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Social Sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and is Product Manager of the NIH Toolbox®. She participates in grant funded research and directs the marketing efforts and strategic direction for the NIH Toolbox. Her interests in test development and combining innovative technologies to assist in neuropsychological assessment has led her to positions in both academia and industry. She was previously an Assistant Professor at Rush University (Chicago, IL) and worked in R & D at Psychological Assessment Resources (PAR; Lutz, FL), both a Project Director and Manager of Quality Assurance. While working in Medical Innovation for Design Interactive, an SBIR-funded human factor engineering company (Orlando, FL), she led a number of innovative DoD grants aimed at incorporating technology (e.g., virtual reality, eye-tracking, and machine learning) into medical practice and training.
Episode 27 | Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury – With Dr. Keith Yeates
We discussed INS leadership and research productivity with Keith Yeates, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, in a previous episode. As the most published investigator of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the world over the last 10 years, he returns today to discuss the prevalence rates and causes, behavioral sequalae, differences in outcomes, and psychosocial interventions for children with TBI. We also discuss symptom rating scales and performance validity tests in the assessment and management of children with TBI, among many other topics.
Episode 40 | The Effect of Opioid Use and Treatment on Cognition With Dr. Monica Rivera Mindt
We brought Monica Rivera Mindt, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, back on the podcast to discuss the cognitive effects of opioid use (both licit and illicit). We discuss the history of the opioid epidemic in the U.S., the neurobiology of opioids, and common treatments for opioid use disorder.
Episode 18 | Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – With Dr. Jeffrey Wozniak
Today we give an overview of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which includes a collection of disorders that occur when a fetus is exposed to alcohol. We discuss this topic with Jeffrey Wozniak, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist with extensive research and clinical experience in FASD.
Episode 10 | Caregiver Burden: Prevalence, Assessment, and Treatment – with Dr. Geoff Tremont
A tremendous amount of stress and anxiety is experienced by caregivers of older adults with dementia. Caregivers often endure both psychological and medical illnesses and there are significant barriers (e.g., caregiver responsibilities) preventing them from attending traditional psychotherapy. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Geoff Tremont, a board-certified neuropsychologist and the developer of a telephone-based intervention that has been shown to enhance the well-being of caregivers.
Episode 39 | Behavioral Interventions for Mild Cognitive Impairment – With Dr. Glenn Smith
Although clinical neuropsychological research tends to focus on assessment and differential diagnosis, a growing contingent of neuropsychologists are attempting to apply their knowledge of neurobiology and cognitive and emotional functioning to pursue interventional neuropsychology. To this end, we speak with Glenn Smith, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, about the cognitive remediation program he has developed to address cognitive and emotional changes associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, the Healthy Action to Benefit Independence of Thinking (HABIT) program. Dr. Smith discusses his view of clinical and research efforts to address MCI, as well as his experience in psychology leadership and supervision of both postdoctoral and predoctoral practicum students.
Episode 09 | Electrical Injuries: Cognitive and Emotional Sequelae – with Dr. Neil Pliskin
Electrical injuries often result in diffuse cognitive symptoms and mood changes. In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of this unique injury with Neil Pliskin, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, former president of APA Div. 40, who has done a significant amount of clinical work and research with this population.