Episode 148: Perioperative Cognitive Decline in Older Adults – A Conversation With Dr. Cate Price
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Catherine Price about peri operative cognitive decline (including delirium), particularly in older adults. Various topics are covered, including the frequency of cognitive problems post-surgery, predisposing and precipitating factors for post-surgical cognitive impairments, surgery as a biological stress test for the brain, the mechanisms by which non-CNS surgery can impact cognitive functioning, depth of anesthesia and brain health, the impact of pre-operative cognitive functioning on healthcare decision making before, during, and after surgery, the role of neuropsychology in care for surgical patients, and interventions for perioperative cognitive problems.
Episode 146 | Persistent Symptoms After Concussion – A Conversation with Dr. Noah Silverberg
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Noah Silverberg about persisting symptoms following concussion. The discussion covers prevalence of persistent postconcussive symptoms, risk factors for persisting symptoms, the importance of mental health symptoms and psychological constructs, the relationship between TBI and functional cognitive disorder, assessment, and treatment.
Episode 144 | Financial Decision Making in Older Adults – A Conversation With Dr. Duke Han
In this episode, we discuss various aspects of financial decision making in older adults with Dr. Duke Han. Topics covered include age associated financial vulnerability, risk factors for financial exploitation, specific types of financial exploitation, relationships between cognitive abilities and financial decision making, relevant neuropsychological assessment instruments, declines in financial decision making as a harbinger of Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, socioeconomic and sociocultural factors, the protective effects of financial literacy, advice for clinical neuropsychological evaluations, and prevention/intervention.
Episode 142 | Delirium – A Conversation With Dr. Kirk Stucky
In this episode, we discuss various aspects of delirium with Dr. Kirk Stucky. Topics covered include definitions and terminology, prevalence, risk factors, functional reserve, hypoactive and hyperactive presentations, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis with dementia, mental health symptoms, cognitive assessment, and prevention/intervention.
Episode 138 | Executive Functions in the Developing Brain – A Conversation With Dr. Adele Diamond
This episode is a discussion with Dr. Adele Diamond about executive functions (EFs), with a focus on children and the developing brain. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including models of EFs, three core EFs (inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility), the differential development of EF components during childhood, the ability of early EFs to predict later life outcomes, relationships between EFs and fluid intelligence, assessment of EFs, task impurity, and interventions to improve EFs in children.
Episode 136 | Neuropsychology in India – A Conversation With Dr. Urvashi Shah
This episode is a conversation with Dr. Urvashi Shah about neuropsychology in India. The discussion covers the Indian healthcare system, cultural and religious beliefs/values that impact healthcare, the history of neuropsychology, training in neuropsychology, clinical work and research, cognitive rehabilitation, challenges of neuropsychology in India, available test batteries, and future directions.
Episode 134 | The Neuropsychology of Stroke – With Dr. Ronald Lazar
In this episode, we discuss the neuropsychology of stroke with Dr. Ronald Lazar. Specific topics covered include definitions of cerebrovascular terminology, stroke epidemiology, neurovascular anatomy, neuroimaging techniques, risk factors, health disparities, prognosis, mental health factors, and both acute and long-term treatment strategies.
Episode 132 | Reliable Change – With Dr. Kevin Duff
In this episode, we discuss reliable change with Dr. Kevin Duff. Specific topics covered include the purpose of serial assessment, classical test theory, test retest reliability, an introduction to practice effects, factors that increase or decrease practice effects, the reliable change index, standardized regression-based equations, and clinical factors impacting the interpretation of reliable change data.
Episode 130 | Fundamentals of Neuroanatomy – With Dr. Hal Blumenfeld
In this episode, we discuss big picture conceptual issues related to functional neuroanatomy, with Dr. Hal Blumenfeld. Specific topics covered include the purpose of the neurological exam, the brain as a distributed network, Korbinian Brodmann’s areas, the hierarchical and topographic organization of the brain, horizontal cell layers of the cortex, lateralization, cortical columns, the corticospinal tract, and the frontal lobes.
Episode 128 | Functional Cognitive Disorder – With Dr. Laura McWhirter
This episode is a conversation about functional cognitive disorder (FCD) with Dr. Laura McWhirter. The discussion covers preliminary diagnostic criteria, internal inconsistency, epidemiology, clinical features, differential diagnosis with neurodegenerative diseases, common diagnostic pitfalls, etiology/mechanism, metacognition, subjective cognitive concerns, objective cognitive testing, performance validity, genetics and neurobiology, and pushback against FCD as a diagnosis.