Episodes 22-23 | Pediatric Epilepsy – With Dr. Nancy Nussbaum
Part I: https://www.navneuro.com/22
Epilepsy is a broad term used to describe various neurologic conditions that cause seizures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. had approximately 3 million adults and 470,000 children with epilepsy in 2015. Children with epilepsy are more likely to report academic difficulties, experience cognitive impairment, and live in poverty. Today we bring you Part 1 of our conversation with epilepsy expert Nancy Nussbaum, Ph.D., ABPP-CN. We cover a range of topics including the definition of epilepsy, epileptic syndromes and etiologies that are common in childhood, assessment, treatments, outcomes, and much more.
Part II: https://www.navneuro.com/23
We cover a range of topics including the role of a clinical neuropsychologist on an interdisciplinary team, common academic challenges, various treatment options, providing psychoeducation for families, and much more. We also ask Nancy about her experience as President of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN) and advice regarding leadership in the field.
Episode 70 | ADHD, with Dr. Robb Mapou
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, with effects on academic and occupational performance, social relationships, and other aspects of functioning. Neuropsychologists frequently work with both children and adults with ADHD, and understanding the relevant scientific literature is an important part of training and continuing education in our field. In this episode, John and Ryan talk to Dr. Robb Mapou about ADHD, including conversations on developmental course, co-occurring symptoms, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, among other topics.
Episode 68 | Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Neuropsychology – With Dr. Mark Aloia
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder of breathing during sleep. It can lead to both sleep fragmentation and hypoxia, it has a negative impact on cardiovascular functioning, and it is associated with various neurobiological, cognitive, and emotional sequelae. OSA is underdiagnosed in the general population, and even following successful diagnosis the most popular treatment (positive airway pressure [PAP] devices) is not always well tolerated, leading to low treatment adherence. Given that OSA impacts the brain and behavior, that it is underdiagnosed, and that successful intervention requires a significant behavior change (e.g., PAP adherence), neuropsychologists have a significant role to play in this public health issue. In the current episode, John and Ryan speak with Dr. Mark Aloia about various aspects of OSA, including an in-depth discussion of cognitive/emotional effects of the condition, as well as motivational interviewing techniques to improve PAP adherence.
Episode 48 | Neuropsychology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – With Dr. April Thames
The U.S. has the largest annual incidence of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses among high-income nations. This is relevant for neuropsychologists because many individuals with HIV develop a spectrum of cognitive, motor, and/or mood problems collectively known as HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND). In this episode, we talk with April Thames, Ph.D., about cross-cultural considerations and age-related cognitive decline in HIV.
Episode 64 | Spina bifida and hydrocephalus, Christine Koterba
Approximately one in every 2,800 babies are born with spina bifida each year. Spina bifida is related to multiple physical and neurological symptoms including hydrocephalus, which differs from its presentation in older adults. Today, John and Ryan talk with Christine Koterba, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, about spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and how neuropsychologists can contribute to the care of children with these disorders.
Episode 50 | Non-CNS Cancer and Cognition – With Dr. Mike Parsons
The cognitive consequences of non-central nervous system (non-CNS) cancer and cancer-related treatments did not become the subject of scientific investigation until recently and is still a growing area of research. Contemporary studies have made it clear that neuropsychology is an integral part of the evaluation and care of individuals with cancer. Today we talk with Michael Parsons, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, about the evaluation of cognitive change due to cancer and cancer-related treatment, factors that influence cognitive decline in these patients, and how interdisciplinary work can benefit these patients.
Episode 52 | The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) – With Dr. Robert Latzman
Our current nosology of psychopathology relies on a categorical model that has notable limitations. For example, this medical model of classifying mental disorders does not account for the significant heterogeneity of symptom presentations across psychopathology. Today, we speak with Robert Latzman, Ph.D., to discuss the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP), an alternative nosology that uses factor analysis to address the issues with our current diagnostic classification standard.
Episode 63 | COVID-19: The Role of Neuropsychology – With Dr. Chaya Fridman
Emerging research suggests that a sizeable portion of individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19 develop cognitive and psychological sequelae. In our conversation with Dr. Chaya Fridman, a board-certified neuropsychologist at Cornell, we discuss the ways that SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) may lead to neurocognitive impairment, including both direct effects of the virus and secondary factors (e.g., respiratory distress and treatments used in the Intensive Care Unit). We review how the virus gains access to the central nervous system and the potential underlying mechanisms by which it causes an increased risk of stroke and other neurological issues. We also examine the long-term effects of prior coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) to attempt to forecast the long-term effects of COVID-19, with a focus on how neuropsychological practice (both inpatient and outpatient) might be affected.
Episode 62 | Multiple Sclerosis: Cognitive and Emotional Sequelae – with Dr. Peter Arnett
About 50% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibit cognitive deficits in additional to physical symptoms. Depression and fatigue are also common in MS and can be debilitating. Therefore, it is not uncommon for an individual with MS to be referred for neuropsychological evaluation, making it important for neuropsychologists to familiarize themselves with the neurobiological underpinnings and signs and symptoms of MS. Today, John and Ryan talk with Dr. Peter Arnett about the cognitive and emotional symptoms of MS, and how neuropsychology can contribute to the care of patients with MS.
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.