3 minute read
Neuropsychology
by CHeBA
Dr Nicole Kochan and Dr Teresa Lee
Group Leaders
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The Neuropsychology Group is interested in investigating the cognitive changes occurring in the brain with normal ageing, mild neurocognitive syndromes and dementia, and developing the most efficient and accurate methods for measuring cognitive decline.
The group is developing normative data for several cognitive tests and identifying appropriate cognitive instruments for individuals coming from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. A major project - the CogSCAN Study is evaluating the reliability, validity and usability of computerised neuropsychological assessment for older adults to improve accessibility and diagnostic accuracy of mild neurocognitive disorders and dementia. We have established strong collaborative links with researchers in CHeBA and with international consortia such as IGEMS and ENIGMA, investigating associations between cognition with: brain structure and function, genetics and environmental factors, medical comorbidities, inflammatory markers and falls in the older adult population.
Staff
Dr John Crawford Dr Ben Lam Dr Karen Croot Dr Adam Bentvelzen Matilda Rossie Josephine Bigland Ashton Trollor
Students
PhD candidates
Dr Rebecca Koncz Annette Spooner Zara Page Premilla Chinnappa-
Quinn
Fourth year medical students (Honours and Independent Learning Project)
Michael Budiarto Christabella Surono
Dr Karen Croot, Dr Teresa Lee, Zara Page, Dr Nicole Kochan
International Experts Advise on Standard Assessment for Diagnosing Dementia
Internationally renowned experts in dementia and cognitive assessment, including Dr Nicole Kochan from CHeBA’s Neuropsychology Group, provided expert opinion on the development of a standard set of neuropsychological tests for patients presenting to memory clinics, to ensure consistency in diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment and dementia.
The invited experts, which also included CHeBA CoDirectors Professor Henry Brodaty and Professor Perminder Sachdev, acknowledge that a standard assessment for individuals presenting with cognitive difficulty is an international priority. A critical step in the diagnostic process for people with cognitive complaints referred to a memory clinic is to examine performance on a set of neuropsychological tests. It has been evident that different tests are more sensitive to different disorders which can lead to varied diagnoses for patients.
Dr Nicole Kochan said that the testing process not only differed across regions and countries but also differed among local clinics here in Australia.
“This research recommends a uniform set of tests that a person should receive when attending a memory clinic to receive a comprehensive assessment of their cognition, thinking abilities and problem solving.” Dr Nicole Kochan
“Standard diagnostic procedures then ensure best practice and consistency across diagnosis of dementia.”
DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.2875
CogSCAN Webinar Computerised Cognitive Tests: What Participants Told Us
In 2018 to 2020, a large group of adults aged 60 and above in the local community took part in the CogSCAN Study at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing.
The study investigated how computerised cognitive tests performed on repeated occasions, how these new tests compared with older-style well-validated pen-and-paper tests, and what people thought and felt about doing the tests.
In December 2021 the CogSCAN team, led by Principal Investigator Dr Nicole Kochan, hosted a webinar in which participants were invited to hear the progress of the study and its early findings. They also had the opportunity to pose questions and provide feedback to the team. The 90-minute online session included presentations from Dr Kochan, Neuropsychology Research officer Dr Karen Croot, Research Assistant Matilda Rossie.
