Overview

Overview

The core scientific mission of the Neuropsychology Department at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas is to advance our understanding of human behavior, neurological functioning, and brain health of individuals affected by neurodegenerative disease. Stemming from backgrounds as scientist-practitioners, several current research efforts focus broadly on applied, evidence-based clinical practice driven by modern data science and bioinformatics, with specific interest in precision measurement.

Leveraging biomedical informatics applications to aggregate quantitative and qualitative data amassed from clinical care and applying modern data science methods, we aim to:

  1. Elucidate precise brain-behavior relationships that underlie the observable clinical phenotype;
  2. Identify subtle profiles of cognitive and behavioral change that predict incipient disease;
  3. Utilize leading-edge imaging methods to determine the role of inflammation and identify novel biomarkers specific to observable clinical phenotypes;
  4. Investigate the role of sex and sex-specific risk factors in the emergence and trajectory of neurodegenerative disease;
  5. Develop clinical decision-support tools to improve patient outcomes and early identification of disease; and
  6. Develop evidence-based interventions for caregivers of neurocognitive disorders to alleviate burden, promote overall well-being, and improve clinical outcomes.
Publications

Publications

Sex moderates amyloid and apolipoprotein E4 effects on default mode network connectivity at rest. Caldwell, J.Z.K., Zhuang, X., Leavitt, M.J., Banks, S.J., Cummings, J. & Cordes, D., for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Frontiers in Neurology. August 2019; 10:900. DOI: 10.3389/ neur.2019.00900. PMID: 31481928.

Big data and biomedical informatics: Preparing for the modernization of clinical neuropsychology. Miller J.B. (2019), The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 33:2, 287-304, DOI:10.1080/13854046.2018.1523466.

Biomedical informatics applications for precision management of neurodegenerative diseases. Miller, J.B., Lombardo, J., Shan, G., Jimenez-Maggoria, G. (2019). Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions. June 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2018.03.007. PMID.

Neuropsychological criteria for mild cognitive impairment in the Framingham Heart Study’s Old-Old. Wong, C.G., Thomas, K.R., Edmonds, E.C., Weigand, A.J., Bangen, K.J., Eppig, J.S., Jak, A.J., Devine, S.A., Delano-Wood, L., Libon, D.J., Edland, S.D., Au, R., Bondi, M.W. Dement, Geriatr Cogn Disord,. 2018;46(5-6):253-265. doi: 10.1159/000493541. PMID: 30391953.

Hearing loss and verbal memory assessment among older adults. Wong, C.G., Rapport, L.J., Billings, B.A., Ramachandran, V., Stach, B.A.  Neuropsychology. 2019 Jan;33(1):47-59. doi: 10.1037/neu0000489. PMID: 30211611.

Members & Collaborations

Members & Collaborations

Cleveland Clinic Affiliations