Translational Neuropsychology

The Translational Neuropsychology group conducts research on the neuroscientific, clinical and behavioural aspects of neurodegenerative and neurological disorders.

Neuroscience mysteries of the brain

While there is a main focus on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, we also study other disorders such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and multiple sclerosis. The group is led by Professor Annalena Venneri whose research interests include:

  • Early and differential diagnosis of dementia
  • Evaluation of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer´s disease with neuroimaging techniques
  • Clarifying the premorbid biological, personality and cognitive mechanisms underlying psychotic symptoms in neurodegenerative diseases

The group also conducts research in a variety of areas including:

  • Neuropsychological tests predicting conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s Disease and response to treatment in Alzheimer’s disease
  • Cross-cultural assessment of dementia
  • Cognitive and physical stimulation, genetic risk and cognitive decline
  • Neurobiological correlates of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
  • Cross-cultural standardisation and validation of norms of neuropsychological tests used in the early identification of dementia of Alzheimer type in British Pakistanis
  • Identifying the biological determinants of cognitive efficiency in ageing
  • Biological correlates of cognitive impairment associated with fatigue in ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
  • Clinical and neuroimaging approach to the evaluation of the effectiveness of virtual reality interventions for upper limb recovery following stroke
  • Identifying deficits in executive and automatic language in Alzheimer’s disease
  • Intensive cognitive stimulation in cognitive decline
  • Procedural skills in cognition and ageing
  • Refining dementia screening tools

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