This revised Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award ,(K23) application is a request to support the training and research activities necessary for Kevin Duff, Ph.D. to further develop a novel cognitive index (i.e., practice effects), which could assist in the prediction of outcomes in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Although the concept of MCI has'advanced our understanding of the transition between normal aging and dementia, it remains an imperfect heuristic for identifying which patients will progress to dementia, and which will not.The current research proposal will examine if there is an inverse relationship between practice effects and cognitive outcome, so that an absence of practice effects increases the risk for conversion to dementia in amnestic MCI across 2 years;and, conversely, robust practice effects are associated with a decreased risk for dementia. Specifically, this research plan will address the following research aims: 1) determine if practice effects predict conversion to dementia in MCI, and 2) examine a variety of moderators of practice effects, and see how they affect conversion rates. The training plan detailed in this application offers a multidisciplinary program capitalizing on the diverse resources available at the University of Iowa and on the expertise of national researchers in memory disorders. As a neuropsychologist, Dr. Duff has set the following training goals: 1) develop skills necessary to further develop practice effects as a predictor of cognitive decline, 2) gain additional expertise in tracking cognitive decline in MCI and diagnosing dementia, 3) gain knowledge in identifying moderators of MCI to dementia conversion, and 4) expand knowledge of statistical techniques necessary for answering these questions. Additionally, training will be provided in conducting ethical research and grant writing. The training and proposed project will lay the foundation for Dr. Duffs long-term scientific goal of creating an independent and externally-funded program of research on examining markers of disease progression in normal aging, MCI, and dementia. Identifying early markers of progression from normal aging to MCI to dementia clearly fits with the mission of the National Institute on Aging, in that, it provides greater knowledge about aging and aging- related diseases. Additionally, identification of early cognitive disorders can have profound public health significance with inaccurate or delayed identification of these disorders leading to missed opportunities for treatment and medical, legal, and family planning. Finally, the availability of a brief, non-invasive, and cost effective marker of disease progression would allow for more efficient and better powered clinical trials.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23AG028417-06
Application #
8097944
Study Section
National Institute on Aging Initial Review Group (NIA)
Program Officer
Hsiao, John
Project Start
2007-09-30
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$144,534
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Utah
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
Duff, Kevin; Atkinson, Taylor J; Suhrie, Kayla R et al. (2017) Short-term practice effects in mild cognitive impairment: Evaluating different methods of change. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 39:396-407
Hammers, Dustin B; Atkinson, Taylor J; Dalley, Bonnie C A et al. (2017) Amyloid Positivity Using [18F]Flutemetamol-PET and Cognitive Deficits in Nondemented Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 32:320-328
Duff, Kevin (2016) Demographically corrected normative data for the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised in an elderly sample. Appl Neuropsychol Adult 23:179-85
Duff, Kevin; Tometich, Danielle; Dennett, Kathryn (2015) The Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status is More Predictive of Memory Abilities Than the Mini-Mental State Examination. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 28:193-7
Duff, Kevin; Horn, Kevin P; Foster, Norman L et al. (2015) Short-Term Practice Effects and Brain Hypometabolism: Preliminary Data from an FDG PET Study. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 30:264-70
Duff, Kevin (2014) One-week practice effects in older adults: tools for assessing cognitive change. Clin Neuropsychol 28:714-25
Duff, Kevin; Foster, Norman L; Hoffman, John M (2014) Practice effects and amyloid deposition: preliminary data on a method for enriching samples in clinical trials. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 28:247-52
Dennett, Kathryn; Tometich, Danielle; Duff, Kevin (2013) Demographic corrections for the modified telephone interview for cognitive status. Clin Neuropsychol 27:1121-30
Duff, Kevin; Foster, Norman L; Dennett, Kathryn et al. (2013) Amyloid deposition and cognition in older adults: the effects of premorbid intellect. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 28:665-71
Duff, Kevin (2012) Evidence-based indicators of neuropsychological change in the individual patient: relevant concepts and methods. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 27:248-61

Showing the most recent 10 out of 23 publications