Sleep and Cognition in Neurodegenerative Disease

Thursday, July 18, 2019
12:00pm - 1:30pm Eastern time
1.5 CE Credits

Presented by:

Amy Amara, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
School of Medicine/Joint Health Services Foundation Faculty







Sleep dysfunction and cognitive decline are common features of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, sleep disruption can negatively influence cognitive performance, even in healthy adults. This webinar will include an overview of normal sleep architecture, descriptions of common sleep disorders in older adults at risk for neurodegenerative disease, and information about the relationship between sleep and cognition in neurodegenerative disease.

After the webinar, participants will be able to:
1. Describe normal sleep architecture.
2. Discuss common sleep disorders experienced by persons with neurodegenerative disease.
3. Analyze the relationships between sleep and cognition in neurodegenerative disease.

Target Audience: Clinical and Research Neuropsychologists
Instructional Level: Intermediate

Dr. Amy Amara is a physician scientist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Neurology. She has fellowship training in both Movement Disorders and Sleep Medicine, with a particular interest in sleep dysfunction and other non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Her main research focus includes investigation of non-pharmacological interventions, such as exercise, to improve sleep, cognition, vigilance, and safety in these patients.





New Frontiers in Brain Stimulation

Wednesday, September 11, 2019
12:00pm - 1:30pm Eastern time
1.5 CE Credits


Presented by:
Frank MacMaster, Ph.D.
Alberta Children's Hospital
Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary







Noninvasive Brain Stimulation (or NiBS) methods include Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Over the past decade, both of these methods have experienced explosive growth in their application both to understand the human brain and to treat neuropsychiatric disorders. In this course, we will discuss NiBS and its application in youth. First, we will explain the types of NiBS currently in use, and their potential risks and benefits. Second, we will address their use as a probe of brain function. Third, we will explore their application in neuropsychiatric disorders in youth.

After the webinar, participants will be able to:
1. Explain the types of NiBS currently in use, and list their potential risks and benefits. 
2. Discuss the use of NiBS methods as a probe of brain function. 
3. Describe the application of NiBS methods in neuropsychiatric disorders in youth.

Target Audience: Neuropsychologists who work with children and adolescents in clinical settings from hospitals to schools.
Instructional Level: Intermediate

Frank MacMaster is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Paediatrics, University of Calgary. He is also the Scientific for the Addictions and Mental Health Strategic Clinical Network in Alberta Health Services. He received his bachelors in psychology for Saint Mary's University, completed doctoral work at Dalhousie University in neurobiology, and a postdoctoral fellowship in brain imaging in child psychiatry at Wayne State University. Dr. MacMaster has received funding from NARSAD, the Canadian Institute for Health Research, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, among other honors. 
He has over 88 peer-reviewed papers and has been cited over 3700 times. His work is focused on using neuroimaging methods to better understand the underlying neurobiology and impact of novel interventions like neurostimulation in child and adolescent mental health.