This presentation will discuss some of the inherent sources of instability in the diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment as well as sources of potential errors affecting the stability and progression of this designation. Topics that will be covered include how cross-sectional and longitudinal data differ in terms of defining “normal” cognitive aging, how practice effects interact with the presence of neuropathology, and how the use of differing diagnostic criteria relates to the prediction of cognitive progression, neuropathology and clinical drug trial success.

Dr. Marreiro (PSY26835) is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist with over 13 years of experience in the assessment of neurological and psychological conditions affecting adolescents and adults. She is the Director of Neuropsychology at the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center (RDBHC) at California Pacific Medical Center. Dr. Marreiro remains actively involved in research through her role as Sub-Investigator for clinical drug trials targeting Alzheimer’s disease within theRDBHC as well as serving as a clinical rater for clinical trials through Elligo Health Research. She has been actively involved in supervision and mentorship of neuropsychology trainees. Within the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center, she has served as a supervisor for practicum, internship, and post-doctoral trainees. Her clinical expertise extends across a wide range of lifespan conditions, including but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, movement disorders, stroke, cancer, traumatic brain injury/concussion, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, sleep disorders, ADHD/Learning disorders, and mood problems.

Dr. Marreiro earned her Master’s degree and PhD in Clinical Psychology from Arizona State University. Her Master’s thesis focused on the psychosocial and cultural predictors of maternal and infant health outcomes. Her dissertation work was recognized with an APA Dissertation Research Award and examined how stress impacts neuropsychological and physiological reactivity within young adults with Type 1 Diabetes. Dr. Marreiro completed an APA approved pre-doctoral internship in ClinicalNeuropsychology at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, IL and her two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology within the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at the University of California, Davis.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this workshop, the participants will be able to:

1. Identify the typical cognitive aging trajectory suggested by cross-sectional normative data.
2. Identify the typical cognitive aging trajectory suggested by longitudinal data sets and the impact of neuropathologies.
3. Understand the role of practice effects in serial assessment of cognitive aging and the impact of neuropathology
4. Identify the impact of varying diagnostic criteria in the identification of MCI in terms of predicting continued cognitive decline, presence of neuropathologies, and success of clinical drug trials.

Email events@ncnf.org with any questions.

APA & QME CEUs: 2

Webinar will be live-interactive and meets criteria for live CE hours

NCNF is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. NCNF maintains responsibility for this program.  NCNF is also approved for continuing education for Qualified Medical Examiners (QME).