Welcome to the Neurological Clinical Informatics and Data Science Lab, where we explore the intricate world of neurological disorders with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and migraine disorders. Our multidisciplinary team harnesses the power of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and advanced statistical modeling to unravel the complexities of these conditions, aiming to improve diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment outcomes. By integrating clinical informatics and cutting-edge data science techniques, we strive to unlock new insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurological diseases and pave the way for personalized and precision medicine approaches.
Ongoing Research Studies
Remote Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease REsearch (R-CARE) Toolbox
In-person administration is the current “gold-standard” for assessment of cognition and function in studies of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia (ADRD). Remote neuropsychological assessment has been advocated to overcome various access barriers and decrease costs of neuropsychological services. Moreover, due to unpredictable situations such as what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for robust methods for assessing and monitoring cognitive and functional status through remote assessments. The overall goal of the current project is to validate, refine, and calibrate the Remote Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease REsearch (R-CARE) Toolbox for the assessment and monitoring of cognition and function in a diverse sample of initially dementia-free older adults. This study will enable researchers and clinicians to accurately and reliably assess cognition and function of older adults who are at risk of ADRD when in-person assessments are not feasible or safe. Remote assessment will facilitate more frequent evaluations at lower cost, potentially improving sensitivity, reliability, and validity of cognitive assessment for observational studies, clinical trials and clinical practice.
Interactions between SARS-CoV2 infection and ancestral genomic variations in the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Our goal in this project t is to study interaction between exposure to an environmental event (COVID infection) and genomic variation on the occurrence of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in large cohorts of older adults from underrepresented minorities in the USA and ancestral groups in Africa and South America. We will investigate the interactions between whole genome sequence genetic variations and COVID-19 infection and disease on the risk of cognitive decline and risk of AD. Participant’s data include neurological evaluation, cognitive tests, brain imaging and blood-based biomarker.
Migraine and cognitive function: a prospective cohort
Cognitive difficulties, such as memory problems and trouble thinking clearly, are a common and disabling part of migraines, often reported by patients during different stages of a migraine attack, including before, during, and after the headache. However, studies that use formal tests to measure cognitive performance have shown mixed results due to differences in study methods and timing. In this study, we plan to track cognitive function on a daily basis using reliable, web-based tests. Our goal is to measure how cognitive abilities change during different stages of a migraine—before, during, after, and between attacks—while also considering other factors like sleep, mood, and medications. By doing this daily, we aim to minimize memory-related errors in reporting and get a clearer understanding of how migraines affect cognitive function.