Research

The primary goal of neuropsychological research conducted at the Wallace-Kettering Neuroscience Institute is to improve patient care. These research studies not only utilize neuropsychological data, but make use of information from a variety of neuroimaging techniques including PET, MRI and fMRI.

EECP Study
An estimated 6.4 million individuals in the U.S. suffer symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) with an annual incidence rate approximating 400,000. Advances in the treatment of CAD has untowardly increased the survival of individuals with severe disease who remain symptomatic (e.g., arrhythmias, refractory angina) despite optimal therapy. A considerable segment of these individuals are not suitable candidates for conventional coronary revascularization, including coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, due to adverse coronary anatomy, previously failed revascularization attempts, or medical comorbidities. Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) has emerged as an alternative therapeutic option for individuals with refractory angina with outcomes research demonstrating clinical improvement following treatment for health-related quality of life (QOL) domains (e.g., physical health, depression) that may moderate cognitive status in chronic medical conditions.

Dr. Doninger serves as principal investigator on a research project evaluating the effects of EECP treatment on cognitive functioning and health-related QOL dimensions, including sense of physical and emotional well-being, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. Specifically, this project is designed to assess whether EECP treatment positively impacts cognitive functioning (memory and thinking abilities) and the extent to which such an impact may be related to changes in health-related QOL. Additional planned research will be aimed at exploring potential mechanisms underlying treatment effects, including enhanced cerebral perfusion, effects of modifying treatment parameters (number, length of treatment sessions), and outcome measures (E.g., post-treatment utilization of medical benefits).

Schizophrenia
In conjunction with researchers from Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, Dr. Doninger provides technical support for studies designed to better understand the underpinnings of schizophrenia. In particular, the neuropsychological test battery is designed to compare the performance of patients with schizophrenia and neurologically normal individuals on measures of frontal and striatal functioning to assist in identifying parameters, which predict responsiveness to first line medications used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia.

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