Contact: Pam Willenz
Public Affairs Office
(202) 336-5707 (until 8/6)
(416) 597-8188 (between 8/7-8/10)

EMBARGO: NOT FOR RELEASE UNTIL 2:00 PM (EDT) AUGUST 8, 2003

RISK OF NEUROLOGICAL INJURIES AND DISEASES IN DIFFERENT POPULATIONS ARE EXAMINED AS WELL AS THE TYPES OF SCREENING METHODS NEEDED

TORONTO — Who is at risk for developing a neurological disease or injury and how soon can it be detected? According to the experts, certain sports, occupations and environmental conditions put people at risk for head injuries and neurological disorders, and developing good screening tools can help with early detection and tailor the best treatments. These findings will be discussed at a symposium at the 111th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in Toronto.

This symposium will explore the “epidemic” of sports concussions in children, young adults and professional athletes, the need for surveillance of cognitive ability among those in occupations with extreme conditions, like astronauts, military personnel and airline pilots, use of automated neurocognitive assessment procedures for adults suffering from neurological disorders and the development of computerized testing system to identify and monitor neurodegenerative diseases.

The panelist include:

Joseph Bleiberg, Ph.D., National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC, Neuropsychology as a Public Health Intervention. Dr. Bleiberg will discuss how the field of neuropsychology can contribute to preventing, detecting and monitoring the progress of medications and other interventions to treat neurological diseases and injuries.

Dennis Reeves, Ph.D., United States Navy, Camp Pendleton, CA, History of Computerized Neuropsychological Screening. Dr. Reeves reviews the development of computerized neuropsychological batteries, with emphasis on the Department of Defense (DoD) - sponsored batteries designed originally for military performance. These screening tools aim to monitor the effects of medication, medical procedures such as spinal taps or ventricular shunts, track disease progression, monitor acute effects of brain injury and concussion and assess the effects of treatment on brain-injured patients.

Alison Cernich, Ph.D., National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC, Population Surveillance in Adolescents at Risk for Concussion. Dr. Cernich will discuss how concussion surveillance and management have become a part of sports medicine at the high school, college and professional level in certain sports.

Robert Kane, Ph.D., VA Hospital, Baltimore, MD, Population Surveillance of High-Risk Populations. Dr. Kane will review the use of automated neurocognitive assessment procedures (Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics ANAM) with normal adults in high-risk occupations, like soldiers at altitude, divers at depth and fatigued pilots and adults suffering from neurological disorders.

Tresa Roebuck, Ph.D., National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC, Population Surveillance for Early Detection of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Dr. Roebuck will discuss the need to develop a computerized testing system to identify early Parkinson’s disease (PD) that effects one percent of the population over 50 and leads to difficulty with walking and living independently. Individuals with PD develop non-motor symptoms long before the primary symptoms of tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural and gait abnormalities occur

PRESENTATION: “Neuropsychology as a Public Health Intervention,” Session 2213, 2:00 – 2:50 PM, August 8, 2003, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, Exhibit Hall Level, Meeting Room 801A

Contact information:

Joseph Bleiberg, Ph.D.
National Rehabilitation Hospital
(202) 877-1121

Alison Cernich, Ph.D.
National Rehabilitation Hospital
(202) 877-1613

Robert Kane, Ph.D.
(410) 605-7414

Tresa Roebuck, Ph.D.
(202) 877-1954

The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists. APA’s membership includes more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 53 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.

# # #