Researcher Summary
ADJUNCT - While Parkinson's disease is generally recognised by its characteristic motor symptoms, it is also accompanied by deficits in other areas of functioning. However, these additional deficits are often poorly defined. My research investigates the neuropsychiatric and cognitive deficits associated with Parkinson's disease, with a particular emphasis on identifying those individuals in the pre-clinical stages of dementia. The identification of a subgroup in the pre-clinical stages of dementia is of considerable importance as it will enable prediction of those individuals who are most likely to develop dementia, and lead to timely intervention.
I am also investigating the long term psychosocial, cognitive and psychiatric outcomes following mild head injury in early childhood. This study is unique in the length of time and frequency that children have been assessed following head injury. This research has received considerable attention both nationally and internationally. This work is in collaboration with Professor David Fergusson and John Horwood of the Christchurch Health and Development Study, and a number of other national and international collaborators are associated with the project.
