Kathleen A. Welsh-Bohmer, PhD

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Services

• Neurological Disorders
• Psychiatry

Director, Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Department / Division:
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences / Medical Psychology

Address:
DUMC 3503
Durham, NC 27710

Appointment Telephone:
(919) 668-2846

Office Telephone:
(919) 668-0820

Fax Telephone:
(919) 668-0828

• Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1985
• University of Iowa, 1985-1987
• Board Certification ABPD-CN Clinical Neuropsychology, 1997

Clinical Interests:
Neuropsychological evaluation of adults with known or suspected brain injuries, specializing in geriatrics, Alzheimer's disease, memory disorders, movement disorders, stroke, toxic exposure

Research Interests:
My research interests focus on the neuropsychology of aging and dementia.  There are five different areas of investigation underway.  These collaborative ventures are being conducted with investigators in the Bryan Alzheimer's Center and with other investigators internal to or external to Duke University Medical Center.  These studies are summarized below.

(1) One area of investigation, funded under an RO1 examines the characteristics of early stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) by studying individuals at high risk of the disease by virtue of their strong family history of the disease.  These studies are longitudinal in nature and utilize primarily neuropsychological methodology.

(2) Another area of investigation has looked at brain morphometric (MRI) and functional brain changes (PET) associated with the neuropsychological features of Alzheimer's disease.  Several studies, including one done as part of the LEAD award, examines brain morphometric change in twins.

(3) The third area of research inquiry examies the genetic and environmental contributions to Alzheimer's disease and age associated memory changes by studying twins with these conditions.

(4) Other recent collaborative studies applies neuropsychological assessment techniques to examine the epidemiology of AD and other dementing disorders in elderly populations, one in Cache County Utah and one comprised of elderly servicemen with traumatic brain injury.

(5) A new area of investigation is exploring the biological basis of differing phenotypic expressions of AD.  Specifically, we are looking at the relationship of cognitive changes and psychiatric manifestations to recently discovered biomarkers of AD (APO-E4, genetic markers, neuropathology).

Representative Publications:
Welsh-Bohmer, K.A., Gearing, M., Saunders, A.M., Roses, A.D., & Mirra, S.M. (1997). Apolipoprotein E genotypes in a neuropathological series from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD). Annals of Neurology, 42: 319-325. (1997)

Yamaoka, L.H., Welsh-Bohmer, K.A., Hulette, C.M. Gaskell Jr., P.C., Murray, M., Rimmler, J.L., Helms, B.R., Guerra, M., Roses, A.D., Schmechel, D.E., Pericak-Vance, M.A. (1996). Linkage of Frontotemporal dementia to Chromosome 17: Clinical and neuropathological characterization of phenotype. American Journal of Human Genetics, 59, 1306-1312. (1996)

Welsh K.A., Hoffman J.M., Earl N.L., & Hansen, M. W. (1994) Neural correlates of dementia: Regional brain metabolism (FDG-PET) and the CERAD neuropsychological battery. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 9, 395-409. (1994)

Welsh, K.A., Butters, N., Hughes, J.P., Mohs, R.C., and Heyman, A. (1991) Detection of abnormal memory decline in mild Alzheimer's disease using CERAD neuropsychological measures. Archives of Neurology, 48, 278-281. (1991)

Hulette, C.M., Welsh-Bohmer, K.A., Murray, M.G., Mash, D.& McIntyre, L.M. Neuropathological and neuropsychological changes in "normal" aging: Evidence for preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, 57, 1168-1174.