Catherine Price, PhD, ABPP-cn

My research goals have been to understand the relative contribution of white matter versus subcortical gray matter structural integrity on the cognitive profiles of subcortical neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease (AD), small vessel vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease (PD)). Then, to apply this knowledge towards more collaborative and longitudinal research examining the predictive value of white and gray matter structure integrity on a) disease-associated cognitive decline and b) vulnerability to accelerated cognitive change after elective medical interventions (i.e., major elective surgeries such as orthopedic or abdominal surgeries). For the last 25 years, I have conducted research on neurodegenerative disorders with subcortical profiles and have completed prospective longitudinal research investigations addressing cognitive change over time. I am using my prior research experience and knowledge to develop the infrastructure for a research-training-clinical program addressing the need for evidence-based medical care for older adults with neurodegenerative disorders electing medical interventions with anesthesia (funded through a leadership NIH K07 award).

Director, UF Health Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network (PeCAN): 2017 to present NIH supported leadership program to Develop the Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network (PeCAN) for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. Summary of the 3 PeCAN program components: PeCAN Clinic- The PeCAN clinical program is described by international research and clinical colleagues of the American Society of Anesthesiology’s Brain Health Initiative as the model perioperative cognitive anesthesia clinic for surgical settings. We piloted the clinical program for two years within the UFHealth presurgery anesthesia clinic prior to implementation (Amini et al., 2019). Implementation was feasible due to years of close collaboration with the UF Department of Anesthesiology, the UF Preoperative Anesthesia Clinic, our research and clinical science establishing need for the program, and the neuropsychology training program within the Clinical and Health Psychology Department at the University of Florida. Briefly, the preoperative clinic anesthesia staff administers a digital clock drawing command and copy condition with a 3-word memory repeat and recall to each adult age 65 or older presenting for elective surgery with anesthesia. Individuals who fail one of these components (or report concern for delirium or memory concerns) are referred by anesthesiology staff to a dementia specialty neuropsychologist. The on-site neuropsychologist is responsible for interviews, neurobehavioral exams with a psychometrist, rapid feedback, and report generation to alert anesthesiology, surgeons, and primary care physicians about the patients’ cognitive status and potential vulnerability for delirium or cognitive change. During 2018-2019 we assessed average 30 to 40 older adult patients are seen a week (over 1500 adults over the age of 65 with suspected cognitive impairment.) We successfully altered our preoperative assessment during the pandemic and included telehealth neuropsychology assessments (see Marra, Hamlet et al., 2020). We now offer both in-person and virtual telehealth assessments.

PeCAN Interdisciplinary Training: A unique component of the PeCAN program is the broader goal of interdisciplinary training on brain-behavior-anesthesiology interactions for anesthesiology, neuropsychology, neuroscience, surgeons, and biomedical engineering. To this end, anesthesiology residents rotate through the presurgical center (organized by Basma Mohamed, M.D., Anesthesiology) and attend training on the importance of preoperative cognition ad brain-behavior-anesthesia interactions. We also provide training to fourth-year medical students rotating through geriatric medicine, as well as advanced neuropsychology graduate students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows. Discussions include the rationale for incorporating cognitive tools into preoperative settings and the cognitive profile, and behavioral presentation, of highly prevalent neurodegenerative conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease). Psychology trainees from a various specialties, and at the doctoral and predoctoral level, have participated in didactics as well as Grand Rounds in the Department of Anesthesia, Cardiothoracic Surgery,Neurosurgery, Gastroenterology, and General Surgery.

PeCAN Research: Though in its infancy, trainees affiliated with the PeCAN program have already produced numerous peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences focused on disease research. The program supported by federal research, private research, donors, and clinical endeavors.