Jacob Grand

Program affiliation: Clinical Neuropsychology

Supervisors: Dr. Stuart MacDonald (Research); Dr. Holly Tuokko (Clinical)

Research interests

The evolution of cognitive abilities across the adult lifespan is no longer considered to reflect a universal, cumulative process of decline. Rather, significant inter- and intra-individual differences exist in cognitive trajectories, with the loss vs. maintenance of cognitive functions ultimately determined by multidimensional processes (e.g., psychological, biological, environmental) A dynamic model of aging recognizes an individual's potential cognitive modifiability, or cognitive plasticity. The challenge now lies in the discovery of factors that affect individual differences in cognitive plasticity and vitality across the adult lifespan. My research examines data from Project MIND, a 5-year, longitudinal burst design study of community dwelling individuals (n=304; mean age=74.02), which includes indices of cognitive, functional, and physical health status. Longitudinal multilevel modeling techniques are being used to address three primary objectives: 1) characterize individual variability in cognitive change; 2) explore individual differences in cognitive plasticity; and 3) identify whether specific moderating factors (e.g., level of cognitive plasticity, biological age, education, physical fitness) are associated with trajectories cognitive decline or stability.

Awards

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canada Graduate Scholarship Master's Award (CGSMA) (2009-2010)
University of Victoria Graduate Fellowship (2008-2009)

Representative publications and presentations

Peer-reviewed papers

Hsiung, G-Y.R., Alipour, S., Jacova, C., Grand, J., Gauthier, S., Black, S.E., Bouchard, R.W., Kertesz, A., Loy-English, I., Hogan, D.B., Rockwood, K., & Feldman, H.H. Transitions from Cognitively Impaired Not Demented (CIND) to Alzheimer's disease: An analysis of changes in functional abilities. Dementia & Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 2008; 25(6), 483-490.

Hsiung, G-Y. R., Donald, A., Grand, J., Black, S.E., Bouchard, R.W., Gauthier, S.G., Loy-English, I., Hogan, D.B., Kertesz, A., Rockwood, K., & Feldman, H.H. Outcomes of Cognitively Impaired Not Demented (CIND) at 2-years in the Canadian Cohort Study of Cognitive Impairment and Related Dementias (ACCORD). Dementia & Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 2006; 22(5-6): 413-420.

Book chapters

Grand, J., & Feldman, H.H. Historical concepts of Alzheimer's disease and dementia: Past perspectives and current understanding. Atlas of Alzheimer's Disease. Informa Healthcare, London, UK. 2007: pp. 1-27.

Published peer-reviewed abstracts

Ayoub, O.A., Grand, J., Jacova, C., Money, J., Feldman, H.H., Hsiung, G-Y.R. Risk factors influencing survival in Alzheimer's disease: Analysis from a single center in the Canadian cohort study of cognitive impairment and related dementias (ACCORD). Alzheimer's & Dementia 2008;4(4) Suppl 1:T668.

Grand, J., Hsiung, G-Y.R., Donald, A., Mackenzie, I.R.A., & Feldman, H.H. Longitudinal rates of decline of the spectrum of degenerative dementias: Findings from the Canadian Collaborative Cohort Study of Related Dementias (ACCORD). Neurobiology of Aging 2004; 25(S2): S96.

Hsiung, G-Y.R., Donald, A., Grand, J., & Feldman, H.H. Predictors of outcome of Cognitively Impaired Not Demented (CIND) at 2-years in the Canadian Collaborative Cohort of Related Dementias (ACCORD). Neurobiology of Aging 2004; 25(S2): S74.

Hsiung, G-Y.R., Donald, A., Grand, J., & Feldman, H.H. Cognitively Impaired Not Demented (CIND): 2-year outcome study from the ACCORD. Neurology 2004; 62(S5): A87.

Hsiung, G-Y.R., Shobab, L., Grand, J., & Feldman, H.H. Interaction between statin usage and Apolipoprotein E in risk of developing Alzheimer's disease: Data from the ACCORD study. Neurology, 2004; 62(S5): A211.

Conference presentations

Grand, J., MacDonald, S.W.S, Hultsch, D. F., Tuokko, H., & Strauss, E. Individual differences in behavioural plasticity as an early indicator of cognitive impairment across the adult lifespan. Presentation at the Conference on Cognition Health & Aging (CCHA): Integrating Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives, Penn State University, PA, USA (October, 2009).

Grand, J. Neuropsychological assessment of cognitive impairment: Current clinical practice and novel computerized approaches. Presentation and workshop presented at the UBC Canadian-Dutch Dementia Colloquium, Brain Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (March, 2008).

Grand, J. (2007, February). Screening for cognitive impairment in a specialized memory disorder clinic. Presentation and workshop presented at the UBC Canadian-Thai Neurology Symposium on Dementia & Memory Disorders, Brain Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (February, 2007).