Cognitive Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognitive Diagnostics
The course will introduce neuropsychological assessment in an aging population, focusing on age-related cognitive changes and their neural correlates. An additional purpose is to increase understanding of cognitive aging and how to differentiate between non-pathological cognitive aging and early signs of pathology. After the course, you will be able to define and describe common neuropsychological concepts and measurement techniques and demonstrate an overall understanding of neuropsychological investigation methodology and cognitive diagnostics in aging. The course will give you an increased understanding of cognitive aging and the complexity of differentiating between “normal” and early-stage pathological aging.
At the end of the course, the doctoral student should be able to:
- Describe different cognitive domains and their general relationship to neural correlates
- Define and describe common neuropsychological concepts and techniques for measurement
- Use critical thinking when motivating or criticizing neuropsychological investigation methodologies and cognitive diagnostics in aging
- Explain the basic principles of cognitive aging and contrast “normal” with early-stage pathological aging in a critical way
- Discuss how prevention and lifestyle changes have the potential to protect against negative impacts on the brain and cognition
No prerequisite courses, or equivalent, demanded for this course.