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Research InterestsDr Michael Valenzuela | | (Position Details) | | Phone 02 9382 2712 | | Email | | Qualifications BSc (Psychol) Hons UNSW, MBBS Hons USyd, PhD UNSW |
| | | School/Unit |
| School of Psychiatry | |
| | Broad Research Areas | |
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Ageing
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Clinical Research
Neuroscience
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| | | | Specific Research Keywords | |
| Alzheimer's Disease
Ageing
Neural Stem Cells
Imaging
Neurodegeneration
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| | | | Research Interests | |
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Dr Valenzuela is a Research Fellow in Regenerative Neuroscience at the School of Psychiatry, UNSW and the Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital. His background is in psychology, clinical medicine and neuroscience research. His PhD focused on the topic of brain reserve, specifically how complex mental activity affects the development and expression of dementia. This question was tackled using a multi-modal and longitudinal approach, bringing together epidemiological, neuroimaging and biochemical techniques. For this work he was awarded the prestigious Eureka Prize for Medical Research in 2006. Dr Valenzuela’s current research interests are aimed at further understanding the competing forces of neuroplasticity and neurodegeneration in the human brain, and how these can either lead to, or help prevent, dementia. He is working on a range of studies across various technologies, including in vivo brain imaging, post-mortem brain tissue analysis, neural stem cell culture, and animal behaviour. Dr Valenzuela also believes that the problem of dementia is a critical one for modern society, and is committed to communicating dementia-prevention health ideas to the public.
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| | | | ILP Research Interests (Will supervise ILP students) |
| Psychiatric Disorders
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| | | | Society Memberships & Professional Activities | |
| Academic
• Guest editor for ‘Brain & Cognitive Reserve’ special issue of American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2008
• Editorial Board Member for Acta Neuropsychiatrica.
Membership
• Human Brain Mapping, Australian Neuroscience Society, Australian Society for Psychiatric Research, NSW Medical Board, Australian Psychological Society.
• Member of the Alzheimer’s Association of NSW
Conference & Symposium Organisation
• Co-convenor of ‘Stem Cell Symposium UNSW’ August 2007
• Review committee, Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research, Annual Meeting, Sydney December 2006
• Scientific organising committee for annual conference meeting of the International College of Geriatric Psychoneuropharmacology, Sydney September 2008
• Convenor of Neural Stem Cells & Regenerative Neuroscience Workshop, UNSW September 2008
University Service
• Interviewer for selection for entry into undergraduate Medicine, UNSW 2006-present
• Co-organiser of School of Psychiatry Academic Meetings and Forum 2008-present
• Organiser of School of Psychiatry, ‘FundaMentals – Introductions to Essential Tools and Techniques’ Q&A series for early researchers 2008-
• School of Psychiatry employer representative for OH&S meetings 2009 | |
| | | | Funding Sources | |
| • NH&MRC Capacity Building Grant 2009-2011 (Team Investigator) $2,352,535
• UNSW Goldstar Research Grant 2009-2010 (Principal Investigator) $40,000
• NH&MRC Dementia Research Grant 2008-2010 (Chief Investigator) $895,506
• The Mason Foundation – Medical and Scientific Research Grants 2008-2009 (Principal Investigator) $45,206
• Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Grant 2007-2008 (Principal Investigator) $20,000
• UNSW Goldstar Research Grant 2007-2008 (Principal Investigator) $40,000
• Rotary Foundation Medical Research Grant 1999-2000 (Co-Investigator) $34,000
• Alzheimer's Association of Australia 1999-2000 (Principal Investigator) $10,000
• Australian Research Council 1999-2000 (Principal Investigator) $3000 | |
| | | | Other Postgraduate Research | |
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UNSW
1. Nicola Gates (PhD Candidate) Supervisor. The SMART Trial.
2. Chao Suo(PhD Candidate) Supervisor. The SMART Trial.
3. Aileen Lowe (Masters Research candidate) Supervisor. Skin to Neuron Stem Cell Techology.
4. Joyce Siette (PhD co-supervised candidate). Reversal of age-associated cognitive impairment with skin derived neuroprecursors
USyd
1. Hannah Salvin, Co-supervised PhD candidate. Natural History of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
2. Taryn Roberts, Co-supervised Masters Research candidate. Brain Morphology as a function of Cephalic Index | |
| | | | Key works/Publications | |
| 1. Valenzuela M, Sachdev P, Wen W, Shnier R, Brodaty H, Gillies D. Dual Voxel Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in the Healthy Elderly: Subcortical-Frontal Axonal N-Acetylaspartate Levels are Correlated with Fluid Cognitive Abilities Independent of Structural Brain Changes. Neuroimage (2000), 12: 747-756.
2. Valenzuela M & Sachdev P. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Alzheimer's Disease. Neurology (2001), 56: 592-598.
3. Trollor J & Valenzuela M. Brain Ageing in the New Millennium. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (2001) 35(6):788-805.
4. Malhi G, Valenzuela M, Wen W, Sachdev P. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and its applications in psychiatry, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (2002), 36:31-43.
5. Sachdev P, Valenzuela M, Wang X, Looi J, Brodaty H. Relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and brain atrophy in healthy elderly individuals. Neurology (2002), 58: 1539-154
6. Sachdev PS, Looi J, Wei W, Brodaty H, Valenzuela MJ, Lorentz L, Howard L, Jones M, Sims J, Shnier R, Zagami AS, Gillies D The matter of white matter: A neuropsychological neurometabolic and perfusion study of white matter hyperintensities AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 36 (6): A34-A34 DEC 2002
7. Sachdev PS, Valenzuela MJ, Brodaty H, Wang XL, Looi J, Lorentz L, Howard L, Jones M, Sims J, Gillies D, Wilcken D. Homocysteine as a risk factor for cognitive impairment in stroke patients. AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 36 (6): A34-A34 DEC 2002
8. Sachdev P, Looi J, Wen W, Brodaty H, Valenzuela M, Lorentz L, Howard L, Jones M, Sims J, Shnier R, Zagami A, Gillies D. A neuropsychological, MR spectroscopic and MR perfusion study of signal hyperintensities on T2-weighted MRI. NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING 23 (1): S363-S363 1339 Suppl. 1, JUL-AUG 2002
9. Sachdev P, Valenzuela M, Brodaty H, Looi J, Gillies D, Wilcken D, Wang XL, Lorentz L, Howard L, Jones M, Sims J. Homocysteine as a risk factor for cognitive impairment in stroke patients. NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING 23 (1): S445-S445 1626 Suppl. 1, JUL-AUG 2002
10. Looi J, Sachdev P, Valenzuela M, Broadaty H, Wen W, Lorentz L, Sims J, Kinch J, Gillies D, Schnier R. Neuroimaging and frontal-subcortical dysfunction in a stroke cohort EUROPEAN PSYCHIATRY 17: 132S-132S Suppl. 1, MAY 2002
11. Valenzuela M, Jones M, Wen W, Rae C, Graham S, Shnier R, Sachdev P. Memory Training Alters Hippocampal Neurochemistry in Healthy Elderly. Neuroreport (2003) 14 (10):1333-1337
12. Sachdev P, Valenzuela M, Brodaty H, Wang X, Looi J, Lorentz L, Howard L, Jones M, Sims J, Gillies D, Wilcken D. Homocysteine As A Risk Factor For Cognitive Impairment In Stroke Patients. Alzheimer’s Disease and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. (2003) 15: 155-162
13. Ross AJ, Sachdev PS, Wen W, Valenzuela MJ, Lorentz L, Shnier R, Brodaty H. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in stroke patients with and without cognitive impairment . AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 55: 25-26 Suppl. S, 2003
14. Sachdev PS. Brodaty H. Valenzuela MJ. Lorentz L. Looi JC. Wen W. Zagami AS. The neuropsychological profile of vascular cognitive impairment in stroke and TIA patients. Neurology. 62(6):912-9, 2004 Mar 23.
15. Sachdev PS, Brodaty H, Valenzuela MJ, Lorentz L, Koschera A. Progression of cognitive impairment in stroke patients, Neurology 2004; 63: 1618-24
16. Brodaty H, Sachdev P, Valenzuela M, Lorentz L, Koschera A The Sydney stroke study: A controlled study of the progression of cognitive and functional impairment over one year. Neurobiology of Aging 25: S94-S94 Suppl. 2, JUL 2004
17. Ross AJ. Sachdev PS. Wen W. Valenzuela MJ. Brodaty H.1H MRS in stroke patients with and without cognitive impairment. Neurobiology of Aging. 26(6):873-82, 2005 Jun.
18. Ross AJ, Sachdev PS, Wen W, Valenzuela MJ, Brodaty H. Cognitive correlates of 1H MRS measures in the healthy elderly brain. Brain Research Bulletin. 2005 Jul 15;66(1):9-16
19. Brodaty H, Sachdev P, Withall A, Altendorf A, Valenzuela M, Lorentz L. Frequency and clinical, neuropsychological and neuroimaging correlates of apathy following stroke – the Sydney Stroke Study. Psychological Medicine (2005) 35: 1707-1716.
20. P.S. Sachdev, H. Brodaty, M.J. Valenzuela, L. Lorentz, J.C.L. Looi, K. Berman, A. Ross, W. Wen, A . Zagami. Clinical Determinants of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment following Ischaemic Stroke: The Sydney Stroke Study. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 2006;21:275-283
21. Valenzuela M & Sachdev, P. Brain Reserve and Dementia: A systematic review. Psychological Medicine. (2006) 36: 441-454
22. Valenzuela M & Sachdev P. Brain Reserve and Cognitive Decline: A Non Parametric Systematic Review. Psychological Medicine (2006) 36: 1065-1073
23. Valenzuela M, Sachdev P, Rundeck T, Bennett D. Cognitive leisure activities, but not watching TV, for future brain benefits. Neurology (2006); 67: 729
24. Valenzuela M, K Sidhu, S Dean, P Sachdev. Neural Stem Cells for Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Acta Neuropsychiatrica (2007) 19:11-26
25. Valenzuela M & Sachdev P. Assessment of Complex Mental Activity Across the Lifespan: Development of the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire. Psychological Medicine (2007) 37:1015-1026.
26. Valenzuela M, Breakspear M, P Sachdev. Complex Mental Activity: Molecular, Cellular and Compensatory Cortical Network Mechanisms. Brain Research Reviews. (2007) 56: 198-213.
27. Valenzuela M. Brain Reserve and the Prevention of Dementia. Current Opinion in Psychiatry (2008) 21:296-302.
28. Valenzuela M, K Sidhu, S Dean, B Tuch, P Sachdev. Neural precursors from canine skin: A new direction for testing autologous cell replacement in the brain. Stem Cell & Development (2008) 17: 1087-1094.
29. Valenzuela M, Sachdev P, Chen X, Wen W, Brodaty H. Lifespan mental activity predicts diminished rate of hippocampal atrophy. PLoS One (2008) 3(7):e2598
30. Valenzuela M & Sachdev P. Harnessing Brain & Cognitive Reserve for the Prevention of Dementia. Indian Journal of Psychiatry (2009) 51:S16-21
31. Valenzuela M., Sachdev P. Can cognitive exercise prevent the onset of dementia? A systematic review of clinical trials with longitudinal follow up. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (2009) 17:179-187
32. Rubinov M, McIntosh A, Valenzuela M, Breakspear M. Simulation of neuronal death and network recovery in a computational model of distributed cortical activity. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (2009) 175:210-217.
33. Sachdev P & Valenzuela M. Brain & Cognitive Reserve. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (2009) 17:175-178
34. Valenzuela M, Kochan N, Sachdev P, Slavin M, Trollor J, McIntosh A, Breakspear M. Different Demand Dependent Brain Networks Account for efficiency and variability of spatial working memory. Journal of Neuroscience. (Under Revision)
Books – Sole Author
“It’s Never too Late to Change Your Mind – the latest medical thinking on what you can do to avoid dementia” Released in February 2009 (ABC Books).
Book Reviews
“Clinical Neurology of the Older Adult” J. Sirven & B. Malamut (Eds). 2008 in Lancet Neurology (in press)
“Neurodegeneration: The molecular pathology of dementia and movement disorders” D.Dicksen (Ed). 2003 in Acta Neuropsychiatrica (2007) 19:389
Book Chapters
Sachdev P, Brodaty H, Wang X, Valenzuela M, Gillies D, Looi J, Lorentz L, Monk D, Kinch J, Howard L, Walker D, Shnier R, Zagami A, Wilcken D. Cognitive Impairment in a Stroke Sample: Preliminary Results from the Sydney Stroke Study. Book Chapter in Contemporary Neuropsychiatry, M Gaviria & Y Morita (Eds) pp. 142-146. Springer: Tokyo 2001. | |
| | | | Further Information | |
| www.brainage.med.unsw.edu.au | |
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