Neuropsychologists specialize in diagnosing certain brain disorders, assessing cognitive and behavioral functioning, and designing effective treatments. Led by Lindsay Embree, PhD, the Neuropsychology group in the Department of Neurology includes clinical and research faculty with a wide range of specialties, serving patients within the University of Utah Health System and across the Mountain West.
Our providers specialize in diagnosing various types of dementing illness (such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia), assessing for cognitive changes following insult or injury (such as a stroke or TBI), establishing cognitive change in patients with other diseases (such as multiple sclerosis or cancer), and establishing candidacy for certain types of neurosurgeries (such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease patients). In addition to seeing patients on campus, we offer services at the Redstone Clinic in Park City and the Redwood Clinic in Southwest Salt Lake City. A telehealth clinic is also offered allowing evaluation of patients in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Our newest faculty member, Michelle Miranda, PhD is bilingual in Spanish so we are now able to offer complete neuropsychological evaluations with patients whose only/primary language is Spanish. Forensic/legal evaluations are also offered through the division.
Our neuropsychologists are members of other research centers within the Neurology Department, including the Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging, & Research (CACIR) and the Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center. Neuropsychologists in CACIR are looking at ways to predict which patients with mild cognitive changes may go on to develop dementia, as well as the impacts that hormone replacement therapy may have on thinking and memory. Our neuropsychologists also assist in running clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease medicines. The neuropsychologists within the Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center focus on brain imaging techniques to better assess brain injuries. An effort to share TBI research data across the globe is also headquartered in this center.
Members of the Neuropsychology group:
- Kevin Duff, PhD, ABPP-CN (Clinical and Research Faculty)
- Lindsay Embree, PhD (Clinical Faculty, Director)
- Dustin Hammers, PhD, ABPP-CN (Clinical Faculty)
- Tricia Merkley, PhD, ABPP-CN (Adjunct Faculty)
- Michelle Miranda, PhD (Clinical Faculty)
- David Tate, PhD (Research Faculty)
- Lisa Wilde, PhD (Research Faculty)