Megan Barker

Postdoctoral researcher in neuropsychology @Columbia University. Interested in dementia, language, memory, and neuropsychiatry. She/her

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

@Muireann_Irish @UCSFmac @bsappleby @KLDevick @DickersonLabMGH @MC_Tartaglia @TaubInstitute @allftd @Frontier_Usyd Thank you for sharing, this looks brilliant ☺️

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

My first (co) senior author paper! Wonderful to be part of this work led by the amazing @HannahSilverm14

[UCSF Fein Memory and Aging Center @UCSFmac]

The contribution of behavioral features to caregiver burden in FTLD spectrum disorders. Interventions targeting apathy, disinhibition & psychosis may reduce burden. https://t.co/S9ftyZn0DD

@bsappleby @KLDevick @DickersonLabMGH @MC_Tartaglia @MeganSBarker @TaubInstitute @allftd

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

@Jeanc9orf72 Absolutely, it’s extremely tricky and complicated! Another important avenue for research

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

New paper out in Cortex! We examine genetic mutation carriers in the prodromal stage of bvFTD, and find memory & semantic weaknesses in MAPT mutations, poor executive skills in GRN mutations and mildly slowed processing speed in C9orf72 mutations

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

@Jeanc9orf72 Yes, I think that's true for some individuals but not all. I have certainly seen cases where motor symptoms precede cog/behavioral symptoms. But as you said, there is still a lot to learn!! :-)

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

@Jeanc9orf72 Also, we are currently doing whole exome sequencing in C9 carriers to try and map specific phenotypes to different genetic markers - so watch this space! It really would be amazing if we could predict the phenotype. Thank you for your comment, I appreciate the engagement!

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

@IndiraTurney This is amazing news! Congratulations!! 😊

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

@aabrielma @neurobatool 🧠

[Queensland Neurostimulation Centre @QLDNeurostimCen]

We are a passionate team of neuroscientists and clinician-researchers delivering personalised, science-driven mental health care. We provide a new model of care for #TreatmentResistantDepression through #PersonalisedTMS https://t.co/luzQpnBGFA @DrPhilipMosley @AndrewZalesky

[Dr Philip Mosley @DrPhilipMosley]

Thrilled to be part of Australia's first centre for personalised, non-invasive neurostimulation.

https://t.co/YlhPKwDTrg

#PrecisionMedicine

[Healthy Brain Ageing Program, University of Sydney @HBAProgram_USYD]

Come join our team! We are recruiting a Research Assistant with a passion for ageing/dementia, music & the brain and who loves working in a dynamic collaborative multidisciplinary team. Be quick - closes Friday! @BrainMind_Usyd @UsydPsych See: https://t.co/03KEADB8sZ

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

Join us tomorrow at #AAIC21 8am MT for a virtual session on frontotemporal dementia. We have an excellent line up of speakers from around the world! Looking forward to co-chairing the session with @PhilipAlz

[Dr Philip Mosley @DrPhilipMosley]

Happy to share our new paper:

Deep brain stimulation for treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder should be an accepted therapy in Australia https://t.co/2F9lD1i70O

With @melb_neuropsych @sachdevps & hello @RANZCP @DrVinayLakra @GregHuntMP @PBFitzgerald

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

@Kriegler25 Yes! I call it "manuscraps" 😆

[Andrew Zalesky @AndrewZalesky]

QNC: Australia's first clinic to offer personalized TMS for depression
https://t.co/hqNwgQ0qhC

Using fMRI brain imaging, TMS therapy will be tailored to a person's own brain connectivity network

Congrats to @LucaCocchi78, Bjorn Burgher, @DrPhilipMosley, @cashmachine15 & team

[Ev (like in 'evidence', not Eve) Fedorenko 🇺🇦 @ev_fedorenko]

In 2016, a woman (age 54 at the time) contacted us who was living without her left temporal lobe. She didn't know about her missing temp. lobe until age 25. She never experienced any head trauma/injury, so the temp. lobe was likely lost as a result of pre/perinatal stroke. 1/n

[Cosentino Lab @cosentinolab]

Very excited and proud to share that @MeganSBarker will be giving an oral presentation at the upcoming AAIC on her amazing and important work on preliminary diagnostic criteria for prodromal bvFTD & will be chairing this FTD session! Congratulations !!

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

Fascinating work separating the symptom of anhedonia from apathy and depression - such a critical theoretical (and clinically relevant) concept, especially in bvFTD. Congratulations on an excellent paper!

[Prof Muireann Irish FASSA FRSN @Muireann_Irish]

🚨🚨Our new paper!🚨🚨 Out today in @Brain1878 we present the first evidence of severe anhedonia (loss of pleasure) in frontotemporal dementia. This was a massive team effort led by superstar @siobhanshaw2 with help from @Frontier_Usyd @AlexisWhitton @Olivier_Piguet THREAD 👇 1/n

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

@GailARobinson Thank you Gail!

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

Link to article here: https://t.co/wfGB1gJUpf
Data from @allftd consortium

[Megan Barker @MeganSBarker]

This has implications for clinical trial endpoints - although all the mutation carriers in this study will likely develop a bvFTD phenotype, their cognitive weaknesses will be detected by different neuropsych tests! Don't just do an MMSE, folks (especially at early disease stage)