Alzheimer's Disease, Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology Faculty Team

AM Barrett, MD, professor of neurology, is a cognitive neurologist and neurorehabilitationist, and her research is focused on spatial cognition, right brain rehabilitation, and unawareness of deficits.

Barrett, MD, and her collaborators are pioneers and US leaders in spatial neglect rehabilitation. Her work demonstrates that when powerful right brain systems are damaged, hidden disabilities occur affecting functional vision, strength, and mobility as well as adaptive navigation. These problems devastate daily activities and can be dramatically improved with spatial retraining while wearing off-the-shelf optical prisms.

Dr. Barrett has trained hundreds of clinicians and led the treatment of thousands of patients, many of whom are relieved of spatial neglect symptoms, even years after stroke. The goal of her current, multisite, Veteran Administration-funded research is to identify a brain-based biomarker that can be used to personalize and facilitate spatial neglect care. 

Dr. Claunch is a board-certified Neuropsychiatrist who provides treatment care using cognitive, behavioral, and depth psychology approaches.

Academic Profile

Education:
- fellowship training in Cerebrovascular Diseases at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center / Harvard Medical School
- residency training in Neurology at the University of Heidelberg, Germany,
- residency training in Neurology at UMass Chan Medical School
- medical school at the University of Mainz, Germany

Academic Profiles 

Stephen Nicholas, a psychometrist, gathers the cognitive concerns of the patient and administers a brief test battery designed by Dr. Barrett to score and formulate the patient’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses. These results prepare the treatment team and supervising clinician to assist with diagnostic clarification and further recommendations. He is pursuing dual board certifications in clinical neuropsychology and within the sub-specialty of pediatric neuropsychology.  

Academic Profile 

Education:
- fellowship training at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, University of Western Ontario
- residency training in neurology at UMass Chan Medical School
- medical degree from McGill University in Montreal Canada

referring partner

Academic Profiles 

residency program in neuropsychiatry at UMass Chan Medical School
medical school at UMass Chan Medical School