publications
The Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory (NNL) at Kessler Foundation conducts research to improve cognition in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Common effects of MS and TBI are difficulties with thinking, learning, and memory. Executive functions, including performing tasks in a sequence and problem solving, are also compromised. Individuals may have an increased feeling of apathy, in which they don’t have a desire to start a task, even a simple task such as folding laundry. MS and TBI can also cause individuals to tire quickly when performing thinking tasks—known as cognitive fatigue.
TBI and MS cause people to continuously adapt to their current abilities. It's a lifestyle change, not only for themselves but for their families as well (view our TBI newsletter to read their stories and gather resources). One of the hardest things in life is not being able to recall a fond memory or forgetting what you just read. These situations result in less independence in activities of daily living and limit the likelihood of maintaining employment.
The NNL strives to discover ways to improve cognition, prevent decline, and limit fatigue. Through non-invasive techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), and neuropsychological (paper and pencil) tests, we measure treatment outcomes to determine how research participants are responding to the studied treatments. fMRI shows what parts of the brain are active when performing various thinking tasks. By highlighting active parts of the brain, researchers can identify changes in brain activity after treatment.
NNL research is readily applicable to improving someone’s quality of life. It comes back to keeping your mind active to improve cognition or prevent decline. NNL Director Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD said, “Research is tremendously important to society as a whole. It is research that is responsible for advances, such as improved technology, as well as our knowledge of what keeps us healthy…Research is essential to living the kind of life we want to live.” View our active research studies for TBI and MS. Also, stay informed by visiting Kessler Foundation’s YouTube channel and Neuroscience Research and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Facebook pages.
Recent News & Research Discoveries for individuals with multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury:
Kessler Foundation Research Scientist Victoria Leavitt, PhD found that participants with MS scored 70% better on learning, memory, and thinking tests on cooler days than on warmer days. “This is the first research to show a possible link between warm weather and cognition, or thinking skills in people with multiple sclerosis,” said Dr. Leavitt. “With more research, this information might help guide people with MS in making life decisions and assist their doctors in choosing clinical treatment. Scientists may also want to consider the effect of warmer weather on cognition when conducting clinical trials.” To hear Dr. Leavitt's reaction to the temperature study, click on the image to the left. 
research protocols, thanks to a partnership between Kessler Foundation and the University of Southern California (USC) Institute for Creative Technologies. Participants will be tested in a virtual office environment, before and after treatment, to assess if they improve in every day work tasks—answering phones and emails, organizing files, and making wise business decisions (for more information, click on the image). This will demonstrate whether or not treatments are actually improving an individual’s ability to participate in activities of daily living. The goal, according to USC's Albert Rizzo, PhD of the Institute's Medical Virtual Reality research group, is to conduct research to develop the evidence base to support the future of home-based rehabilitation that is effective, convenient, and affordable. 
as cognitive reserve—an enriching lifestyle, and continually learning new things forms more connections in the brain. Therefore, if one connection is damaged as a result of the disease, the others will compensate for the loss. James F. Sumowski, PhD principle investigator of the study and research scientist at Kessler Foundation, found that individuals with MS can have more brain atrophy without cognitive decline, while those with less brain atrophy can have more deficits—all depending on their level of cognitive reserve. "Now we can advise [people] that staying in school, being active and using their bodies and brains will stave off cognitive decline," said John DeLuca, PhD co-author and vice president for research at Kessler Foundation. "These are important findings with global implications for the care of patients with MS."
