Allison Caban-Holt, Ph.D.

(University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2004), Concentration: Clinical Psychology)

Allison Caban-Holt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
University of Kentucky, Lexington
303B Sanders-Brown Building
Lexington, KY   40536-0230
Phone: (859) 257-1412 ext. 322
Fax: (859) 323-1772
Email: amcaba2@email.uky.edu

Research Description:

Dr. Caban-Holt’s research focuses on cognition, the behavioral effects of dementia, and detecting dementia through neuropsychological evaluation. Her research experience is quite varied; working on projects such as looking at sleep and agitation in dementia patients, investigating the potential protective effects of Vitamin E and selenium for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, and elucidating the challenges for African-American caregivers of dementia patients. Dr. Caban-Holt will be UK site investigator for an Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study-sponsored clinical trial looking at home-based, self-administered assessment methods for identifying cognitive decline in health individuals over the age of 75.

2008 Accomplishments

In 2008, Dr. Caban-Holt was awarded a grant from the Department of Behavioral Science in order to obtain pilot data on prescription drug use/misuse in an elderly community sample. Dr. Caban-Holt is a co-investigator of a study entitled “Behavioral and Physiological Effects of a Power Training Exercise Program in People with Mild Cognitive Impairment” which was funded by the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Alzheimer’s Disease Center. The industry-sponsored Sleep and Agitation study, for which Dr. Caban-Holt is a co-investigator, will be re-funded to complete data collection during 2009-10. She is a co-investigator on a grant proposal submitted to the Alzheimer’s Association (under review) entitled “Context Memory (Source Amnesia) as an Early Marker of Alzheimer’s Disease and Amnestic MCI”. Dr. Caban-Holt continues as the Protocol Investigator for a multi-site clinical trial looking at home-based assessment measures for detecting changes in cognition in adults over the age of 75. She also continues as a co-investigator in the PREADVISE clinical trial which is following over 7,350 men in the U.S. and Canada to determine whether Vitamin E and Selenium will reduce the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. This grant was re-funded in 2008 for an additional 5-year grant period.  She served as the practicum supervisor for one Eastern Kentucky University Master’s degree student of Clinical Psychology for the Spring semester of 2008. She also trained two new employees of the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging in the neuropsychological testing procedures necessary for their work with the currently running clinical trials.  Dr. Caban-Holt was featured on an episode of “Connections with Renee Shaw” a television program produced by Kentucky Educational Television (public broadcast). The topic of the show was the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on African-Americans and aired during November for National Alzheimer’s disease awareness month.

Research Funding:

Principal Investigator, Multi-center Trial to Evaluate Home-based Assessment Methods for Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Research in People Over 75 Years Old, ADCS, 2007-2011.

Co-investigator, Unmet Needs of African-American Dementia Caregivers, Alzheimer’s Association, (2006-2007)

Postdoctoral Scholar, Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease by Vitamin E and Selenium, NIH/NIA, 5 R01 AG019241 (2001-2007)

Publications:

Bottiggi, K., Salazar, J., Yu, L., Caban-Holt, A., Ryan, M., & Schmitt, F. (2007). Concomitant use of medications with anticholinergic properties and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: Impact on cognitive and physical functioning in Alzheimer’s disease. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 15(4), 357-9.

Bottiggi, K., Salazar, J., Yu, L., Caban-Holt, A., Ryan, M., Mendiondo, M. & Schmitt, F. (2006). Long-term cognitive impact of anticholinergic medications in older adults. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 14 (11), 980-4.

Caban-Holt, A., Mendiondo, M., Runyons, C., Kryscio, R., Markesbery, W., & Schmitt, F. (2006). Cognitive screening in the antioxidant AD prevention (PREADVISE) trial: Concordance of MIS and CERAD. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ICAD). Madrid, Spain.

Caban-Holt, A., Schmitt, F.A., Runyons, C.R., Kryscio, R.J., Mendiondo, M.S., Sundquist, M.S., Markesbery, W.R., Coltman, C.A., Crowley, J.J., Goodman, P., & Hartline, J.A. (2006). Studying the effects of vitamin E and Selenium for Alzheimer’s disease prevention: the PREADVISE model. Research and Practice in Alzheimer’s Disease, 11, 124-130.

Caban-Holt, A., Bottiggi, K., & Schmitt, F.A. (2005). Measuring treatment response in Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials. Geriatrics, June 2005 Supplement, 60, 3-8.

Caban-Holt, A., Mattingly, M., Cooper, G., & Schmitt, F.A. (2005). Neurodegenerative memory disorders: A potential role of environmental toxins. Neurologic Clinics, 23, 485-521.