Research Interests: Dr. Silbert has completed fellowship training in both Geriatric Neurology and Clinical Neurophsyiology at OHSU. Her research interests include the effects of subcortical white matter change on age-related cognitive and motor slowing. She is currently investigating the use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to obtain an electrophysiologic measurement of central nervous system processing speed in the oldest old.

Research Interests: In the Oregon Brain Aging Study we have studied cognitive functioning of the healthy, oldest-old in a longitudinal project begun more than 12 years ago. We have examined both normal functioning and preclinical dementia as some research participants have developed dementia after entering the project. In the Alzheimer’s Center we have examined cognitive decline in participants with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders with dementia severity ranging from questionable dementia to severe impairment. We have examined salient features of the dementia at each disease stage. Cognitive data from these projects are combined with data from clinical neurology, neuroimaging, neuropathology, molecular genetics, and molecular biology with the goal of increasing knowledge about the etiology and pathophysiology of these neurodegenerative disorders.

Research Interests: As a psychologist in the Aging and Alzheimer's Center at OHSU, I have been interested in the behavioral aspects of dementia. Previous work has focused on early changes in behavior that may precede memory problems, the effects of impaired insight in AD patients, and assessment of severely impaired dementia patients. For the past few years I have been working with the Oregon DMV in their efforts to better regulate the licensing of older drivers. I also provide neuropsychological assessments of participants in our longitudinal study of aging and Alzheimer's disease.