Nishka Patel: URCAD Virtual Presentation

Examining the Cognitive and Pyschosocial Profiles of GD1 Versus GBA-PD Patients

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While there are currently available research studies that focus on the cognitive features seen in Gaucher disease Type 1 (GD1) and GBA -associated Parkinson’s disease (GBA-PD), research analyzing the lived illness experiences of both diseases is limited (Hammarlund et al. 2018; Packman et al. 2010). Serving as an extension to my INDS degree concentration in Illness Narratology, my capstone project aims to create a clinical profile of GD1 and GBA-PD individuals using statistical analysis and patient interviews.

As advanced medical and scientific therapies become more apparent among hospitals and clinics, many physicians are now advocating for an integrative approach to practicing medicine (Gannotta et al. 2018). With this increasing need for healthcare providers to treat the patient rather than solely the disease (Zazulak 2016), my capstone intends to call attention to the importance of integrating a holistic approach when analyzing the clinical presentations of genetic and neurodegenerative disorders.

Mentors: Grisel Lopez, National Institutes of Health; David Eisenmann, Department of Biological Sciences, UMBC

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