Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program

Education:

• B.Sc., 1971, psychology, University of Toronto, Canada
• MA, 1972, psychology, University of Windsor, Canada
• PhD, 1977, psychology, University of Windsor, Canada
• C. Psych, College of Psychologists of Ontario, Canada

Appointment and Affiliations:

• Affiliate scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Professor emerita, department of family and community medicine, U of T and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Full Member, School of Graduate Studies and Institute of Medical Science, U of T

Research Summary:

Dr. Tierney’s research focuses on cognitive impairment in aging, with a particular emphasis on sex differences in neurodegeneration, early identification and differential diagnosis, all with the goal to improve care and treatment of patients with dementia. She has examined the role of estrogen in cognition and factors that influence it, including exercise and breast cancer treatments. She has also examined the utility of computerized cognitive assessment tools to detect early cognitive loss in primary care.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

1. Underwood EA, Jerzak KJ, Lebovic G, Rochon PA, Elser C, Pritchard KI, Tierney MC. Cognitive effects of adjuvant endocrine therapy in older women treated for early-stage breast cancer: a one-year longitudinal study. Support Care Cancer. 2019 Aug;27(8):3035–3043. doi: 10.1007/s00520-018-4603-5. Epub 2019 Jan 4.
2. Curtis A, Masellis M, Camicioli R, Davidson H, Tierney MC. Cognitive profile of non-demented Parkinson's disease: Meta-analysis of domain and sex-specific deficits. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2019 Mar;60:32–42.
3. Underwood EA, Rochon PR, Moineddin R, Lee PE, Wu W, Pritchard KI, Tierney MC. Cognitive sequelae of endocrine therapy in women treated for breast cancer: a meta-analysis. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2018 Apr; 168(2):299–310.
4. Curtis A, Masellis M, Hsiung GR, Moineddin R, Zhang K, Au B, Millett G, Mackenzie I, Rogaeva E, Tierney MC. Sex differences in the prevalence of genetic mutations in patients with frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a meta-analysis. Neurology. 2017 Oct 10; 89(15):1633–42.
5. Au B, Dale-McGrath S, Tierney MC. Sex differences in the prevalence and incidence of mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis. Aging Res Rev. 2017 May;35:176–99.

Related Links:

• U of T profile, department of family and community medicine