Morris Freedman, MD, FRCP(C)

Scientist Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care

Head, Division of Neurology and Director, Behavioural Neurology Program Baycrest Hospital

Professor Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) , University of Toronto

Director Behavioural Neurology Section, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto

Research Focus

My research is aimed at improving our understanding of the mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression in the elderly. My primary research focus involves experimental paradigms adopted from the non-human animal literature to study cognitive deficits due to brain damage in humans. This approach is based on techniques that are of proven reliability and validity in animal models and that are of established value in identifying cognitive deficits in humans with brain lesions.

With my colleagues, we have recently validated the Object Alternation test as a measure of orbitofrontal function in humans. We are carrying out research to determine whether there are distinct subgroups in Alzheimer's disease and to examine the relation between these subgroups and lesions in selective brain areas. We will also examine whether genetics is related to different clinical subgroups, and to different sites of brain involvement in AlzheimerÕs disease.

This research will have implications for future studies in Alzheimer's disease related to determining the underlying causes, the development of refined diagnostic criteria, and treatment. My research interests also include drug treatment studies in Alzheimer's disease. We have recently completed a drug study of L-Deprenyl in Alzheimer's disease, but did not find any detectable benefit on general behaviour, neuropsychiatric symptoms, or cognitive function in AD after six months of treatment.

The above research is supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada.

Education

• 1971: B.Sc., University of Toronto
• 1975: M.D. (Medicine) , University of Ottawa

Academic Appointments

• 2000–Present: Scientist, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care
• 1997–Present: Coordinator, Behavioural Neurology Section, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto
• 1990–2000: Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
• 1985–1990: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
• 1989–Present: Head, Division of Neurology and Director, Behavioural Neurology Program, Baycrest Hospital
• 1988–Present: Graduate Faculty, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
• 1986–Present: Professor, Faculty of Medicine (Neurology) , University of Toronto
• 1984–Present: Associate Staff Scientist, Mount Sinai Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital
• 1983–2010: Staff Neurologist, Mount Sinai Hospital and Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, Canada
• 1998–Present: Staff Neurologist, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
• 1983–1985: Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
• 2010–Present: Director, Behavioural Neurology Section, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto

Research Projects

External

• 2008–2010: The Effect of Lifelong Bilingualism on the Onset and Progression of Alzheimer Disease
  Collaborators: E Bialystok (PI), F Craik

  Sponsors: Alzheimer Society of Canada, $94,826

• 2008–2010: Assessing Driving Performance in Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Dementia.
  Collaborators: G Naglie (PI), S Black, I Gelinas, N Herrman, N Korner-Bitensky, M Man-Son-Hing, S Marshall, M Rappoport, D Tang-Wai, G Tomlinson, H Tuokko

  Sponsors: CIHR, $191,860

• 2007–2012: The Language Impairment in Progressive Aphasia: A Longitudinal Neuropsychological and Imaging Study
  Collaborators: E Rochon (PI), S Black (PI), B Levine, C Leonard, T Chow, D Tang-Wai, N Graham

  Sponsors: CIHR, $511,835

• 2007–2009: Theory of Mind in Alzheimer's Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia
  Collaborators: D Stuss, S Black

  Sponsors: OMHF, $148,784

• 2006–2008: Serotonergic Function and Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Frontotemporal Dementia
  Collaborators: N Herrman (PI), K Lanctot, S Black, T Chow

  Sponsors: Alzheimer Society of Canada, $79,858

• 2006–2008: B-Amyloid PET Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease
  Collaborators: NP Verheoff (PI), R Van Reekum, S Houle, A Wilson

  Sponsors: Alzheimer Society of Canada, $99,913

• 2006–2008: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Dementia
  Collaborators: C Mackenzie (PI), D Conn, N Khatri

  Sponsors: Alzheimer Society of Canada, $48,288

• 2006–2008: Canadian Alzheimer's Disease Quality of Life Study
  Collaborators: G Naglie (PI), G Tomlinson, D Hogan, M Krahn, J Irvine, C Patterson, M Borrie, D Streiner, S Black, C MacKnight, H Bergman, L Beattie, Y Bacher, A Byszewski, P Ritvo

  Sponsors: Alzheimer Society of Canada, $211,956

• 2006–2007: Pharmacogenetics of Rivastigmine Response in Lewby Body Disease: A Pilot Study Employing Brain SPECT
  Collaborators: S Black (PI), M Masellis

  Sponsors: CIHR, $ 50,000

• 2005–2006: Longitudinal Canadian Alzheimer's Disease Quality of Life Study
  Collaborators: G Naglie (PI), Y Bacher, L Beattie, H Bergman, S Black, M Borrie, A Byszewski, D Hogan, J Ingram, J Irvine, M Krahn, C MacKnight, C Patterson, P Ritvo, D Streiner, G Tomlinson

  Sponsors: CIHR, $ 50,000

• 2004–2006: Canadian Alzheimer's Disease Quality of Life Study
  Collaborators: G Naglie (PI), Y Bacher, L Beattie, H Bergman, S Black, M Borrie, A Byszewski, D Hogan, J Ingram, J Irvine, M Krahn, C MacKnight, C Patterson, P Ritvo, D Streiner, G Tomlinson , $113,752

• 2003–2008: Rotman Research Institute Brain and Aging Group
  Collaborators: D Stuss (PI), C Alain, S Black, T Chow, F Craik, C Grady, S Graham, L Hasher, B Levine, N Lobaugh, H Mayberg, A McIntosh, M Moscovitch, K O'Craven, C Pantev, T Picton, J Ryan, T Stefurak, E Tulving, G Winocur

  Sponsors: CIHR, $2,074,570

• 2002–2006: Canadian Alzheimer's Disease Quality of Life Study
  Collaborators: G Naglie (PI), M Krahn, M Irvine, P Ritvo, M Silberford, S Black, D Streiner, G Tomlinson, D Hogan, H Bergman, C MacKnight, C Patterson, M Borrie, L Beattie

  Sponsors: CIHR, $565,419

• 2002–2005: Social Cognition in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
  Collaborators: D Stuss, S Black

  Sponsors: CIHR, $265,788

• 2002–2004: Interactions Between Herbal Medicines and Conventional Drug Therapy
  Collaborators: P Rochon (PI), S Black, J Gurwitz, N Herrman, D Streiner

  Sponsors: Alzheimer Society of Canada, $119,474

• 2001–2003: Risk Factors in Dementia
  Collaborators: M Percy (PI), D Andrews

  Sponsors: Alzheimer Society of Canada, $77,100

• 1999–2000: Heterogeneity in Frontotemporal Dementia: Clinical, Anatomical, and Genetic Mechanisms
  Collaborators: M Ichise, M Moscovitch, D Raphael, P St. George-Hyslop, M Binns

  Sponsors: Medical Research Council of Canada, $12,773

• 1998–2002: Rehabilitation of Executive Dysfunction Following Focal Lesions, "Traumatic Brain Injury and Aging"
  Collaborators: D Stuss (PI), M Alexander, S Black, M Cusimano, F Craik, D Dawson, C Grady, L Jacoby, B Levine, B Koel, R McIntosh, M Moscovitch, G Proulx, I Robertson, M Schwartz, G Winocur

  Sponsors: James S McDonnell Foundation, $840,000

• 2006–2008: An Open-Label Pilot Study of the Effects of Acute Memantine Administration on FDG-PET in Frontotemporal Dementia
  Collaborators: T Chow (PI), M Binns, H Dombrower, B Pollock, G Smith, P Verhoeff

  Sponsors: Lundbeck Canada Inc, $161,992

  Contract Research

• 2002–2004: Olanzipine versus Trazadone for Treatment for Agitation in Dementia
  Collaborators: P Lee, D Conn, B Richards, L Duanal

  Sponsors: Eli Lilly Canada Inc, $66,112

  Contract Research

• 1999–2000: Cognitive and Regional Brain Perfusion of Aricept in Probable Alzheimer's Disease
  Collaborators: S Black (Co-PI), C Caldwell, L Ehrlich, M Ichise

  Sponsors: Pfizer Canada Inc, $72,826

  Contract Research

Research Training