Mary Catherine Tierney

EDUCATION    
1977          Ph.D., University of Windsor (Psychology)
1972          M.A., University of Windsor (Psychology)     
1971          B.Sc.(Hons) University of Toronto (Psychology) 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Present and Recent Appointments

2018-present     Professor Emerita, Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto

2004-2018          Professor, Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto

2014-2018          Lead, Women Gender Sex and Dementia Cross-Cutting Program, Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging

2014-present     Affiliate Scientist, Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute,

2000-2018          Clinician Scientist, Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto

1987-2018          Neuropsychologist, Veterans Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto

Research Synopsis

My 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. I am interested in the role of estrogen in cognition and factors that influence it, including exercise and breast cancer treatments. I have also examined the utility of computerized cognitive assessment tools to detect early cognitive loss in primary care.

Recent Publications

Underwood, E., Davidson, H., Azam, A., & Tierney, M.C. Sex differences in depression as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review. Innovation in Aging, (Accepted June 2019). Senior author.

Underwood, E.A., Jerzak K.J., Lebovic, G., Rochon P.A., Elser, C., Pritchard, K.I. , Tierney, M.C. Cognitive Effects of Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Older Women Treated for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: a One-Year Longitudinal Study. Journal of Supportive Care in Cancer. 2019 (Epub ahead of print). Senior author.

Curtis, A., Masellis, M., Camicioli, R., Davidson, H. & Tierney, M.C. Cognitive profile of non-demented Parkinson's disease: Meta-analysis of domain and sex-specific deficits. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 2019; 60: 32-42. Senior author.

Andrew, M. & Tierney, M.C. The puzzle of sex, gender and dementia: why are women more often affected than men? Women’s Health. 2018; 14. Senior author.

Underwood, E.A., Rochon, P.R., Moineddin, R., Lee, P.E., Wu, W., Pritchard, K.I., & Tierney, M.C. Cognitive Sequelae of Endocrine Therapy in Women Treated for Breast Cancer: a Meta-Analysis. Breast Cancer Treatment and Research, 2018; 168: 299-310. Senior author.

Millett, G., Naglie, G., Upshur, R., Jaakkimainen, R.L., Charles, J., & Tierney, M.C. Computerized cognitive testing in primary care: a qualitative study. Alzheimer’s Disease and Associated Disorders, 2018; 32(2) 114-119. Senior author.

Tierney, M. C., Curtis, A. F., Chertkow, H., Rylett, R. J. Integrating sex and gender into neurodegeneration research: a six-component strategy. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions, 2017; 3: 660-667. Principal author.

Curtis, A., Masellis, M., Hsiung, G-Y. R., Moineddin, R., Zhang, K., Au, B., Millett, G., Mackenzie, I., Rogaeva, E., & Tierney, M.C. Sex differences in the prevalence of genetic mutations in patients with frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a meta-analysis. Neurology, 2017; 89: 1633-1642. Senior author.

Au, B., Dale-McGrath, S., Tierney, M. C. Sex differences in the prevalence and incidence of mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis. Aging Research Reviews, 2017; 35: 176-199. Senior author.

Tierney, M.C., Charles, J., Naglie, G., Jaakkimainen, L., Moineddin, R. The Effects of Computerized Cognitive Testing of Older Patients on Primary Care Physicians’ Approaches to Care. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 2017; 31: 62-68. Principal author.

Baines, N., Au, B., Rapoport, M., Naglie, G., Tierney, M.C. Meta-Analysis of Driving Cessation and Dementia: Does Sex Matter? Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences, 2016; Senior author.

Lee, P., Tierney, M.C., Wu, W., Pritchard, K., Rochon, P. Endocrine Treatment Associated Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Survivors: Evidence from Published Studies. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 2016;158(3): 407-420. Co-Principal author.

Honours and Awards

Award for Research Excellence, Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, June 2019

Award for Research Excellence, Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, April 2011

Award for Outstanding Research Publication, Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, April 2011

People’s Choice Award for Best Paper, Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, April 2011

Award for Outstanding Research Publication, Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, April 2008

Award for Outstanding Research Publication, Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, April 2006

Award for Research Excellence, Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, April 2005