Overview
Background
Dr Dana Pourzinal is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Dementia & Neuro Mental Health Research Unit within the UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine. From her PhD (2023) and continued research, she has gained extensive expertise in neuroimaging, advanced statistical analysis, and clinical trials, with a particular focus on identifying dementia risk in Parkinson's disease and related therapeutic interventions and biomarkers. Dr Pourzinal's current work aims to improve current clinical practice for people living with Parkinson's disease (MRFF-funded PDCogniCare project) by developing guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson’s disease.
Dr Pourzinal's primary research interests are focussed on cognition in Parkinson's disease (PD) and include:
- Defining and profiling PD cognitive subtypes using advanced data-driven methods.
- Neuroimaging biomarkers to predict cognitive decline and dementia risk in PD.
- Evaluating pharmacological treatments for dementia risk in PD.
- Longitudinal tracking of cognitive trajectories to inform early intervention strategies in PD.
Availability
- Dr Dana Pourzinal is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Psychology, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Neuroscience, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Dana Pourzinal’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Conference Publication
Feasibility, acceptability, and reliable tests for direct-to-home tele-neuropsychological assessment in older adults
King, James, Pourzinal, Dana, McCann, Emily, Hawes, Alexandra and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka (2025). Feasibility, acceptability, and reliable tests for direct-to-home tele-neuropsychological assessment in older adults. Psychology and Ageing Interest Group National Conference., Brisbane, QLD Australia, 28th November 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Enhancing neuropsychological assessment clinical pathways in Parkinson's disease through the use of technology
Lobo, Elton H., Worthy, Peter, Brooks, Deborah, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Pourzinal, Dana, Sriram, Deepa, Fels, Rachel, Yang, Ji Hyun, Liddle, Jacki, Mitchell, Leander K. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). Enhancing neuropsychological assessment clinical pathways in Parkinson's disease through the use of technology. Frontiers in Digital Health, 7 1681221. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2025.1681221
2025
Conference Publication
The PDCogniCare Toolkit: Developing a harmonised neuropsychological toolkit specific to Parkinson’s Disease
McCann, Emily, Pourzinal, Dana, Sriram, Deepa, Mitchell, Leander K., Liddle, Jacki, Lehn, Alexander and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka (2025). The PDCogniCare Toolkit: Developing a harmonised neuropsychological toolkit specific to Parkinson’s Disease. Movement Disorders International Congress, Honolulu, HI United States, 5-9 October 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Improving diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Australian Program
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Pourzinal, Dana, McCann, Emily, Lobo, Elton Henry Savio, Brooks, Deborah, Sriram, Deepa, Au, Tiffany, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy, Naismith, Sharon, Broome, Annette, Lehn, Alexander, Kelder, Anna, Liddle, Jacki, King, James, Marsh, Rodney, Robertson, Stuart, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Tinson, Helen, Verreynne, Martie-Louise, Wood, Brian, Worthy, Peter, Yang, Julia, Nestor, Peter J., Chatfield, Mark, Keramat, Syed Afroz, Tan, Edwin, Piccinini, Tomas, Beattie, Elizabeth ... O'Sullivan, John (2025). Improving diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Australian Program. Movement Disorders International Congress, Honolulu, HI United States, 5-9 October 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Critical steps to enhance identification of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Australian Program.
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Pourzinal, Dana, McCann, Emily, Lobo, Elton Henry Savio, Brooks, Deborah, Sriram, Deepa, Au, Tiffany, Mitchell, Leander K., O'Sullivan, John, Naismith, Sharon, Broome, Annette, Lehn, Alexander, Kelder, Anna, Liddle, Jacki, King, James, Robertson, Stuart, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Tinson, Helen, Verreynne, Martie-Louise, Wood, Brian, Worthy, Peter, Yang, Jihuyn, Nestor, Peter, Chatfield, Mark, Keramat, Syed Afroz, Tan, Edwin, Piccinini, Tomas, Beattie, Elizabeth, Marsh, Rodney ... Pachana, Nancy (2025). Critical steps to enhance identification of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Australian Program.. International Psychogeriatric Association Congress, Kanazawa, Japan, 25-27 September 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Developing Recommendations for Best Practice Guidelines for Cognitive Evaluation in Parkinson’s Disease: Insights from Lived Experience Experts
Sriram, Deepa, Pourzinal, Dana, Bailey, Daniel X., Brooks, Deborah, McCann, Emily and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka (2025). Developing Recommendations for Best Practice Guidelines for Cognitive Evaluation in Parkinson’s Disease: Insights from Lived Experience Experts. International Neuropsychological Society and the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment 7th Pacific Rim Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2-5 July 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Harmonising neuropsychological assessments to identify cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and critique
McCann, Emily, Pourzinal, Dana, Brooks, Deborah, Sriram, Deepa, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy A., King, James and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka (2025). Harmonising neuropsychological assessments to identify cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and critique. 7th Pacific Rim Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2-5 July 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Enhancing utility of neuropsychological evaluation for earlier and effective diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Project
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Au, Tiffany, Beattie, Elizabeth, Brooks, Deborah, Broome, Annette, Byrne, Gerard, Chatfield, Mark, Lehn, Alexander, Kelderm, Anna, Liddle, Jacki, Keramat, Syed Afroz, King, James, Lobo, Elton Henry Savio, Marsh, Rodney, McCann, Emily, Naismith, Sharon, Nestor, Peter, O'Sullivan, John, Pachana, Nancy, Piccinini, Tomas, Pourzinal, Dana, Robertson, Stuart, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Spooner, Donna, Sriram, Deepa, Tan, Edwin, Tinson, Helen, Verreynne, Martie-Louise, Wood, Brian ... Mitchell, Leander K. (2025). Enhancing utility of neuropsychological evaluation for earlier and effective diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Project. 7th Pacific Rim Conference, Brisbane, Qld Australia, 2-5 July 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson's disease: consensus recommendations from a modified Delphi process
Pourzinal, Dana, Brooks, Deborah, Sriram, Deepa, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy A., Shrubsole, Kirstine, Wood, Brian, O'Sullivan, John D., Marsh, Rodney, Lehn, Alexander, Liddle, Jacki, Tan, Edwin C. K., Halford, W. Kim, Page, Neil and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson's disease: consensus recommendations from a modified Delphi process. Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring, 17 (3) e70152, 1-13. doi: 10.1002/dad2.70152
2025
Journal Article
Evaluating evidence for a neuropsychological toolkit to predict cognitive decline in PD: a systematic review
Pourzinal, Dana, King, James, Sivakumaran, Kumareshan, Yang, Jihyun, McCann, Emily, Mitchell, Leander K., Brooks, Deborah, Lehn, Alexander, Liddle, Jacki, Pachana, Nancy A., Tinson, Helen, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Bailey, Daniel X. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). Evaluating evidence for a neuropsychological toolkit to predict cognitive decline in PD: a systematic review. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 1-28. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2025.2511966
2025
Journal Article
Diagnosis, evaluation and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review
Pourzinal, Dana, Elgey, Charlotte, Bailey, Daniel X., Yang, Jihyun, Lehn, Alexander, Tinson, Helen, Liddle, Jacki, Brooks, Deborah, Naismith, Sharon L., Shrubsole, Kirstine, Marsh, Rodney, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy A., King, James and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). Diagnosis, evaluation and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review. International Psychogeriatrics 100081, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.inpsyc.2025.100081
2025
Journal Article
Schrödinger's cat and mouse: An adapted thought experiment for the context of consciousness
Eeles, Eamonn, Pourzinal, Dana, Baland, Jalal and Ray, Julian (2025). Schrödinger's cat and mouse: An adapted thought experiment for the context of consciousness. Behavioural Brain Research, 483 115459, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115459
2025
Journal Article
Development and Validation of the Parkinson’s Disease Specific Anxiety Inventory (PDSAI)
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N., Pourzinal, Dana, Byrne, Gerard, Pachana, Nancy A., O’Sullivan, John D., White, Elizabeth, Au, Tiffany, Yang, Jihyun, Interian, Alejandro, Rodriguez, Kailyn and Dobkin, Roseanne D. (2025). Development and Validation of the Parkinson’s Disease Specific Anxiety Inventory (PDSAI). Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 38 (5), 8919887251332660-361. doi: 10.1177/08919887251332660
2025
Journal Article
Telehealth cognitive behavior therapy to reduce anxiety in people living with cognitive impairment: a randomized feasibility pilot study
Pacas Fronza, Gabriela, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy A., Byrne, Gerard J., Liddle, Jacki, Yang, Jihyun, Brooks, Deborah, Au, Tiffany, Pourzinal, Dana, Worthy, Peter, Comans, Tracy, Beattie, Elizabeth, Bennett, Sally, Russell, Trevor and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). Telehealth cognitive behavior therapy to reduce anxiety in people living with cognitive impairment: a randomized feasibility pilot study. Clinical Gerontologist, 48 (4), 684-698. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2024.2336187
2024
Journal Article
Profiling people with Parkinson's disease at risk of cognitive decline: Insights from PPMI and ICICLE‐PD data
Pourzinal, Dana, Lawson, Rachael A., Yarnall, Alison J., Williams‐Gray, Caroline H., Barker, Roger A., Yang, Jihyun, McMahon, Katie L., O'Sullivan, John D., Byrne, Gerard J. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2024). Profiling people with Parkinson's disease at risk of cognitive decline: Insights from PPMI and ICICLE‐PD data. Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring, 16 (3) e12625, 1-11. doi: 10.1002/dad2.12625
2024
Conference Publication
Neuropsychological predictors of cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review (PDCogniCare)
Pourzinal, D., Sivakumaran, K., Yang, J., Bailey, D.X., Mitchell, L.K., Brooks, D. and Dissanayaka, N. (2024). Neuropsychological predictors of cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review (PDCogniCare). Australian Dementia Research Forum 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 3-5 June 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Enhancing utility of neuropsychological evaluation for earlier and effective diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare project
Au, T., Bailey, D., Beattie, E., Brooks, D., Broome, A., Byrne, G., Chatfield, M., Dissanayaka, N., Keramat, S.A., Lehn, A., Liddle, J., Marsh, R., Mitchell, L., Naismith, S., Nestor, S., O’Sullivan, J., Pachana, N., Pourzinal, D., Robertson, S., Shrubsole, K., Sivakumaran, K., Spooner, D., Tinson, H., Verreynne, M.L., Worthy, P. and Yang, J. (2024). Enhancing utility of neuropsychological evaluation for earlier and effective diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare project. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 3-5 June 2024.
2024
Journal Article
Hippocampal resting‐state connectivity is associated with posterior‐cortical cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease
Pourzinal, Dana, Yang, Jihyun, McMahon, Katie L., Copland, David A., Mitchell, Leander, O'Sullivan, John D., Byrne, Gerard J. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2024). Hippocampal resting‐state connectivity is associated with posterior‐cortical cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. Brain and Behavior, 14 (3) e3454, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/brb3.3454
2024
Conference Publication
Verbal fluency correlates with medial temporal lobe volumes in Parkinson’s disease with memory impairment
Yang, J., Pourzinal, D. and Dissanayaka, N. (2024). Verbal fluency correlates with medial temporal lobe volumes in Parkinson’s disease with memory impairment. Australian Dementia Research Forum 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 3-5 June 2024.
2023
Journal Article
Levetiracetam for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: a double-blind controlled proof-of-concept trial protocol
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Pourzinal, Dana, Byrne, Gerard J., Yang, Jihyun, McMahon, Katie L., Pontone, Gregory M., O'Sullivan, John D., Adam, Robert, Littleford, Roberta, Chatfield, Mark, Lehn, Alexander, Mari, Zoltan and Bakker, Arnold (2023). Levetiracetam for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: a double-blind controlled proof-of-concept trial protocol. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 9 (1) 189, 189. doi: 10.1186/s40814-023-01406-y
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Dana Pourzinal is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Therapeutic biomarkers and interventions for dementia risk in Parkinson's disease
Cognitive impairment and dementia are a top concern for people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Decline in memory can contribute towards a poor quality of life and higher rates of institutionalisation for people with PD. The aim of this project is to understand the characteristics of memory impairment in PD and determine the effectiveness of a repurposed drug (levetiracetam) in alleviating mild memory problems in people with PD. We are seeking a PhD candidate with an interest in neurodegenerative disease, cognitive impairment and neuroimaging (functional MRI). You will have the opportunity to develop skills in neuropsychological assessment, neuroimaging analysis, and the execution of clinical trials.
Media
Enquiries
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