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
2021
Journal Article
Neural correlates of attentional deficits in Parkinson’s disease patients with mild cognitive impairment
Yang, Jihyun, Pourzinal, Dana, McMahon, Katie L., Byrne, Gerard J., Copland, David A., O’Sullivan, John D. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2021). Neural correlates of attentional deficits in Parkinson’s disease patients with mild cognitive impairment. Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, 85, 17-22. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2021.02.009
2021
Conference Publication
Investigating resting state functional connectivity in sub-phenotypes of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease
Pourzinal, D., Yang, J.H., Byrne, G.J., O’Sullivan, J.D., McMahon, K., Copland, D.A. and Dissanayaka, N. (2021). Investigating resting state functional connectivity in sub-phenotypes of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. Australia Dementia Forum 2021, Online, 31 May – 1 June 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
Systematic review of Magnetic Resonance Imaging studies exploring hippocampal correlates of episodic memory in Parkinson’s disease
Pourzinal, D., Yang, J., Bakker, A., McMahon, K. L., Byrne, G. J., Pontone, G., Mari, Z. and Dissanayaka, N. (2021). Systematic review of Magnetic Resonance Imaging studies exploring hippocampal correlates of episodic memory in Parkinson’s disease. 6th Pacific Rim Conference 2021, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 30 Jun-3 Jul 2021.
2020
Conference Publication
Identification and clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease
Yang, J., Forbes, E., Pourzinal, D., McMahon, K., Copland, D., Byrne, G., O'Sullivan, J., Mitchell, L. and Dissanayaka, N. (2020). Identification and clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. Herston Health Precinct Symposium 2020, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7-11 December 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Altered functional connectivity of the hippocampus in posterior-cortical subtype of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease
Pourzinal, D., Yang, J. H., Byrne, G. J., O'Sullivan, J. D., Mitchell, L. K., McMahon, K. L., Copland, D. A. and Dissanayaka, N. N. W. (2020). Altered functional connectivity of the hippocampus in posterior-cortical subtype of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. Australian Society for Medical Research Queensland Postgraduate Student Conference, Online, 11 November 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Therapy to Reduce dementia risk In Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): proof-of-concept protocol
Pourzinal, D., Bakker, A., Byrne, G. J., McMahon, K., O'Sullivan, J., Adam, R., Copland, D., Yang, J. H. J., Au, T., Littleford, R., Chatfield, M., Pontone, G., Mari, Z. and Dissanayaka, N. (2020). Therapy to Reduce dementia risk In Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): proof-of-concept protocol. UQ Faculty of Medicine Higher Degree by Research Student Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 23-27 November 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): proof-of-concept protocol
Pourzinal, D., Bakker, A., Byrne, G. J., McMahon, K., O'Sullivan, J., Adam, R., Copland, D., Yang, J. H. J., Au, T., Littleford, R., Chatfield, M., Pontone, G., Mari, G. and Dissanayaka, N. (2020). Therapy to reduce dementia risk in Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): proof-of-concept protocol. Herston Health Precinct Symposium 2020, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 7-11 December 2020.
2020
Journal Article
Identifying subtypes of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease using cluster analysis
Pourzinal, Dana, Yang, Ji Hyun J., Byrne, Gerard J., O’Sullivan, John D., Mitchell, Leander, McMahon, Katie L., Copland, David A. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2020). Identifying subtypes of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease using cluster analysis. Journal of Neurology, 267 (11), 3213-3222. doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-09977-z
2020
Conference Publication
Investigating resting state functional connectivity in sub-phenotypes of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s disease
Pourzinal, D., Yang, J.H.J., Byrne, G.J., O'Sullivan, J., Mitchell, L., McMahon, K.L., Copland, D.A. and Dissanayaka, N.N. (2020). Investigating resting state functional connectivity in sub-phenotypes of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s disease. 5th Annual NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research (NNIDR) Australian Dementia Forum, Adelaide, Australia, 31 May - 2 June 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Identification and clinical characteristics of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's disease
Yang, J., Forbes, E., Pourzinal, D., McMahon, K., Copland, D., Byrne, G., O'Sullivan, J., Mitchell, L. and Dissanayaka, N. (2020). Identification and clinical characteristics of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's disease. Macquarie University BioNetwork 3rd Annual Research Symposium on Dementia, Online, 14-15 September 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Using cluster analysis to identify mild cognitive impairment phenotypes in Parkinson’s disease
Pourzinal, D., Yang, J.H.J., Byrne, G.J., O'Sullivan, J., Mitchell, L., McMahon, K.L., Copland, D.A. and Dissanayaka, N.N. (2020). Using cluster analysis to identify mild cognitive impairment phenotypes in Parkinson’s disease. 5th Annual NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research (NNIDR) Australian Dementia Forum, Adelaide, Australia, 31 May - 2 June 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Therapy to Reduce dementia risk In Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): Proof-of-concept protocol
Pourzinal, D., Bakker, A., Byrne, G., McMahon, K.L., O'Sullivan, J.D., Adam, R., Lehn, A., Copland, D., Yang, J.H., Au, T., Littleford, R., Chatfield, M., Pontone, G., Mari, Z. and Dissanayaka, N.N.W. (2020). Therapy to Reduce dementia risk In Parkinson’s disease (TRIP): Proof-of-concept protocol. Macquarie University BioNetwork 3rd Annual Research Symposium on Dementia, Online, 14-15 September 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Identification and clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease
Yang, J.H., Forbes, E., Pourzinal, D., McMahon, K., Copland, D.A., Byrne, G.J., O'Sullivan, J., Mitchell, L. and Dissanayaka, N.N. (2020). Identification and clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. MDS Virtual Congress 2020, Online, 12-16 September 2020.
2020
Conference Publication
Identification and clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease
Yang, Ji Hyun, Forbes, Elana, Pourzinal, Dana, McMahon, Katie, Copland, David, Byrne, Gerard, O'Sullivan, John, Mitchell, Leander and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka (2020). Identification and clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease. Australian Dementia Forum, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 31 May-2 June 2020. Canberra City, ACT, Australia: NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research (NNIDR).
2019
Conference Publication
Identifying subtypes of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease Using Cluster Analysis
Pourzinal, D., Yang, J., Byrne, G. J., O'Sullivan, J D., Mitchell, L., McMahon, K., Copland, D. A. and Dissanayaka, N. N. (2019). Identifying subtypes of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease Using Cluster Analysis. International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, Nice, France, 22-26 September 2019. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Dana Pourzinal is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
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
For media enquiries about Dr Dana Pourzinal's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: