Jean-Francois Gagnon, Ph.D.

Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal
514-987-3000 ext. 2498
gagnon.jean-françois.2@uqam.ca

Training

Post-doctorate in Neuropsychology and Brain imaging (Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Université de Montréal) and Sleep disturbances (Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Université de Montréal)
Ph.D. in Neuropsychology (Université du Québec à Montréal)
M.A. in Psychology (Université Laval)

Research interests

Sleep perturbations and cognition in normal and pathological aging. More specifically, neurodegenerative disorders and their precursor stages (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lewy body dementia, mild cognitive impairment, REM sleep behavior disorder) and some respiratory disorders (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnea)

Methodological approaches

Polysomnography, neuropsychological evaluation, electroencephalography (EEG), and neuroimaging (anatomic and functional)

Fundings

Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Title: Neuroimaging Prodromal Neurodegeneration in Synucleinopathy
Role: Co-principal investigator
Years: 2018-2023
Amount: $ 921,826

Canadian Research Chair on Cognitive decline in pathological aging
Role: Holder

My team

Marie-Ève Bourassa

Ph.D. candidate
UQAM

Léa Bernier-Lalonger

D.Psy. candidate
UQAM

Pierre-Alexandre

Ph.D. candidate
UQAM

Sabrina Diab

D.Psy. candidate
UQAM

Émile Cogné

D.Psy. candidate
UQAM

Martine Desjardins

Ph.D. candidate
UQAM

Jimmy Ghaziri

Ph.D. candidate
UQAM

Jessie De Roy

Ph.D. candidate
UQAM

Priscilla Gadoury

D.Psy. candidate
UQAM

David Rémillard-Pelchat

Ph.D. candidate
UQAM

Marie Jacques

Ph.D. candidate
UQAM

Marina Brillon-Corbeil

Ph.D. candidate
UQAM

Thaïna Rosinvil

Ph.D. candidate
Université de Montréal

Loubna Mekki Berrada

Ph.D. candidate
Université de Montréal

Jimmy Hernandez

B.Sc. candidate
Université de Montréal

Selected publications

Rahayel S, Postuma RB, Montplaisir J, Mišić B, Tremblay C, Vo A, Lewis S, Matar E, Martens KE, Blanc F, Yao C, Carrier J, Monchi O, Gaubert M, Dagher A & GAGNON JF. A prodromal brain-clinical pattern of cognition in synucleinopathies. Annals of Neurology 2020;Nov 20. PMID: 33217037. Https://doi/org/10.1002/ana.25962.

De Roy J, Postuma RB, Brillon-Corbeil M, Montplaisir J, Génier Marchand G, Escudier F, Panisset M, Chouinard S & GAGNON JF. Detecting the cognitive prodrome of dementia in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Parkinson’s Disease 2020;10:1033-1046. PMID: 32310188. Https://doi10.3233/JPD-191857.

Rahayel S, Gaubert M, Postuma RB, Montplaisir J, Carrier J, Monchi O, Rémillard-Pelchat D, Bourgouin PA, Panisset M, Chouinard S, Joubert S & GAGNON JF. Brain atrophy in Parkinson’s disease with polysomnography-confirmed REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep 2019;11:42(6). PMID: 30854555. Https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsz062.

Rahayel S, Postuma RB, Montplaisir J, Génier Marchand D, Escudier F, Gaubert M, Bourgouin PA, Carrier J, Monchi O, Joubert S, Blanc F & GAGNON JF. Cortical and subcortical gray matter bases of cognitive deficits in REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurology 2018;90:e1759-e1770. PMID: 29669906. Https://doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000005523.

Génier Marchand D, Postuma RB, Escudier F, De Roy J, Pelletier A, Montplaisir J & GAGNON JF. How does dementia with Lewy bodies start? Prodromal cognitive changes in REM sleep behavior disorder. Annals of Neurology 2018;83:1016-1026. PMID: 29665124. Https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.25239.

Projects

Cognitive decline in pathological aging

One of the major impacts of an aging population is a marked increase in the prevalence of neurodegenerative or respiratory diseases which are often associated with cognitive decline. Several neurodegenerative or respiratory diseases are characterized by cognitive disturbances of varying severity. The characteristics and timing of onset of this cognitive decline vary greatly between individuals. In addition, our tools are still very limited to act on this cognitive decline. The team of Jean-François Gagnon, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Decline in Pathological Aging, seeks to 1) identify risk factors and markers of cognitive decline in pathological aging; 2) predict who are the most at risk for cognitive decline; and 3) prevent cognitive decline through different interventions. His laboratory uses different techniques such as the study of sleep and brain electrical activity, assessment of cognitive functions and brain imaging to better understand cognitive decline and brain function in mild cognitive impairment, disease. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, certain sleep disorders and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His work also aims to test the effectiveness of exercise, administration of neuroprotective agents and cognitive training to slow or prevent cognitive decline in individuals with these diseases. With his colleagues, they have been following cohorts of individuals suffering from these diseases for several years. His work will allow the implementation of a multidisciplinary approach to better understand the complexity of cognitive decline linked to certain neurodegenerative or respiratory diseases. We hope to be able to offer tools to prevent cognitive decline in populations at risk.