Jean-Francois Gagnon, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal
514-987-3000 ext. 2498
gagnon.jean-françois.2@uqam.ca
Training
Post-doctorate in Neuropsychology and Neuroimaging (Unité de Neuroimagerie Fonctionnelle, Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Université de Montréal)
Post-doctorate in Sleep in neurodegenerative diseases (Centre d’Études Avancées en Médecine du Sommeil, 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 and cognition in normal and pathological aging. More specifically, neurodegenerative diseases and their preclinical stages (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lewy body dementia, mild cognitive impairment, REM sleep behavior disorder) and the following respiratory diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea.
Methodological approaches
Polysomnography, neuropsychological assessment, electroencephalography (EEG), and neuroimaging (structural 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
Canada Research Chair II
Title: Cognitive Decline in Pathological Aging
Role: Holder
Years: 2015-2025
Amount: 1 000 000$
Grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging
Title: North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy Consortium for RBD, Stage 2 (NAPS2)
Role: Co-investigator, Montreal site
Years: 2021-2026
Amount: 35 000 000$ all sites
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 aging population is a marked increase in the prevalence of neurodegenerative and respiratory diseases which are often associated with cognitive decline. The characteristics and timing of onset of this cognitive decline vary greatly between individuals. In addition, our tools to detect this cognitive decline and our methods of interventions are still very limited. 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 is the most at risk for cognitive decline; and 3) prevent cognitive decline through different interventions. His laboratory uses different methodologies and techniques such as the study of sleep, brain electrical activity, assessment of cognitive functions and brain imaging to better understand cognitive decline and brain function in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorders and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His work also aims to test the effectiveness of exercise training, administration of neuroprotective agents and cognitive training to slow or prevent cognitive decline in individuals at risk of neurodegeneration. 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.