Vascular Diseases Research Group
Vascular Diseases Research Group (VaD)
The Vascular Diseases Research Group (VaD) focuses on understanding cognitive and emotional symptoms after stroke as well as related brain changes.
VaD consists of an interdisciplinary team including psychologists, physicians, and physicists, among others. Both national and international collaborators are heavily involved in the group’s projects. Currently, five PhD students (Elise Gjestad, Elisabeth Kliem, Maede Sadat Etesami, Vera Solianik og Ragnhild Roaldsnes), all based at the Department of Psychology at NTNU and St. Olav’s University Hospital, are studying cognitive and emotional symptoms in the acute phase as well as up to 3 years after stroke.
Our main research methods include neuropsychological examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). More specifically, our research group focuses on the following topics:
We aim to improve the understanding of cognitive and emotional symptoms after stroke, as well as their development over time. Using extensive neuropsychological examination, our goal is to increase knowledge of these common post-stroke symptoms, which highly affect both rehabilitation and quality of life.
In addition, by using advanced neuroimaging techniques, we aim to study the etiology of emotional and cognitive symptoms after stroke. Therefore, we study these stroke sequelae in relation to imaging biomarkers such as white matter integrity/connectivity (DTI derived), default mode network disruption (rs-fMRI derived), perfusion (ASL derived), as well as measures of small vessel disease and neurodegeneration (structural MRI and FLAIR-derived).
We collaborate with other know stroke studies in Norway, such as Nor-COAST (Norwegian cognitive impairment after stroke)
Detailed list of collaborators
Leader of research group
Group members
-
Hanne Ellekjær Associate professor
+47-41562687 hanne.ellekjar@ntnu.no Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science -
Maede Sadat Etesami PhD Candidate
maede.etesami@ntnu.no Department of Psychology -
Elise Ødegård Gjestad
+47-73592046 elise.gjestad@ntnu.no Department of Psychology -
Knut Hestad
+47-73550494 knut.hestad@ntnu.no -
Odin Hjemdal Professor
+47-73597889 +47-93261085 odin.hjemdal@ntnu.no Department of Psychology -
Bent Indredavik Professor emeritus
+47-90925498 +47-72575491 bent.indredavik@ntnu.no Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science -
Elisabeth Kliem
elisabeth.kliem@ntnu.no Department of Psychology -
Vilde Kristine Nerdal Research Assistant
vilde.k.nerdal@ntnu.no Department of Psychology -
Alexander Olsen Associate Professor
+47-91722824 alexander.olsen@ntnu.no Department of Psychology -
Ragnhild Roaldsnes PhD Candidate
ragnhild.roaldsnes@ntnu.no Department of Psychology -
Truls Ryum Associate Professor
+47-73597885 +47-41608735 truls.ryum@ntnu.no Department of Psychology -
Ingvild Tina Saltvedt Professor, Department of Neuro medicine and Movement science, NTNU and Head of Department of Geriatrics, St Olav hospital
+47-91752949 +47-72575545 ingvild.saltvedt@ntnu.no Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science -
Vera Solianik
+47-97015377 +47-71217896 verasol@stud.ntnu.no -
Adrian Helgå Vestøl Research assistant
+47-99472516 adrian.h.vestol@ntnu.no Department of Psychology