Krista Lanctot

Dr. Krista Lanctôt’s research goal is to optimize treatment for neuropsychiatric symptoms including cognitive changes, apathy, agitation, and mood changes in those with dementia, or at risk for dementia. Her research addresses these goals by determining the underlying neurobiology of neuropsychiatric symptoms, examining predictors of treatment response, and using novel or repurposed pharmacological treatments. The research team also investigates neurostimulation, exercise and dietary interventions in combination with medications. A variety of tools including neuroimaging, serum biomarkers, and neuropsychiatric assessments are used in combination with clinical trials. This research will contribute to our understanding of the link between neuropsychiatric symptoms and biomarkers, which in turn can identifying treatment targets and promote precision medicine. 

Publications (student names bolded):

Gaur A, Gallagher D, Herrmann N, Chen JJ, Marzolini S, Oh P, Amemiya Y, Seth A, Kiss A, Lanctôt KL. Neurofilament light chain as a biomarker of global cognition in individuals with possible vascular mild cognitive impairment. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2025 Jan;38(1):62-72. doi: 10.1177/08919887241254469. Epub 2024 May 17. PMID: 3875718

Song BX, Jiang G, Wong M, Gallagher D, MacIntosh BJ, Andreazza AC, Beroncal EL, Black SE, Herrmann N, Charles JE, Gao F, Kiss A, Marotta G, Lanctôt KL. Neuroimaging meets neurophysiology: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in early Alzheimer's disease (AD). J Neurophysiol. 2025 Mar 1;133(3):924-929. doi: 10.1152/jn.00604.2024. Epub 2025 Feb 14. PMID: 39951673

Sankhe K, Tumati S, Perin J, Rivet L, Vieira D, Rosenberg PB, Herrmann N, Shade D, Lerner AJ, Padala PR, Brawman-Mintzer O, van Dyck CH, Porsteinsson AP, Craft S, Levey AI, Mintzer J, Lanctôt KL. Correlation between changes in apathy and cognition in Alzheimer's disease associated apathy: Analysis of the Apathy in Dementia Methylphenidate Trial 2 (ADMET 2). Int Psychogeriatr. 2025 Mar;37(2):100012. doi: 10.1016/j.inpsyc.2024.100012. Epub 2024 Dec 4. PMID: 40086910

Chen JJ, Kang Y, Gallagher D, Herrmann N, Survilla K, Vieira D, Mah E, Graham SJ, Kiss A, Black SE, Ramirez J, Oh P, Marzolini S, Zukotynski KA, Kuo PH, Lanctôt KL. MRS demonstrates elevated brain glutathione in vascular mild cognitive impairment compared to cognitively normal coronary artery disease controls. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 May;21(5):e70230. doi: 10.1002/alz.70230. PMID: 40371694

Sankhe K*, Bawa KK*, Miller D, Bateman D, Cummings JL, Ereshefsky L, Husain M, Ismail Z, Manera V, Mintzer J, Moebius HJ, Mortby M, Porsteinsson A, Robert P, Lanctôt KL. *co-first authors. Mapping of validated apathy scales onto the apathy diagnostic criteria for neurocognitive disorders. Int Psychogeriatr. 2025 Sep;37(5):100074. doi: 10.1016/j.inpsyc.2025.100074. Epub 2025 Apr 25 PMID: 40280825

Mah E, Gallagher D, Gao F, Ramirez J, Rabin JS, Survilla K, Vieira D, Chen JJ, Kang Y, Andreazza A, Herrmann N, Kiss A, Marzolini S, Oh P, Swardfager W, Black SE, Lanctôt KL. Frontal white matter hyperintensity burden predicts cognitive response to N-acetylcysteine and exercise in vascular mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiol Aging. 2026 May;161:39-46. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2026.01.005. Epub 2026 Jan 20. PMID: 41579736

Pan TJ, Wang HJ, Siddiqui A, Kurumala D, Ruthirakuhan M, Swardfager W, Marotta G, Lanctôt KL. Efficacy and safety of cannabinoids for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia: a systematic review with meta-analysis. CNS Drugs. 2026 May;40(5):669-685. doi: 10.1007/s40263-026-01277-w. Epub 2026 Feb 26. PMID: 41748849

Gallagher D*, Kang Y*, Herrmann N, Kiss A, Black SE, Oh P, Marzolini S, Rabin JS, Andreazza A, Ramirez J, Gao F, Rapoport M, Chen JJ, Survilla K, Vieira D, Mah E, Swardfager W, Lanctôt KL. Efficacy and safety of N-acetylcysteine in patients with mild cognitive impairment undergoing exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program: a randomized controlled trial. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2026 Apr 27;18(1):144. doi: 10.1186/s13195-026-02062-z. PMID: 42045982 *equal contributors

Wang HJ, Ruthirakuhan M, Andreazza AC, Beroncal EL, Black SE, Gallagher D, Herrmann N, Kiss A, Verhoeff NPLG, Lanctôt KL. Identifying a combination of biomarkers to predict treatment response to nabilone for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease – an exploratory post hoc analysis. Neurodegener Dis Manag. 2026 May:16(3), 263–272. doi: 10.1080/17582024.2025.2587549. Epub 2025 Nov 11.  PMID: 41220257

Gaur A, Wong M, Chen JJ, Kang Y, Tahoulas D, Jeor K, Raguram KH, Gallagher D, Rapoport M, Herrmann N, Lanctôt KL. Synaptic biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease dementia and mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Alzheimers Dement. 2026 May;22(5):e71501. doi: 10.1002/alz.71501. PMID: 42192211 corresponding author

Song BX, Vieira E, Gallagher D, Diniz BS, Fischer CE, Flint AJ, Herrmann N, Mah L, Mulsant BH, Rajji TK, Ma C, Lanctôt KL; PACt-MD Study Group. Blood angiogenesis markers and cognition in older adults at risk for dementia. Can J Psychiatry. 2026 Jul;71(7):519-530. doi: 10.1177/07067437251337627. Epub 2025 Apr 30. PMID: 40304622

Song BX, Schecter J, Vieira E, Gallagher D, Diniz BS, Fischer CE, Flint AJ, Herrmann N, Kennedy JL, Mah L, Mulsant B, Pollock BG, Rajji TK, Ma C, Lanctôt KL; PACt-MD Study Group. Angiogenesis markers and cognitive response in a randomized trial of cognitive remediation plus transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults at risk of dementia. J Alzheimers Dis. 2026 Aug;112(3):1314-1323. doi: 10.1177/13872877261457934. Epub 2026 Jun 16. PMID: 42300721

Sankhe K, Ruthirakuhan M, Andreazza AC, Brawman-Mintzer O, Craft S, Herrmann N, Ismail Z, Lerner AJ, Levey AI, Mintzer J, Padala PR, Perin J, Porsteinsson A, Rosenberg P, Shade D, Tumati S, van Dyck CH, Lanctôt KL. Peripheral biomarkers associated with apathy and predicting response to methylphenidate: secondary analysis of the ADMET2 study­­. Int Psychogeriatr. 2026 Jan 10:100181. doi: 10.1016/j.inpsyc.2025.100181. Online ahead of print. PMID: 41521126

Feldman OJ, Herrmann N, Ruthirakuhan M, Gallagher D, L G Verhoeff NP, Kiss A, Black SE, Lanctôt KL.  Assessment of clinical factors that predict response to nabilone for agitation in Alzheimer's disease: A post hoc analysis of a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Int Psychogeriatr. 2026 Jan 12:100183. doi: 10.1016/j.inpsyc.2026.100183. Online ahead of print. PMID: 41530008

Ruthirakuhan M, Mills M, Rosenberg P, Haughey N, Mintzer J, Craft S, Herrmann N, Lerner AJ, Levey AI, Padala PR, Porsteinsson A, van Dyck CH, Shade D, Lanctôt KL. Uncovering lipid biomarkers linked to methylphenidate efficacy in treating apathy in Alzheimer's disease: insights from the ADMET 2 trial. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2026 May 25. doi: 10.1186/s13195-026-02055-y. Online ahead of print. PMID: 42178577