Katherine A. Gifford, PsyD
Dr. Katherine Gifford is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Gifford sees patients within the Cognitive and Behavioral Clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In collaboration with Howard Kirshner, MD (neurologist), she sees patients in a memory disorder clinic focused on evaluating individuals with concerns about changes to memory, mild cognitive impairment, and early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Additionally, Dr. Gifford is the neuropsychologist for the Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center where she treats patients 12 and older who have sustained a sports-related concussion. She is also the consulting neuropsychologist for the NFL Tennessee Titans, NHL Nashville Predators, MLS Nashville Soccer Club, and Vanderbilt Athletics. For more information visit the Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center.
She obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY and her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL. She completed her pre-doctoral internship in neuropsychology at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, MI. Her postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology was completed at Boston University and at Vanderbilt University.
Research Information
Dr. Gifford’s research focuses on disorders of aging, dementia, and developing tools for early detection of cognitive impairment. Her research incudes a specific emphasis on understanding subjective cognitive decline in older adults, or when people start to notice changes in their own memory and thinking. She is involved in independent and collaborative research projects within the Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center. Dr. Gifford’s work is currently supported by multiple grants from the NIH with past funding from the Alzheimer’s Association and National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center.
For more information on Dr. Gifford’s research, please visit the Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center.