The Neuropsychology and Behavioural Neurology Research Unit (NBNU) at Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland conducts research projects to identify, prevent, and improve cognitive and behavioural dysfunctions related to acquired brain damages and diseases, such as traumatic brain injuries, dementing disorders, and inflammatory diseases.
The NBNU research activities include the development of internal projects and collaborations with other Neurocenter departments (such as Neuroradiology, Stroke Center, Neuro-Oncology, Neurosurgery, Multiple Sclerosis Center, and Movement Disorders). The scientific projects are mainly focused on the application of multidisciplinary approaches to understanding functional and structural mechanisms responsible for the onset of cognitive alterations, and to identify new rehabilitative-therapeutic strategies for these disturbances.
There is currently ongoing interest to identify new approaches to prevent and limit behavioural dysfunctions in patients with early dementia.
The NBNU participate and offer scientific collaboration to other EOC departments, and to external institutions such as:
- the collaboration with the Public Health Institute (USI)
- the partecipations at projects of dementia research cantonal group
- the collaboration with Carlo Besta Neurological Institute in Milan Italy
Currently, the unit is actively involved in multicentric studies, included pharmacological clinical trials.
Group leader: Leonardo Sacco, MD
Research leader: Gianna Carla Riccitelli, PhD
