Amy J. Jak, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Residence
University of California, San Diego
3350 La Jolla Village Drive (151B)
San Diego, CA 92161
Phone #: (858) 642-3742
E-mail: ajak@ucsd.edu 
 

Biography

Dr. Jak received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with specialization in neuropsychology, from the University of Cincinnati (2004). She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the VA San Diego Healthcare System/Veteran’s Medical Research Foundation from 2004-2007. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor (In Residence) of Psychiatry at UCSD and a Research Psychologist at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. Dr. Jak’s current research is funded by a VA Career Development Award and an Alzheimer’s Association New Investigator Award.

Research Focus

Dr. Jak’s research focuses on neuropsychology and neuroimaging in normal aging and mild cognitive impairment. Specifically, her current research examines how protective behavioral factors (e.g., physically and mentally active lifestyles) impact cognition and brain structural integrity. Additionally, her research examines the potential for activity levels to modify genetic risk for cognitive decline. Other research interests center on the neuropsychological presentation of mild cognitive impairment, mild traumatic brain injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Clinical and Teaching Focus

Dr. Jak is the Director of Traumatic Brain Injury Cognitive Rehabilitation at the VA San Diego Healthcare system and provides psychoeducation and training in compensatory strategies to veterans with mild to moderate TBI. She is also a Clinical Neuropsychologist within the Department's private practice plan (UCSD Neuropsychological Associates). She conducts clinical neuropsychological evaluations of adults with a wide range of neurologic and psychiatric disorders, with particular emphasis on dementia and traumatic brain injury.

Selected Publications

Bangen, K.J., Restom, K., Liu, T.T., Jak, A.J., Wierenga, C.E., Salmon, D.P., and Bondi, M.W. (2007). Differential age effects on cerebral blood flow and BOLD response to encoding: Associations with cognition and stroke risk. Neurobiology of Aging.

Jak, A.J. (2007). Invited book review of Mild Cognitive Impairment: International Perspectives. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 29, 788-89.

Jak, A.J., Houston, W.S., Nagel, B.J., Corey-Bloom, J., and Bondi, M.W. (2007). Differential cross-sectional and longitudinal impact of APOE genotype on hippocampal volumes in nondemented older adults. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 23, 282-89.

Han, S.D., Drake, A.I., Cessante, L.M., Jak, A.J., Houston, W.S., Delis, D.C., Filoteo, J.V., and Bondi, M.W. (2007). APOE and TBI in a military population: Evidence of a neuropsychological compensatory mechanism? Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry.