The Psychology Digest

Alzheimer’s disease has long been studied as a distinct condition with its own symptoms, progression, and treatment strategies. But researchers are increasingly looking beyond the diagnosis and asking bigger questions about the biology that drives neurodegeneration.

That broader perspective is the focus of the first episode in the Pearson podcast series, “The Progress Profile: Alzheimer’s Research in Focus.”

In this episode, Lon Schneider, M.D., director of the California Alzheimer’s Disease Center at the University of Southern California; and Stephen Salloway, M.D., founding director of the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, join moderator John Harrison, Ph.D., associate professor of VU University Medical Center, to discuss the remarkable progress in Alzheimer’s research, the challenges that remain, and how advances in biomarkers, measurement, and early detection are changing the way scientists think about brain health.

Throughout the conversation, one message became clear: Understanding disease biology is just as important as understanding symptoms. Advances in Alzheimer’s research are creating new ways to identify pathology earlier, measure change with more accuracy, and develop interventions increasingly tailored to individual patients.

Rather than focusing only on where a patient is today, the conversation looked at where research is headed and how deeper biological understanding could transform the field.

read more

Call for Proposals

Pearson invites passionate clinical professionals and educators to join us on a journey to advance our fields and empower the individuals we serve. By submitting your proposal, you have the unique opportunity to help shape the future of clinical practice and empirical knowledge in Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Mental Health, Early Childhood, and other focal areas. Your expertise can make a lasting impact—transforming knowledge into meaningful change for clients and inspiring fellow Occupational Therapists (OTs), Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), and Psychologists around the world. Become a catalyst for innovation and help drive our community forward.

Submitted proposals will be considered for inclusion in a variety of Pearson-hosted initiatives, such as upcoming summits, professional development webinars, and other training events. By contributing your insights, you help ensure that our educational content remains relevant and impactful, reaching clinicians and educators in diverse settings and fostering ongoing professional growth.

Proposal Topics:

AI Innovation in Clinical Practice: Exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical settings, including diagnostic tools, personalised intervention planning, data-driven decision-making, and ethical considerations. Proposals may address how AI can enhance assessment, treatment, and outcomes for individuals with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and related conditions, as well as support clinicians in their daily practice.

Autism: Innovative approaches to assessment, intervention strategies, and support mechanisms for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

ADHD: Latest research and practical applications in the assessment and management of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Dyslexia: Evidence-based practices for the identification and intervention of dyslexia across various age groups.

Motor Development: Research findings and best practice for screening and evaluating motor skills.

Sensory Processing: Technology for evaluating sensory profiles, support strategies for neurodiverse individuals, evidence-based practices, sensory-friendly environments, and collaboration across disciplines.

Mental Health: Innovative, evidence-supported approaches to early identification, intervention, and holistic support for young people and adults, including the use of digital tools, mindfulness, and integrated care.

Early Childhood: Developmental milestones, current trends in early detection and intervention strategies, and the impact of early childhood education on long-term outcomes.

Learning: Innovative, evidence-supported approaches to specific learning disorder (SLD) identification and academic skill development, including the use of assessment frameworks, targeted interventions, and data-informed instructional planning.

Other: If you possess specialised expertise supported by research, we welcome your contributions.

Submission Guidelines:

• Proposals must include peer-reviewed research, data, and current references (i.e. within the past 10 years).
• Content must be applicable to OTs, SLPs, and Psychologists (e.g. school, clinical, neuropsychologists); it may also be relevant to special educators, diagnosticians, and other service providers.
• Each proposal should include an abstract, long description, learning objectives, time-ordered agenda, instructional level, 3–5 citations (including peer-reviewed journal articles from the past 10 years), and a presenter biography including any relevant disclosures.

Important Dates:

• Submission Deadline: 1 June 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: 30 July 2026
• Final Presentation Submission: varies based on engagement activity

Speaker Agreements:

• A signed speaker agreement will be required to participate.
• Presentations will be recorded using video conferencing software and will be available for Pearson to use for professional development activities.
• A speaker honorarium will be provided.

How to Submit:

Please submit your proposals via our online form.

For any queries, contact ClinicalTraining@pearson.com.

We look forward to your innovative and impactful contributions.

read more

Today’s clinicians play a critical role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people amid growing awareness and need. Across Australia, New Zealand and many countries throughout Asia, clinicians are seeing increasing demand for mental health assessment and support services for children and young people. Children and adolescents are also increasingly receiving multiple diagnoses — e.g. depression and anxiety or autism and ADHD.

read more

What’s Ahead in season two of the podcast series, “The Progress Profile: Alzheimer’s Research in Focus.”

read more

For most people, video games are a form of entertainment. For Rhoda Au, Ph.D., professor at Boston University, video games represent something far more profound: a potential window into the human brain.

read more

Mental health screening and assessment tools are more important than ever, and one of the most foundational tools—the Behaviour Assessment System for Children (BASC)—is soon to be released by Pearson in its fourth edition. As discussed in a recent episode of Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: How to Navigate Mental Health and Build Support, the BASC-4 includes important updates for clinicians and educators while retaining the evidence-based approach that has made it a trusted and effective suite of resources for nearly 40 years.

read more

In recent decades, an increasing number of children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As discussed on a recent episode of our podcast, “Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: How to Navigate Mental Health and Build Support,” there is more than meets the eye.

read more

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be challenging to diagnose due to complex symptom presentation and varying levels of healthcare resources. Tyler Vassar, Ed.S., a school psychologist, during the episode of Pearson’s podcast “Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: How to Navigate Mental Health and Build Support" covered best practices for clinicians to collaborate with educators and caregivers to address different challenges. By utilising a team approach and high-quality screening tools, clinicians play a key role in supporting students with ADHD so they can thrive in and out of the classroom.

read more

There has been a growing recognition within the education sector, echoed across society more broadly, of the increasing mental health challenges facing students. More children and adolescents are receiving diagnoses, and more schools are reporting a rise in the number of students seeking mental health support services.

As K–12 educators and clinicians respond to this reality, there has been a corresponding shift in the understanding that timely intervention can significantly influence a student’s academic outcomes and overall wellbeing.

read more

When Dr. Miia Kivipelto launched the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability, better known as the FINGER trial, in 2009, the field of dementia prevention was much different.

“At that time, [the focus was only on] high age and genetic factors,” Kivipelto said. “Now we know that 45% of these risk factors are there throughout the whole life course and that’s why we say that it’s never too early to … prevent dementia.”

Kivipelto, a Finnish neuroscientist and professor who specializes in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, joined John Harrison, Ph.D., CPsychol, CSci, AFBPsS, an associate professor at Alzheimercentrum, AUmc, Amsterdam, for the Pearson-sponsored podcast series, “The Progress Profile: Alzheimer’s Research in Focus,” to share insights into her research.

read more