Patrick Monaghan
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Health Care Sciences, Institute of Gerontology
Patrick Monaghan
Bio Sketch
Dr. Monaghan is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Neuroimaging and Neurorehabilitation Lab, where he specializes in the neural control of movement. His research aims to uncover the complex cognitive and neural mechanisms that govern movement and postural control in older adults and individuals with neurological disorders.
He focuses on identifying sensitive measures that can predict mobility and cognitive impairments and help mitigate fall risk. Dr. Monaghan’s long-term goal is to enhance mobility, physical function, and overall quality of life for older adults and individuals with neurological conditions.
Learn more about the Neuroimaging and Neurorehabilitation Lab
Additionally, Dr. Monaghan is a mentee in the Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's Research Education Component, where he explores the sensitivity of clinical mobility assessments as risk biomarkers for detecting individuals at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Research Focus
Dr. Monaghan investigates the cognitive and neural underpinnings of mobility disability. To do so, he partners with vulnerable populations that experience pathologies that differentially impact separate neural, cognitive, and motor components, including multiple sclerosis, typical aging, and Alzheimer's disease. Their research employs innovative approaches such as backward walking interventions, advanced neuroimaging techniques, and machine learning to understand mobility impairment holistically. Dr. Monaghan also focuses on how neurodegenerative processes interact with aging trajectories, aiming to identify pathways of functional decline and develop targeted interventions to improve mobility and overall function in these populations.
For a complete list of Dr. Monaghan's publications: MyBibliography on PubMed.
Education
2023-Present: Postdoctoral Training, Neuroimaging and Neurorehabilitation Lab, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
2019-2023: PhD, Kinesiology (Biomechanics and Motor Control), Locomotor and Movement Control Lab, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
2017-2019: MS, Health and Exercise Science (Neural Control of Movement), Sensorimotor Neuroimaging Lab, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2012-2016: BS, Kinesiology (Clinical Exercise Physiology), Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Areas of Expertise
Mobility and fall risk assessment; Rehabilitation; Biomechanics; Gait and postural control; Motor control; Cognition; Neuroimaging; Machine learning
Office Location
EACPHS, Room 2450
Office Phone
313-577-3495