Assistant Professor of Neurology
Phone: (412) 692-2700

Specialized Areas of Interest

Cognitive and behavioral neurology; memory disorders.

Biography

David Wolk, MD, is principally interested in episodic memory processes and the impact of aging and Alzheimer’s disease on memory function. He has used the dual-process account of recognition memory to frame his research. By this account, recognition memory is subserved by recollection and familiarity, which appear to have separable anatomic and physiologic underpinnings. Recollection is the detailed retrieval of a prior memory experience while familiarity is a vague sense of prior encounter lacking contextual details.

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease appear to be dependent on familiarity-based memory and Dr. Wolk has studied the neuropsychological and electrophysiological basis of this form of memory with the use of Event-related Potentials (ERPs). His current work builds off of this research by relating electrophysiological and behavioral memory measures to anatomy with structural MRI in aging subjects and patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

It is hoped that these memory measures could be used as early detectors for AD pathology in patients with pre-clinical disease (those with Mild Cognitive Impairment). Such early detection may lead to more effective intervention with emerging treatment modalities. Dr. Wolk is currently funded with an NIA ADRC Pilot Study and a K23 Career Development Award to study these issues.

In addition to his research, Dr. Wolk sees patients in the Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology Clinic. He provides a comprehensive evaluation for patients with dementia and memory disorders. He also sees patients in the Memory Disorders Clinic of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC).

Dr. Wolk joined the University of Pittsburgh faculty in 2006. He was previously an Instructor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and completed a Clinical Fellowship in Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2004. He completed an NIMH-funded post-doctoral fellowship mentored by Daniel L. Schacter, Ph.D. at Harvard University in the department of Psychology and co-mentored by Andrew E. Budson, M.D. at Brigham and Women’s Hospital studying memory impairment in Alzheimer’s Disease. He received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His internship and residency were completed at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Wolk's publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.

Board Certifications

American Board of Psychiatry And Neurology (Diplomate)

Professional Organization Membership

American Academy of Neurology
Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience Society

Editorial Service

• Ad Hoc Reviwer:

Neurology
Annals of Neurology
Brain and Cognition
The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy
Neurobiology of Aging
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuropsychology
Archives of Neurology