Faculty

Meryl A Butters, PhD

Meryl A Butters, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science

Contact Details

3811 O'Hara St.
Pittsburgh
 
PA
 
15213
Email
Website
Geriatric Neuropsychiatry Research Program

Education & Training

PhD
Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Arizona
Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Brown University
Neuropsychology, University of Pittsburgh

Current Appointments

Director, Neuropsychological Services, Benedum Geriatric Center
Director, Geriatric Neuropsychology Research Program

Professional Affiliations

Fellow, American Psychological Association, Society for Clinical Neuropsychology, Division 40
Member, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
Member, International Neuropsychological Society

Selected Honors & Awards

Edith Kaplan Award, Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society
Philip Troen, MD Award for Excellence in Medical Student Research Mentoring, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Senior Investigator Award, International College of Geriatric Psychoneuropharmacology
Nelson Butters Award for Research Contributions to Clinical Neuropsychology, National Academy of Neuropsychology

Research Interests

Trajectory of cognitive function
Selected Research Publications & Products
  1. Diniz, BS, Sibille, E, Ding, Y, Tseng,G, HJ, Lotrich,F, Becker,JT, Lopez, OL, Lotze,MT, Klunk,WE, Reynolds, CF, Butters MA. Plasma Biosignature and Brain Pathology related to Persistent Cognitive Impairment in Late-Life Depression. Mol Psych. 2015;May;20(5):594-601.
  2. Butters MA, Bhalla, RK, Andreescu, C, Wetherell, JL, Mantella, R, Begley, AE, Lenze, EJ. Changes in neuropsychological functioning following treatment for late-life Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Br J Psychiatry. 2011;199(3):211-218.
  3. Butters MA, Young JB, Lopez OL, Aizenstein HJ, Mulsant BH, Reynolds CF, DeKosky ST, Becker JT. Pathways linking late-life depression to persistent cognitive impairment and dementia. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(3):345-357.
  4. Butters MA, Whyte E, Nebes RD, Begley AE, Dew MA, Mulsant BH, Zmuda MD, Bhalla R, Meltzer CC, Pollock BG, Reynolds CF, Becker JT. The nature and determinants of neuropsychological functioning in late-life depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61(6);587-595.
  5. Butters MA, Becker JT, Nebes RD, Zmuda MD, Mulsant BH, Pollock BG, Reynolds, CF. Changes in cognitive functioning following treatment for late-life depression. Am J Psychiatry. 2000;157:1949-1954.

Clinical Interests

Neuropsychological evaluation of older adults

Education Interests

Research mentoring

The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: White Noise—Is Anxiety in Late-Life Associated With White Matter Hyperintensity Burden?

Drs. Andrew Gerlach and Carmen Andreescu

Anxiety disorders are prevalent in late life, with symptoms including severe (uncontrollable) worry and rumination. Late-life anxiety, worry, and rumination in the context of the aging brain can be associated with differences in volume and thickness of gray matter regions in the brain, as well as altered functional connectivity in the networks involved in emotion generation and regulation, but these changes may...

Neurocognitive and Cardiometabolic Function in Retired Night shift Workers 

Hall & Colleagues 2023 Publications

Two recent studies from Pitt Psychiatry have examined neurocognitive and cardiometabolic function in retired night shift workers compared with retired day shift workers. The late Tica Hall, PhD, an internationally recognized expert in sleep and circadian science, served as senior author of both studies, and we recognize this important work in honor of her memory. Cardiometabolic function in retired night shift...

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predictors of Pharmacotherapy Response in Major Depressive Disorder

Drs. Andrew Gerlach and Carmen Andreescu

Major depressive disorder is among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, affecting nearly 300 million people worldwide, and exacting a substantial personal, social, and economic toll. Antidepressant treatment typically involves an individualized trial-and-error approach with an inconsistent success rate. Given the negative outcomes associated with depression, there is a pressing need for the development of...

Pitt Psychiatry Investigators Report New Findings in Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia & Late-Life Depression Research

New Findings in Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia & Late-Life Depression Research

Acta Neuropathologica: Plasma P-Tau231, A New Biomarker for Incipient Alzheimer's Disease Pathology Scientists including Tharick Pascoal, MD, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology) from Pitt Psychiatry have published the discovery and validation of a new blood biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease which, for the first time, can produce remarkably early detection of the pathology. The quantification of...

Meryl Butters, PhD, Honored by the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society

Dr. Meryl Butters

Congratulations to Meryl Butters, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science. Dr. Butters has been awarded the Edith Kaplan Award, which is given biannually by the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society to a clinician/researcher in the field of neuropsychology who has continued to uphold the theory of the Process Approach to Neuropsychology. Dr. Butters is nationally and internationally...