neuroscience
Name: Dr Naji Tabet
Academic position: Senior Lecturer in Old Age Psychiatry
Contact details: Tel 01273 644503
Email n.t.tabet@brighton.ac.uk / n.tabet@bsms.ac.uk
Dr Naji Tabet completed his pre-registration House Officer training at St Bartholomew's and the London Hospital. As part of his post-registration training at the North London rotational scheme he joined University College London as an Academic Registrar. After obtaining membership of the Royal College Dr Tabet specialised in old age psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, London.
Dr Tabet's academic base is at the Institute of Postgraduate Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, where he is a Senior Lecturer in Old Age Psychiatry. His clinical base is in East Sussex, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, where he is a consultant in Old Age Psychiatry and Medical Lead for Research at R&D. Dr Tabet also leads the Cognitive Treatment and Research Unit which is an active academic and clinical trial research unit dedicated to the study of dementia disorders. Dr Tabet is one of the successful applicants in the establishment of NIHR South Coast Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN). Dr Tabet is the Principal and Chief Investigator of several DeNDRoN adopted multinational Alzheimer’s disease trials.
Teaching focus
Postgraduate:
- Co-lead MRCPsych course for Sussex trainee doctors
- Lead Old Age Psychiatry module: MSc-level module covering various areas in the field of old age psychiatry with emphasis on aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of dementia disorders
- Lead of IPGM’ s dementia postgraduate courses and training events
Undergraduate:
- Old age psychiatry: delivered to 3rd year medical students
- Medical students’ supervisor on 4th year Individual Research Project module
Research focus
Dr Tabet's research interests are in the field of biochemistry/immunology of dementia disorders and delirium prevention among older people. It is likely that inflammatory mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Studying inflammatory processes in relation to current medication, dietary intake, including vitamins and antioxidants, and physical activities will help increase our understanding of dementia disorders and help in advancing treatment options.
Delirium is a common and serious disorder affecting older people. Yet there is increasing evidence that it can be prevented. Increasing awareness of doctors and nurses of delirium through educational approaches has been found to decrease the prevalence of delirium among older people on acute medical and surgical wards. The introduction of prevention strategies across hospitals caring for older people needs further assessment but may present a much needed approach.
Current research
- Studying the relationship between acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and the activities of various antioxidants and cytokines in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
- Researching the attitudes, beliefs and knowledge of dementia patients and professionals on the use of vitamin supplements for memory impairment.
- Researching the relationship between homocysteine and dietary intake of vitamins B12 and folate blood levels in dementia patients.
- Assessing the role of diet and exercise in Alzheimer’s disease.
- Studying antioxidants’ activities in Alzheimer’s disease.
Key/recent publications
Khan R, Idle h, Tabet N.Knowledge and practices of dementia patients across Sussex in relation to vitamin and herbal extract use. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (in press).
Tabet N, Howard R. Pharmacological treatment for the prevention of delirium: review of current evidence. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (in press).
Klugman A, Marshall J, Tabet N. Impact of cerebrovascular pathology on behavioural and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia: findings from a retrospective, naturalistic study. International Journal of Clinical Practice 2009; 63: 1024-1030.
Tabet N, Howard R. Non-pharmacological interventions in the prevention of delirium. Age and Ageing 2009; 38: 374-379.
Tabet N, Quinn R, Klugman A. Prevalence and cognitive impact of cerebrovascular disease in Alzheimer’s disease: Findings from a retrospective, naturalistic study. International Journal of Clinical Practice 2009; 63: 338-345.
Tabet N. Distinguishing between Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in the setting of cerebrovascular disease. Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry supplement 2008; 12: 1-6.
Klugman A, Sauer J, Tabet N, Howard R. Alpha lipoic acid for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 4.
Isaac M, Quinn R, Tabet N. Vitamin E for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 (3):CD002854.
McKeith I, O'Brien J, Walker Z, Tatsch K, Booij J, Darcourt J, Padovani A, Giubbini R, Bonuccelli U, Volterrani D, Holmes C, Kemp P, Tabet N, Meyer I, Reininger C; DLB Study Group. Sensitivity and specificity of dopamine transporter imaging with 123I-FP-CIT SPECT in dementia with Lewy bodies: a phase III, multicentre study. Lancet Neurology 2007; 6: 305-313.
Naji Tabet, Sabina Dizdarevic. Differentiation between dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s disease using 123I FP-CIT SPECT: A case report. Dementia Forum 2007; issue 2.
Tabet N. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s disease: Anti-inflammatories in acetylcholine clothing! Age & Ageing 2006; 35: 336-338.
Tabet N, Stewart R, Hudson S, Sweeney V, Sauer J, Bryant C, MacDonald A, Howard R. Male gender influences response to an educational package for delirium prevention among older people: a stratified analysis. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2006; 21: 493-497.
Tabet N, Howard R. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of delirium: staff educational approaches. Expert Review in Neurotherapeutics 2006; 6: 741-751.
Tabet N, Rafi H, Weaving G, B Lyons, Iversen A. Behavioural and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are not correlated with homocysteine blood levels. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 2006; 22: 432-438.
Tabet N. Obesity in middle age and future risk of delirium: Dietary fat and sugar may hold the clue (letter). British Medical Journal 2005; 331: 454-455.
Tabet N, Mantle D, Walker Z, Orrell Martin. Higher fat and carbohydrate intake in dementia patients is associated with increased blood glutathione peroxidase activity. International Psychogeriatrics 2005; 17: 91-98.
Tabet N, Hudson S, Sweeney V, Sauer J, Bryant C, MacDonald A, Howard R. An educational intervention can prevent delirium on acute medical wards. Age & Ageing 2005; 34: 152-156.
Sauer J, Tabet N, Howard R. Alpha Lipoic Acid for dementia (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2004. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tabet N. Commentary: Neither rofecoxib nor naproxen slows cognitive decline in people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Evidence-Based Healthcare 2003; 7: 201.
Hudson S, Tabet N. Acetyl-L-Carnitine for dementia. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 2003; 2: CD003158.
Tabet N, Feldman H. Ibuprofen for Alzheimer’s disease. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 3003; 2: CD004031.
Tabet N, Orrell M. Dietary antioxidants in Alzheimer’s disease. Marshall M (ed.). In: Food, glorious food: Perspectives on food and dementia. 2003; 145-148. Hawker publications Ltd, London.
Tabet N, Walker Z, Mantle D, Costa D, Orrell M. In vivo dopamine pre-synaptic receptors and antioxidant activities in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and in controls. A preliminary report. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 2003; 16: 46-51.
Tabet N, Mantle D, Walker Z, Orrell M. Endogenous antioxidant activities in relation to concurrent vitamins A, C and E intake in dementia. International Psychogeriatrics 2002; 14: 7-15.
Tabet N, Feldman H. Indomethacin for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 2002; 2: CD003673.
Tabet N, Sivaloganathan S. Meige’s syndrome in dementia with Lewy bodies. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 2002; 95: 201-202.
Tabet N, Mantle D, Walker Z, Orrell M. Vitamins, trace elements and total antioxidant status in dementia disorders. International Psychogeriatrics 2001; 13:265-275.
Tabet N, Howard R. Delirium – Treat with care (letter). British Medical Journal 2001; 322: 1602.
Jha A, Tabet N, Orrell M. To tell or not to tell – Older patients reaction to their diagnosis: Comparison between dementia and depression. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2001; 16: 879-885.
Tabet N, Mantle D, Walker Z, Orrell M. Dietary and endogenous antioxidants in dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2001; 16: 639-641.
Tabet N, Sivaloganathan S. A case of déjà vu in an elderly patient. Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry 2001; 5: 18-19.
Tabet N, Fraser C. Psychotic depression after a fall. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 2001; 94: 83-84.
Tabet N, Birks J, Grimley Evans J, Orrell M. Vitamin E for Alzheimer’s disease. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 2000; 4: CD002854.
Tabet N, Mantle D, Orrell M. Free radicals as mediators of toxicity in Alzheimer’s disease: a review and hypothesis. Adverse Drug Reactions and Toxicological Reviews 2000; 19: 127-152.