Neuropsychology
Services

Neuropsychology
Services

The neuropsychology program at Rocky Mountain Movement Disorders Center (RMMDC) serves a broad range of adult clinical populations. Our clinicians provide assessment services to characterize a person’s cognitive skills (thinking abilities). This may include evaluating memory, attention, language, visuospatial, and problem-solving skills, as well as a patient’s emotional health. The goal of neuropsychological testing is to understand the underlying cause of or contributors to a person’s cognitive difficulties. This can help their medical team determine the best diagnosis and treatment options and help an individual or a family plan for the future.

While we accept referrals for a broad range of conditions, our primary areas of expertise are dementia, mild cognitive impairment, neurodegenerative disease, movement disorders, and epilepsy. We also participate as clinical raters in clinical trials of new investigational therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and other dementias with CenExel RMCR. Finally, we are members of the multidisciplinary team of the Functional Neurosurgery Program at Swedish Medical Center. The neuropsychologists at RMMDC pride themselves on their compassionate approach and tailored, flexible, and efficient assessment style.

How to prepare and what to expect:

  • Neuropsychological evaluations are typically recommended by a healthcare professional because of concern about a problem in thinking, cognition, behavior, or mood that may be interfering with daily life
  • Neuropsychological evaluations provide insight into the cause (diagnosis) of problems in memory and thinking and may significantly help guide treatment and offer an opportunity to learn about strategies and supports that may be beneficial.
  • The assessment consists of an interview (usually an hour) and the administration of standardized tests
  • The assessment typically involves pen and paper tests with occasional computerized testing
  • The interview and testing is done by Dr. Castelo or Dr. Snead with the help of a testing assistant

  • Help understand age-appropriate cognitive functioning
  • Establish a baseline to track cognitive functioning in the future
  • Help clarify what might be causing cognitive problems
  • Help clarify a treatment path if applicable

  • The interview and testing can take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours
  • Occasionally it is necessary to complete testing in two sessions (e.g. time constraints or if it is too fatiguing to complete the assessment in one day)

  • These tests are not the kind that you can prepare or study for
  • Bring water, snacks, and lunch if you desire. Sufficient opportunity will be given to take breaks as needed.
  • Bring a list of all medications and doses
  • Bring glasses for reading or a hearing aid if you normally wear these
  • Bring along NEW PATIENT intake questionnaires, unless you already sent them to the clinic before your appointment
  • Bring your insurance card
  • Take your medications as you normally do. If you have any questions about this, please contact Dr. Castelo or Dr. Snead before your appointment to discuss.
  • Come as well-rested as possible. Patients who are coming from far away might consider staying with friends/family or booking a hotel nearby the night before.
  • It is often helpful to have a family member or close friend join you for the initial interview as a source of collateral history. If they cannot be there in person, Drs. Castelo or Snead may ask for your permission to speak with them by phone. They can participate in the interview but will be asked to leave the room during testing.

The Neuropsych Team

J. Mimi Castelo, Ph.D., ABPP-CN (Director of Neuropsychology)

Dr. Castelo is a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified neuropsychologist. She completed her training in the Boston area, with a doctoral degree from Boston University, and residency and two-year post-doctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at Harvard / Massachusetts General Hospital / Brigham & Women’s Hospital. She then served as Staff Neuropsychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital before relocating to Denver in 2012. She operated a Neuropsychology private practice and then served as Director of Neuropsychology at Blue Sky Neurology until joining RMMDC in the Spring of 2022, with a joint focus on establishing their clinical neuropsychology service and participation in clinical dementia trials with CenExel RMCR. Her spare time is (fully!) consumed by her husband, three daughters, and two dogs, with adventures near and far.

Heather Snead, Psy.D. (Neuropsychologist)

Dr. Snead earned her doctoral degree from the University of Denver and completed her postdoctoral training in neuropsychology at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. She has a particular clinical interest in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s spectrum disorders. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and skiing with her family and Belgian Malinois rescue, Luci. Having grown up in Singapore and London, travel is also an important part of her life.

Hannah Crichton, Psychometrist

Hannah is a psychometrist experienced in administering a variety of standardized neuropsychological and behavioral assessments to patients with psychological and neurological conditions in both clinical and research settings. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, baking, and spending time with family.

J. Mimi Castelo, Ph.D., ABPP-CN
(Director of Neuropsychology)

Dr. Castelo is a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified neuropsychologist. She completed her training in the Boston area, with a doctoral degree from Boston University, and residency and two-year post-doctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at Harvard / Massachusetts General Hospital / Brigham & Women’s Hospital. She then served as Staff Neuropsychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital before relocating to Denver in 2012. She operated a Neuropsychology private practice and then served as Director of Neuropsychology at Blue Sky Neurology until joining RMMDC in the Spring of 2022, with a joint focus on establishing their clinical neuropsychology service and participation in clinical dementia trials with CenExel RMCR. Her spare time is (fully!) consumed by her husband, three daughters, and two dogs, with adventures near and far.

Heather Snead, Psy.D. (Neuropsychologist)

Dr. Snead earned her doctoral degree from the University of Denver and completed her postdoctoral training in neuropsychology at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. She has a particular clinical interest in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s spectrum disorders. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and skiing with her family and Belgian Malinois rescue, Luci. Having grown up in Singapore and London, travel is also an important part of her life.

Hannah Crichton, Psychometrist

Hannah is a psychometrist experienced in administering a variety of standardized neuropsychological and behavioral assessments to patients with psychological and neurological conditions in both clinical and research settings. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, baking, and spending time with family.

If you wish to be seen as a NEW patient, please request your provider to FAX a referral to our office.

If you have already been referred to our office, please complete your NEW patient intake forms.