Date: November 13, 2026
Time: 9 AM-12 Noon
Modality: Zoom
Instructor: Michelle R. Dalton, PhD, LPC
This is a virtual course, and will take place over Zoom.
A link to this virtual course will be sent one week prior to the event.
$45.00 SLU Alumni and pre-registered SLU practicum instructors
$65.00 All others
Title: Hidden in Plain Sight: Substance Use Leading to Accelerated Brain Aging
*Meets Diversity Requirements (1 CEH)
Learning Objectives:
Recognize social, physiological, cultural, and psychological factors that increase vulnerability to substance use among older adults
Describe the neurobiological impact of alcohol use on accelerated brain aging and associated clinical syndromes and cognitive outcomes from hazardous use
Engage in skills practice with substance use screening instruments that are appropriate for use with older adults (e.g., AUDIT-C, TLFB, etc.) and use of effective, person-centered communication strategies for discussing substance use with older adults, reducing stigma, and enhancing shared decision making
Course description: While previous generations of older adults experienced lower levels of substance misuse as they aged, the current generation of aging adults reports higher use of substances, particularly alcohol use. Neuroimaging studies demonstrate the effects of alcohol use on the frontal cortex and other brain structures, which are likely to accelerate brain aging. As alcohol use disorder (AUD) is increasing among older adults, so too is cognitive decline and accelerated brain aging. Two well-recognized clinical syndromes linking alcohol with major cognitive change that are relevant to understanding AUD in older adults include Wernicke's Encephalopathy (WE) and Alcohol-related dementia. This pattern of increasing alcohol use in older adults and its impact on cognitive functioning has been related to increases in healthcare utilization, which introduces novel opportunities for substance use screening, assessment, and risk mitigation from the healthcare team working with older adults. An overview of current evidence-based screening and assessment practices will be provided, with special attention to the role of social, physiological, and psychological factors in working in substance use fields. To increase assessment efficacy in working with older adults, guidelines for hazardous use will be presented along with person-centered communication strategies and efforts to enhance shared decision-making. CE participants will engage in skill-building using screening and assessment measures with case studies and practice scenarios from healthcare, substance use, senior services, and residential settings.
Bio: Michelle R. Dalton, PhD, LPC, is an assistant professor of Medical Family Therapy in the department of Family and Community Medicine. Their clinical experience includes community-based practice with intensive outpatient treatment of substance use disorders and in private practice settings. During their postdoc, Dr. Dalton researched hazardous alcohol use for individuals living with HIV. They direct the Social Determinants and Minority Stress Lab at SL,U where they research the racial and gender identity minority stressor experiences of BIPOC transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, researching substance use and neurodiversity.
Price:
$65.00