Dr. Andrée-Anne Ledoux

Biography

Dr. Ledoux, earned her PhD studies in Experimental Psychology at the University of Ottawa, specializing in behavioural neuroscience and neuropsychology. She was the recipient of the Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships for her master and PhD studies. Her research interest includes the development of novel approaches for the assessment, treatment and understanding of concussion, and mental health. She has published in the areas of neuroimaging and schizophrenia, virtual reality paradigms, and concussion. Currently, she is investigating concussion and early return to activity, resiliency, and mental health in concussed youth.

Research interests:

Andrée-Anne Ledoux and her team is interested in developing and testing management protocols that target neuronal repair in the hopes of reducing the risk of persistent post-concussive symptoms, reducing the recovery period, and promoting resiliency and neural protection in pediatric concussion. She is interested in identifying recovery neural correlates that can be used as recovery biomarkers in concussion, and investigating how behavioural treatments can modify these biomarkers. She is currently investigating the acute and subacute clinical, neuropsychological and neurophysiological recovery processes of two different behavioural management protocols: early return to physical activity and mindfulness-based intervention with MRI.  Given the extensive brain maturation and significant functional development that occurs throughout childhood in addition to the sex differences that exist throughout development, she also explores age and sex-based differences in all of her concussion related studies.  Together with multidisciplinary approach, cutting edge techniques and national/international collaborations she hopes to reduce the impact of concussion in children and adolescents and their family.   

Current projects:

1. Mulitcentre randomized clinical trial pediatric concussion assessment of rest and exertion (PedCARE).
2. Pediatric concussion assessment of rest and exertion with MRI (PedCARE+MRI).
3. Mindfulness-based intervention for pediatric concussion with MRI (MBI-4-mTBI+MRI)
4. Pediatric concussion and subsequent mental health disorders, self-harm and suicide.

Experimental approaches:

Pediatric human research, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), arterial spin labeling, diffusion tensor imaging, resting state and task based functional MRI, spectroscopy, neuropsychological assessments, epidemiology, translational research, evidence to practice research.
 

Selected publications:

• Sicard, V., O’Kane, K., Brown, O., Butterfield, L., Kardish, R., Choi, E., Healey, K., Silverberg, N., […] Ledoux, AA. (2024). Acceptability, usability, and credibility of a mindfulness-based digital therapeutic for pediatric concussion: A mixed-method study. Digital Health, 10, 20552076241248296.
• Ledoux, A.-A., Cairncross, M., Silverberg, N., Smith, A., Goldfield, G., Anderson, P., Walker, L., Jaworska, N., Goulet, K., Zemek, R. (2024).Smartphone App–Delivered Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescents: Protocol for a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Research Protocols 13, no. 1 (2024): e57226. 
• Cairncross, M., Ledoux, AA, Greenberg, J., Silverberg, N. (2024). A cross-sectional investigation of trait mindfulness, concussion symptom severity, and quality of life in adults with persisting symptoms post-concussion. JICM (Accepted) 
• O’Kane, K. M., Otamendi, T., Silverberg, N. D., Choi, E., Sicard, V., Zemek, R., Healey, K., Brown, O., Butterfield, L., […] Ledoux, AA. (2024). Development of Therapeutic Alliance and Social Presence in a Digital Intervention for Pediatric Concussion: Qualitative Exploratory Study. JMIR Formative Research, 8(1), e49133. 
• Ledoux AA*, Sicard V*,Tang K, Yeates KO, Brooks B, Anderson P, Keightley M, Desire N, Miriam Beauchamp & Zemek R. (2024) The Association Between Symptom Burden and Processing Speed and Executive Functioning at Four and Twelve Weeks Following Pediatric Concussion. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 1-13. 
• Ledoux, AA., Sicard, V.*, Barrowman, N., Bijelic, V., Borghese, M.M., Davis, A., Reid, S., Sangha, G., Yeates, K.O., Tremblay, M.S., Reed, N., and Zemek, R. (2024) Moderate to vigorous physical activity and symptoms at 1-, 2- and 4-weeks post-injury. JAMA Network open 7 (2), e2356458-e2356458 
• Sicard, V.*, Fang, L., Kardish, R.*, Healey, K., Smith, A., Goldfield, G., Cron G., Yeates, K., Reed, N., Zemek, R. and Ledoux, A-A. (2024).  Longitudinal Brain Perfusion and Symptom Presentation Following Pediatric Concussion: A PedCARE+MRI Substudy.” Journal of Neurotrauma, 41:5-6, 552-570 
• Onicas AI, Deighton S, Yeates KO, Bray S, Graff K, Abdeen N, Beauchamp MH, Beaulieu C, Bjornson B, Craig W, Dehaes M, Deschenes S, Doan Q, Freedman SB, Goodyear BG, Gravel J, Lebel C, Ledoux AA, Zemek R, Ware AL. Longitudinal Functional Connectome in Pediatric Concussion: An Advancing Concussion Assessment in Pediatrics Study. J Neurotrauma. 41:5-6, 587-603.
• Ware, A. L., Onicas, A. I., Abdeen, N., Beauchamp, M. H., Beaulieu, C., Bjornson, B. H., Craig, W., Dehaes, M., Deschenes, S., Doan, Q., Freedman, S. B., Goodyear, B. G., Gravel, J., Ledoux, A.-A., Zemek, R., Yeates, K. O., & Lebel, C. (2023). Altered longitudinal structural connectome in paediatric mild traumatic brain injury: an Advancing Concussion Assessment in Paediatrics study. Brain Communications, 5 (3), fcad173.
• Brown O, Healey K, Fang Z, Zemek R, Smith A, Ledoux AA. (2023). Associations between psychological resilience and metrics of white matter microstructure in pediatric concussion. Human brain mapping 44 (10), 3986-3997.
• Ware, A. L., Lebel, C., Onicas, A., Abdeen, N., Beauchamp, M., Beaulieu, C., Bjornson, B. H., Craig, W., Dehaes, M., Doan, Q., Deschenes, S., Freedman, S., Goodyear, B. G., Gravel, J., Ledoux, AA., Zemek, R., & Yeates, K. O. (2023). Longitudinal Gray Matter Trajectories in Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Neurology 101 (7), e728-e739
• Vaughan, C., Ledoux, A-A., Sady, M.D., Tang,K., Yeates, KO, Sangha, G.,Osmond, M., Freedman, SB., Gravel, J., Gagnon, I., Craig, W., Burns, E., Boutis, K., Beer, D., Gioia, G., and Zemek, R. (2023). Association between early return-to-school following acute concussion and symptom burden at 2 weeks post-injury. JAMA Open Network; 6(1):e2251839. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.51839
• Healey, K., Fang, L., Smith, A., Roger Zemek, and Ledoux, A-A. (2022) Adolescents with a Concussion Have Altered Brain Network Functional Connectivity One Month Following Injury When Compared to Adolescents with Orthopedic Injuries. Neuroimage: Clinical. 36:103211. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103211
• Ledoux, A-A., Tang, K., Freedman, S.B., Gravel, J., Richer, L., Boutis, K., Mannix, R., Wisniewski, S.R., Bell, M., Yeates, K.O., Zemek, R.L. (2022) Early Analgesic Administration and Headache Presence 7-days Post-Concussion in Children. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine. 24(8):876-884. doi: 10.1007/s43678-022-00367-0
• Provvidenza, C., Kingsnorth, S., Dawson, J., Ledoux, A.-A., Zemek, R., & Reed, N. (2022). Applying knowledge translation frameworks, approaches and principles to co-create a dissemination plan: Optimizing the spread of a pediatric concussion guideline. Journal of Concussion, 6, 205970022211162. https://doi.org/10.1177/20597002221116239 
• Ware, A., Yeates, K., Shukla, A., Onicas, A., Guo, S., Goodrich-Hunsaker, N., Abdeen, N., Beauchamp, M., Beaulieu, C., Bjorson, B., Craig, W., Dehaes, M., Deschenes, S., Doan, Q., Freedman, S., Goodyear, B.G., Gravel, J., Ledoux, AA, Zemek, R., Lebel, C. (2022). Longitudinal White Matter Microstructural Changes in Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: An A-CAP Study. Human Brain Mapping. 43(12):3809-3829. doi: 10.1002/hbm.25885 
• Ledoux, A.-A., Webster, R.J., Clark, A., Fell, D., Knight, B.D., Gardner, W., Cloutier, P., Gray, C., Tuna, M., Zemek, R. (2022) Risk of Mental Health Problems in Children and Youths Following a Concussion. JAMA Network Open; 5(3):e221235.
• Ledoux, A-A., Barrowman, N., Bijelic, V., Borghese, M.M.,Davis, A., Reid, S., Sangha, G., Yeates, K.O., Tremblay, M.S., McGahern, C., Belanger, K., Barnes, J., Farion, K., DeMatteo, C., Reed, N., and Zemek, R. (2021) Is early activity resumption after paediatric concussion safe and does it reduce symptom burden at 2 weeks post injury? The Pediatric Concussion Assessment of Rest and Exertion (PedCARE) multicentre randomised clinical trial. British Journal of Sport Medicine. 56: 271-278. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2021-105030.
• Dawson, J., Reed, N., Bauman, S., Seguin, R., Zemek, R., For the ONF Pediatric Concussion Living Guideline Team. (2021). Diagnosing and managing paediatric concussion: Key recommendations for general paediatricians and family doctors. Paediatrics and Child Health (Canada), 26(7), 402–407. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/pxab024
• van Ierssel, J., Ledoux, A-A., Tang, K., Zemek, R. (2021) Sex-based differences in symptoms with mouthguard use following pediatric sport-related concussion. Journal of Athletic Training. Apr 13;56(11):1188-1196. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0393.20 (In press).
• Ledoux, A-A., Tang, K., Gagnon, I., Osmond, M.H., Yeates, K.O., Healey, K., Gioia, G. Zemek, R.L. (2021) The association between pre-injury symptoms and post-concussive symptoms at 4-weeks in youth and adolescents. Journal of Head Trauma and Rehabilitation. 37(2):E90-E101.doi: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000681 
• van Ierssel, J., Ledoux, A-A. et al. (2020) Symptom burden, school functioning, and physical activity outcomes one-year following acute pediatric concussion including subsequent repeat concussion. Pediatric Journal, Jan;228:190-198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.08.061
• Gravel, J., Ledoux, A-A., Tank, K., Yeates, K.O., Craig, W., Osmond, M., Boutis, K., Burns, E., Shangha, G., Dubrovsky, A.S., Beer, D., Zemek, R. (2020). Early vs. Delayed ED Presentation Following mTBI and the Risk of Symptom Persistence in Children. Emergency Medicine Journal.Jun:37(6):338-343. 10.1136/emermed-2019-209054 
• Ledoux, A.A., Tang, K., Yeates, K.O., Pusic, M., Boutis, K., Craig, W., Gravel, J., Freedman, S.B., Gagnon, I., Gioia, G., Osmond, M.H. and Zemek, R. for the Pediatric Emergency Research Canada (PERC) Concussion Team (2019). Natural Progression of Symptom Change and Recovery from Concussion in a Pediatric Population.  JAMA Pediatrics, 173(1):e183820.DOI:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.3820
• Walsh, J., Barnes, J.D., Cameron, J.D., Goldfield, G.S., Chaput, J-P, Gunnell, K.E., Ledoux, A-A, Zemek, R, Tremblay, M.S. (2018). Associations between 24-hour movement behaviors and global cognition in American children. Lancet Child & Adolescent Health's, 2(11): 783-791. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(18)30278-5
• Bresee, N., Aglipay, M., Dubrovsky, A.S., Ledoux, A-A., Momoli, F., Gravel, J., Freedman, S., Barlow, K., Richer, L., Barrowman, N., and Zemek, R. (2018) Association between metoclopramide treatment in the ED and post-concussion headache, Emergency Medecine, 36(12): 2225-2231. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2018.04.007
• Reed N, Leeder K, Zemek R; PedCARE Research Team. Patient engagement in pediatric concussion research. CMAJ. 2018 Nov 7;190(Suppl):S28-S30. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.180450. PMID: 30404847; PMCID: PMC6472466 (I am part of the PedCARE Research Team. I co-led the PedCARE study).
• Ledoux, A-A., Barrowman, N., Boutis, K., Davis, A., Reid, S., Sangha, G., Farion, K.J., Belanger, K., Tremblay, M.S., Yeates, K.O., DeMatteo, C., Reed, N., Zemek, R. (2017). Multicentre, Randomized Clinical Trial of Pediatric Concussion Assessment of Rest and Exertion (PedCARE): A Study to Determine When to Resume Physical Activities Following Concussion in Children, British Journal of Sport Medecine, 53:195. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-097981
• Post, A., Hoshiza, T., Gilcrist, M., Koncan, D., Dawson, L., Chen, W., Ledoux, A-A, Zemek, R. (2017). A comparison in a youth population between those with and without a history of concussion using biomechanical reconstruction. Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics, 27: 1-9. DOI: 10.3171/2016.10.PEDS16449
• Post, A., Hoshiza, T., Zemek, R., Gilcrist, M., Koncan, D., Dawson, L., Chen, W., Ledoux, A-A. (2017). Pediatric concussion: Biomechanical differences between transient and PPCS persistent post-concussive symptoms (>4 weeks) outcomes, Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics, 28(1): 1-11. DOI: 10.3171/2016.11.PEDS16383
• Grool, A., Aglipay, M., Momoli, F., Meehan III, W., Freedman, S., Yeates, K.O., Gravel, J., Gagnon, I., Bouttis, K., Meeuwisse, W., Barrowman, N., Ledoux, A-A., Osmond, M.H. & Zemek, R. (2016).  Association Between Early Participation in Physical Activity Following Acute Concussion and Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents, JAMA, 316(23): 2504-2514. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2016.17396
• Novak, Z., Aglipay, M., Barrowman, N., Yeates, K.O., Beauchamp, M.H., Gravel, J., Freedman, S.B., Gagnon, I., Gioia, G., Boutis, K., Burns, E., Ledoux,A-A., Osmond, M.H., and Zemek, R (2016).  Association of Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms With Pediatric Quality of Life, JAMA: Pediatrics, 170(12): e162900. DOI:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.2900
• Ledoux, A-A., Boyer, P., Phillips, J.L., Labelle, A., Smith, A., Bohbot, V.D. (2014) Structural hippocampal anomalies in a schizophrenia population correlate with navigation performance on a wayfinding task. Frontiers Behavioral Neuroscience 8(88). DOI:10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00088
• Ledoux, A-A., Phillips, J.L., Labelle, A., Smith, A., Bohbot, V.D., Boyer, P. (2013) Decreased fMRI activity in the hippocampus of patients with schizophrenia tested on a wayfinding task in a virtual town. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 221(1), 47-56. DOI:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2012.10.005
• Bouchard, S., Dumoulin, S., Talbot, J., Ledoux, A-A., Phillips, J. L., Monthuy-Blanc, J., Labonté-Chartrand, G., Robillard, G., Cantamesse, M.R. (2012). Manipulating perceived realism and its impact on presence: preliminary results on feasibility and neuroanatomical correlates. Interacting with Computers, 24, 227-236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intcom.2012.04.011
• Dahmani, L., Ledoux, A-A., Boyer, P., Bohbot, V.D. (2011). Wayfinding: The Effects of Large Displays and 3D perception. Behavior Research Methods, 1-8. DOI: 10.3758/s13428-011-0158-9
• Bouchard, S., Talbot, J., Ledoux, A-A., Phillips, J., Cantamesse, M., Robillard, G. (2010). Presence is Just an Illusion: Using fMRI to Locate the Brain Area Responsible to the Meaning Given to Places. Study in Health Technology and Information. 154, 193-196.