Staff Profile

Introduction

I am a geriatrician and clinical lecturer with an interest in autonomic dysfunction and cognitive impairment in older adults and people with Parkinson’s disease.

Background

In 2006 I completed my undergraduate medical studies at Newcastle University. I have trained clinically throughout the North East of England and in 2011 took time out of clinical training to undertake a PhD examining the prevalence and associations of neurocardiovascular instability in older adults. In 2014 I became a registrar in geriatric medicine and in 2015 was awarded a post as a NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer 

Qualifications

MBBS (2006), Newcastle University

MRCP (2008), Royal College of Physicians

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Research (2010), Newcastle University

PhD (2014), Newcastle University

Geriatric Medicine Specialty Certificate (2016), Royal College of Physicians 

Membership

Royal College of Physicians

British Geriatric Society

American Hypertension Society

Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases (DemaNDs) Research Group Research

I teach undergraduate medical students and junior doctors throughout the Northern Deanery

My research has examined the prevalence autonomic dysfunction in older adults and its association with cognitive decline. I am currently examining the prevalence and associations of similar symptoms in  in early Parkinson’s disease.

• McDonald C, Gordon G, Hand A, Walker RW, Fisher JM. 200 Years of Parkinson's disease: What have we learnt from James Parkinson?. Age and Ageing 2018, 47(2), 209-214.
• McDonald C, Pearce M, Kerr SJR, Newton JL. A prospective study of the association between orthostatic hypotension and falls: Definition matters. Age and Ageing 2017, 46(3), 439-445.
• McDonald C, Pearce MS, Kerr SRJ, Newton JL. Blood pressure variability and cognitive decline in older people: a 5-year longitudinal study. Journal of Hypertension 2017, 35(1), 140-147.
• McDonald C, Winge K, Burn DJ. Lower urinary tract symptoms in Parkinson's disease: Prevalence, aetiology and management. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders 2017, 35, 8-16.
• O'Dowd S, Galna B, Morris R, Lawson RA, McDonald C, Yarnall AJ, Burn DJ, Rochester L, Anderson KN. Poor Sleep Quality and Progression of Gait Impairment in an Incident Parkinson’s Disease Cohort. Journal of Parkinson's Disease 2017, 7(3), 465-470.
• McDonald C, Pearce MS, Wincenciak J, Kerr SRJ, Newton JL. Ambulatory Blood Pressure Variability Increases Over a 10-Year Follow-Up in Community-Dwelling Older People. American Journal of Hypertension 2016, 29(5).
• McDonald C, Pearce MS, Newton JL, Kerr SR. Modified criteria for carotid sinus hypersensitivity are associated with increased mortality in a population-based study. Europace 2016, 18(7), 1101-1107.
• McDonald C, Newton JL, Burn DJ. Orthostatic hypotension and cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: Causation or association?. Movement Disorders 2016, 31(7), 937-946.
• McDonald C, Lawson RA, Duncan GW, O'Dowd ST, Khoo TK, Yarnall AJ, Burn DJ. The Frequency and Progression of Genitourinary and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Parkinson’s disease and Healthy Controls Over 36 months Follow-up in the ICICLE-PD Study. In: Parkinson’s UK Research Conference. 2016, Leeds.
• Bohr I, McDonald C, He J, Kerr S, Newton J, Blamire AM. Brain oxygenation responses to autonomic challenge: a quantitative fMRI investigation of the Valsalva manoeuvre. AGE 2015, 37, 91.
• Durham J, McDonald C, Hutchinson L, Newton JL. Painful Temporomandibular Disorders Are Common in Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Impact Significantly upon Quality of Life. Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache 2015, 29(2), 152-157.
• McDonald C, Pearce MS, Newton JL, Kerr SRJ. Masked hypertension is common and is associated with significant mortality. In: British Geriatrics Society Autumn Meeting. 2014, Yorkshire: Oxford University Press.
• McDonald C, Koshi S, Busner L, Kavi L, Newton JL. Postural tachycardia syndrome is associated with significant symptoms and functional impairment predominantly affecting young women: a UK perspective. BMJ Open 2014, 4(6), e004127.
• McDonald C, Firbank M, Pearce M, Blamire AM, Newton JL, Kerr S. Symptoms During Carotid Sinus Massage, Not Hemodynamic Change, Are Associated with White Matter Hyperintensity Volume on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2014, 62(10), 1988-1989.
• McDonald C, Pearce MS, Newton JL, Kerr SRJ. Management of Hypertension in Community-Dwelling Older People has improved over the Last Decade and is not associated with Increase Risk of Falls, Dizziness or Syncope. In: British Geriatrics Society Spring Meeting. 2013, Belfast, Ireland: Oxford University Press.
• McDonald C, Pearce MS, Newton JL, Kerr S. Poor Gait and Balance Predict Poor Cognitive Function and Cognitive Decline 10 Years Later. In: British Geriatrics Society Spring Meeting. 2013, Belfast, Ireland: Oxford University Press.
• Kerr SRJ, Newton JL, McDonald C. Prevalence of Most Vascular Risk Factors Increases But End-Organ Disease Remains Constant Over 10 Years Follow-Up in a Community-Dwelling Cohort of Older People. In: British Geriatrics Society Spring Meeting. 2013, Belfast, Ireland: Oxford University Press.
• McDonald C, Pearce M, Newton J, Kerr S. Blood pressure variability is associated with cognitive impairment in community dwelling older persons and is a predictor of cognitive decline. In: 8th World Congress on Aging and Physical Activity: A Celebration of Diversity and Inclusion in Active Ageing. 2012, Glasgow, UK: Human Kinetics.
• McDonald C, Frith J, Newton JL. Single centre experience of ivabradine in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Europace 2011, 13(3), 427-430.
• Hardy T, MacDonald C, Jones DEJ, Newton JL. A follow-up study of modafinil for the treatment of daytime somnolence and fatigue in primary biliary cirrhosis. Liver International 2010, 30(10), 1551-1552.
• McDonald C, Newton J, Lai HM, Baker SN, Jones DE. Central nervous system dysfunction in primary biliary cirrhosis and its relationship to symptoms. Journal of Hepatology 2010, 53(6), 1095-1100.
• Costigan A, Elliott C, McDonald C, Newton J. Orthostatic symptoms predict functional capacity in chronic fatigue syndrome: Implications for management. QJM 2010, 103(8), 589-595.
• Jones DE, McDonald C, Newton JL. A Efficacy and Tolerability of Modafinil for the Treatment of Daytime Somnolence and Fatigue in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. In: Hepatology: 60th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 2009, Boston, Massachusetts, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Hollingsworth KG, Newton JL, Taylor R, McDonald C, Palmer JM, Blamire AM, Jones DEJ. Pilot Study of Peripheral Muscle Function in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: Potential Implications for Fatigue Pathogenesis. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2008, 6(9), 1041-1048.
• McDonald C, Baker S, Lai M, Jones DE, Newton JL. Central cerebral activation is reduced in primary biliary cirrhosis and associated with excessive daytime sleepiness. In: 58th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. 2007, Boston, MA: Hepatology, Wiley-Blackwell.