Innovative Research Award

Panagiota Voskou is a Greek neurologist, researcher, educator, and postdoctoral candidate affiliated with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her academic and clinical career has focused extensively on dementia, medico-legal neurology, neuropsychological assessment, and legal capacity evaluation in neurodegenerative disorders. She is internationally recognized for the development and validation of the Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool (TCAT), a specialized instrument designed for assessing testamentary capacity in patients with dementia and cognitive disorders.[1]

Abstract

This article presents the academic achievements, clinical expertise, and scientific contributions of Panagiota Voskou in the fields of neurology, dementia research, and neuropsychological assessment. Her work integrates clinical neuroscience with medico-legal evaluation, particularly focusing on testamentary capacity and cognitive competence in dementia. Through the development of the Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool (TCAT), Dr. Voskou has contributed substantially to the advancement of structured legal-capacity assessment methodologies in neurodegenerative disorders. Her publications, conference presentations, educational activities, and international collaborations demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach combining neurology, psychiatry, geriatrics, and forensic medicine.[2]

Keywords

• Neurology
• Dementia
• Neuropsychological Assessment
• Testamentary Capacity
• Legal Capacity
• Cognitive Disorders
• Alzheimer Disease
• Movement Disorders
• Clinical Neuroscience
• Forensic Psychiatry

Introduction

The increasing prevalence of dementia and cognitive disorders worldwide has highlighted the importance of reliable clinical and medico-legal assessment methodologies. In this context, Panagiota Voskou has emerged as a prominent researcher specializing in the intersection between neurology and legal medicine. Her scientific work addresses the evaluation of cognitive competence, legal capacity, and neuropsychological functioning in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.[3]

Voskou’s research activities include studies on dementia progression, neuropsychological predictors, migraine-associated disorders, neurodegeneration, and legal capacity assessment. She has participated extensively in international conferences organized by the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), World Congress of Neurology (WCN), and other scientific organizations dedicated to neuroscience and geriatric medicine.[4]

Research Profile

Voskou graduated from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with distinction and subsequently completed postgraduate and doctoral studies in mental health and dementia-related legal capacity assessment. She currently serves as a Specialist Neurologist at the General Hospital of Chalkida and continues her postdoctoral research on the validation of the Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool within the Greek population.[5]

Her professional experience spans neurology, psychiatry, internal medicine, pediatric neurology, cognitive disorders, and forensic psychiatry. Voskou has also contributed significantly to medical education through postgraduate teaching programs, webinars, continuing education initiatives, and university-level e-learning activities related to medico-legal issues in dementia.[2]

Research Contributions

One of Voskou’s most notable scientific contributions is the development and validation of the Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool (TCAT), which provides clinicians with a structured framework for evaluating testamentary competence in patients with dementia and cognitive decline.[1]

Her research contributions also include investigations into mild cognitive impairment, progression to Alzheimer disease or Lewy body dementia, headache disorders, migraine pathophysiology, movement disorders, stroke-related cognitive dysfunction, and legal implications of neurological disease.[3]

• Development of TCAT for dementia-related legal assessment
• Research on legal capacity in neurological diseases
• Neuropsychological predictors in cognitive impairment
• Migraine and neurodegenerative disease studies
• Educational contributions in psychogeriatrics and neurology
• Reviewer activities for international scientific journals

Publications

Voskou has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications indexed in internationally recognized databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Her work has appeared in journals related to neurology, geriatrics, psychiatry, neuropsychology, and dementia research.[4]

1. “Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool (TCAT): A Brief Instrument for Patients with Dementia.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
2. “Testamentary Capacity Assessment: Legal, Medical, and Neuropsychological Issues.” Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology.
3. “Salivary inflammatory markers in tension type headache and migraine: the SalHead cohort study.” Neurological Sciences.
4. “State-of-the-Art Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool (TCAT) in Dementia: A Review of Studies and Update Report.” Journal of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Research Impact

The impact of Voskou’s work extends across clinical neurology, forensic psychiatry, geriatric medicine, and legal neuropsychology. Her TCAT framework has contributed to improved methodologies for evaluating testamentary competence and cognitive legal decision-making in dementia patients.[1]

Through her presentations at major international congresses, Voskou has promoted interdisciplinary dialogue on legal capacity assessment, neurodegenerative disease management, and ethical considerations in neurological care. Her involvement in educational programs and reviewer responsibilities further demonstrates her contribution to the scientific and academic community.[1]

Award Suitability

Panagiota Voskou demonstrates strong suitability for the Innovative Research Award due to her interdisciplinary scientific achievements and her pioneering contributions to medico-legal neurology. The development of the Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool represents a clinically relevant innovation with applications in dementia evaluation, legal medicine, and neuropsychological assessment.[2]

Her academic productivity, international conference participation, educational leadership, and peer-reviewed publications collectively support her recognition within the global neuroscience research community. The integration of neuroscience and legal assessment in her work highlights a specialized area of innovation with growing relevance in aging populations and cognitive healthcare systems worldwide.[3]

Conclusion

Panagiota Voskou has established a distinguished academic and clinical profile in neurology, dementia research, and legal neuropsychology. Her scientific contributions, particularly in testamentary capacity assessment, represent meaningful advancements within the interdisciplinary fields of cognitive neuroscience and medico-legal evaluation. Through sustained research activity, international collaboration, teaching, and publication, she continues to contribute to the development of evidence-based neurological assessment methodologies and dementia care practices.[4]

External Links

• ORCID Profile
  
• Scopus Author Profile
  
• Google Scholar Profile

References

1. Voskou, P., et al. (2018). Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool (TCAT): A Brief Instrument for Patients with Dementia. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
   https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-170297
   
2. Voskou, P., Douzenis, A., Economou, A., Papageorgiou, S.G. (2026). State-of-the-Art Testamentary Capacity Assessment Tool (TCAT) in Dementia.
   https://doi.org/10.3390/jdad3020025
   
3. Voskou, P., et al. (2018). Testamentary Capacity Assessment: Legal, Medical, and Neuropsychological Issues.
   https://doi.org/10.1177/0891988717746508
   
4. European Academy of Neurology. (2025). Congress participation records and scientific presentations.
5. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. (2025). Official Postdoctoral Certification