Creating innovative ways to test for and treat Alzheimer's

Collaboration

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This number is expected to grow to 14 million by 2050. Additionally, the anticipated growth in AD cases is expected to be higher among Hispanics and African Americans than non-Hispanic whites.

Our research team collaborates with leading scientists from around the world to (1) develop innovative ways to test for and treat Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases as well as (2) to address health disparities in AD.

Our research

Led by Dr. Sid O'Bryant, one of the world's leading experts in blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer's, the Institute for Translational Research (ITR) focuses on precision medicine approaches to brain disease, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, Down syndrome, Dementia with Lewy bodies and others. A major goal of our team is the identification and elimination of health disparities in Alzheimer's disease faced by underserved communities. Our team is enrolling 1,000 Mexican Americans, 1,000 non-Hispanic whites and 1,000 African Americans from the community to conduct the first-ever large-scale comprehensive examination of the biological underlying causes of Alzheimer's among the three largest ethnic/racial groups in the U.S. All participants undergo MRI of the brain as well as PET scans for brain levels of amyloid (Alzheimer's plaques) and tau (Alzheimer's tangles). This research will provide, for the first time, a comprehensive picture of the biological, sociocultural, behavioral and environmental factors that impact the development, presence and progression of memory loss during the aging across diverse communities.

Our focus on translational research is intended to guide and coordinate research that improves outcomes and accelerates research breakthroughs; and enhances the quality of life for patients and their families.