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Cognitive Aging Division

The Division of Cognitive Neurology is committed to improving brain health, studying the causes of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, developing and testing new medications and diagnostic tests, and providing outstanding care for patients living with neurodegenerative disease and their families. We accomplish this by conducting cutting edge research, providing state-of-the-art treatments, and training the next generation of clinicians and scientists.

Memory loss is not a normal part of the aging process but rather can be caused by a number of conditions. Some, such as depression, nutritional deficiencies, or medications, are potentially reversible. Other causes such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal degeneration, are not reversible but can be treated and managed effectively, particularly when diagnosed in the early stages. Our expert clinicians and researchers are leaders in the early detection of cognitive disorders.

Our research has helped define the first recognizable stages of memory disorder called subjective cognitive decline (memory complaints with normal cognitive performance) and mild cognitive impairment (impaired cognitive performance with preserved daily functioning). Although many individuals with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment will progress to dementia, not all do. Our research has defined factors that increase risk of dementia (vulnerability) and decrease risk of dementia (resilience). These discoveries have advanced our work to develop new therapies and diagnostics tests, begin important work on the prevention of dementia, and translate research findings into clinical care.

Examples of our cutting-edge research programs include:

  • Creating novel precision-medicine based interventions aimed at brain health, risk reduction and dementia prevention
    Precision medicine is the approach of using an individual's characteristics, lifestyle, risk factors, and genetic traits to inform medical decisions, and tailor treatments to the individuals based on each of these factors. We do this by the comprehensive and systematic study of all observable traits (physical, biochemical, environmental, genetic) to improve brain health.
  • Testing novel therapies with medications, devices, and stem cells
    Through investigator-initiated studies and industry partners, we conduct clinical trials of promising therapies from first-in-human studies to registration trials for FDA approval. Examples of some of our active studies are vaccines for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, mesenchymal stem cells to control inflammation in the brain and reduce cognitive and behavioral symptoms, repurposing FDA-approved drugs for new indications to treat dementia and using multi-nutrient supplements to enhance cognitive function.
  • Studying psychosocial, environmental, and epigenetic markers of cognitive aging, brain health, and neurodegeneration
    By studying the interplay between lifestyle, environmental exposures, genetics, and social context, we can better understand the trajectory of cognitive aging and examine how modifiable factors influence brain health. This work can lead not only to new therapies but influence health policy, community planning, educating the public about brain health and dementia.

Exploring the intersection between neurology, cognitive psychology, and data science, with a focus on neurobehavioral markers of neurodegeneration.

We investigate how speech, gaze and eye movements, gait and balance, and other behavioral markers can predict early stages of cognitive decline and dementia and provide objective measures of brain health. We develop artificial intelligence and machine learning models to assess current cognitive status and predict future risk.