Alzheimer’s disease develops slowly and silently, with biological changes in the brain beginning many years before any symptoms appear. A new study from researchers at the UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) shows that we may be able to identify those most at risk using two simple and widely accessible tools: a blood test and a brief unsupervised memory assessment. The research, led by MD/PhD student Casey Vanderlip and Professor Craig Stark, found that combining a blood measure of pTau-217, a highly specific marker of Alzheimer’s disease, with a short digital memory assessment significantly improved…
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Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, Please enjoy this issue of MIND Matters. We include a description and photos from our collaborative event with the UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts Department of Music, "Finding Light: Alzheimer’s Stories." Then, be sure to watch some of this amazing performance here: Concert Choir. This event in some ways exemplifies the mission of UCI MIND. Though our investigators spend nearly all of their time in the lab or clinic conducting state-of the art research, we never lose sight of the human elements of disease and this powerful collaboration through…
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UCI MIND is pleased to announce Ann & Charlie Quilter as our 2025 December to Remember Gala honorees. The Quilters’ unwavering commitment and generosity have made an extraordinary impact on UCI MIND’s mission, and we are deeply grateful for their continued support. Ann and Charlie have a deep history with UCI and UCI MIND. Ann achieved her MS of Public Administration in 1979 and Charlie received his PhD in History in 2010. The Quilters are pillars in the local Orange County community, particularly in Laguna Beach. Ann is the previous Laguna Beach Woman of the Year and Charlie is a…
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Ghazaleh Eskandar-Sedighi, PhD Ghazaleh Eskandar-Sedighi, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow, supervised by Mathew Blurton-Jones, PhD, professor of Neurobiology and Behavior in the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences. Dr. Eskander-Sedighi was recently awarded a prestigious Postdoctoral Fellowship in Alzheimer’s disease research from the BrightFocus Foundation. Ghazeleh’s research focuses on leveraging human stem cell-derived microglia and chimeric animal models to investigate protective microglial responses in the context of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Her BrightFocus Foundation project specifically aims to take advantage of novel, multi-faceted stem cell and chimeric mouse models to study the impact of the protective microglial ApoE3 Christchurch mutation on…
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Clinical research in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has not always included all older adults. For example, most studies include few older Asian American adults. This limits our ability to understand or to treat diseases in all people. The Asian Cohort for Alzheimer's Disease (ACAD) is an international study that aims to fill a gap in Alzheimer's research by exploring the genetic and environmental factors that play a role in the risk for Alzheimer’s disease in Asian American and Asian Canadian populations. ACAD is currently enrolling a cohort of individuals of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese ancestry with plans to expand to other major…
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UCI MIND Director, Joshua Grill, PhD, discusses the strengths and limitations of a recently published article from Washington University on disclosure of biomarker results. To read the AlzForum summary and comments including Dr. Grill's, click here.
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President Boon Ja Yoo Lee (center) awarded with Ellis Island Medal of Honor stands with decorated officers, friends and family who attended the event, including Dr. Hye-Won Shin (center lower left) and Eugene (second from left) and Carol (third from right) Choi. UCI MIND proudly celebrates Boon Ja Yoo Lee, who is a 2025 recipient of the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor, for her outstanding contributions to Alzheimer's and dementia caregiving research, medical education, and public advocacy. As the first Korean American member of the UCI MIND Leadership Council, Boon Ja has played a transformative role in elevating the…
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Last week was an especially busy one for members of our team at national Alzheimer’s disease research meetings in San Francisco. First, several of our investigators attended the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Centers Spring Directors’ Meeting, a semi-annual gathering of the 35 NIH funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs). This meeting serves as an opportunity for ADRC teams to learn about programmatic updates, share research findings, and forge new collaborations. Dr. Shi accepts a 2025 NACC REC Rising Star Award This year, Xiaoyu Shi, PhD, a UCI ADRC REC Scholar and Associate Professor of Developmental and Cell Biology, was awarded…
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Dr. Leslie Thompson was interviewed for KTLA News about a local woman who was recently diagnosed with Huntington's disease. To watch her interview, click this link.
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As one of the most diverse racial groups in the United States, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations are projected to grow significantly in the next 30 years —especially among older adults—yet they remain drastically underrepresented in aging, dementia, and caregiving research. This creates a gap in our understanding of how cultural, linguistic, and social factors affect health outcomes later in life. To address this disparity, the Collaborative Approach for AANHPI Research and Education (CARE) Registry was developed at UCSF with leadership from Dr. Joshua Grill and others at UCI MIND with the goal to easily connect…
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