Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, Welcome to the new normal. COVID case numbers have surged again, but our research continues to push forward and our researchers have enthusiastically resumed in-person activities that have been few and far between over the last two years. This includes attending and holding scientific conferences, generally through hybrid formats, allowing those comfortable and ready to reconvene in-person to present new data, exchange ideas and forge new collaborations. Some UCI MIND investigators recently traveled to Barcelona, Spain to attend the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease and related neurological disorders…
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Dr. Vaisakh Puthusseryppady Spatial navigation is one of the cognitive processes that is affected early in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Liz Chrastil’s lab and a REMIND co-chair, Dr. Vaisakh Puthusseryppady published a paper as part of his doctoral research on the use of Global Positioning Software (GPS) to track outdoor movement patterns of people with AD in the community. He found that when alone, participants with AD tended to make fewer outings into the community, and once outside, tended to be more restricted in their movement when compared to their unimpaired counterparts. At UCI, Dr. Puthusseryppady is advancing this work…
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Dr. Richard Hodes, the Director of the National Institute on Aging, published a blog about the significant progress that has been made towards advancing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research in the past decade. He cites several important accomplishments and specifically acknowledges the new mouse model that was developed at UC Irvine as part of MODEL-AD. Led by Drs. LaFerla, Tenner, Green, Mortazavi, Baglietto-Vargas, and MacGregor, the team created the first animal model that closely resembles the human form of sporadic AD. Click here to read Dr. Hodes' blog post reflecting on the 10-year anniversary of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease
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We at UCI MIND are heartbroken by the events of Sunday May 15 at Simpson Hall at Geneva Presbyterian Church on El Toro Road in Laguna Woods. We know very well this area, this church, and the community it serves. We have spoken previously at this very spot in partnership with the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, sharing information about brain health and recruiting participants to our studies. All violence is senseless. Violence against people because of their race, ethnicity, political stances or other group membership is an act of hatred and even more tragic and painful. Our thoughts and prayers…
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Hope Dies Last - Alzheimer's: A Journey of Lost Memories, comes out TODAY at 3:30pm! Check out this clip of UCI MIND Director, Joshua Grill, Ph.D. discussing the impacts of Alzheimer's disease on Orange County residents. Tune in today at 3:30pm on KDOCTV for the full program!
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Thank you to our listeners! Catch up on the latest episodes of our podcast for caregivers, Spotlight on Care: mind.uci.edu/podcast
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Contributed by Orange County Aging Services Collaborative: We are excited to announce the release of the Report on Aging in Orange County 2022! This report maps the system of senior support and data available in four key areas: disability, the digital divide, food insecurity, and social isolation.Everyone is invited to read the report and are encouraged to share with your networks. Report on Older Adults in Orange County: 2022 Report on Aging in Orange County 2022
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Don't miss this upcoming documentary filmed by OCWorld, featuring Director Dr. Joshua Grill - Tune in this Sunday on KDOCTV at 3:30pm! Contributed by OCWorld: "Tune in THIS SUNDAY on KDOCTV at 3:30pm for the premier of our final installment of our first season. This is Hope Dies Last - Alzheimer's: A Journey of Lost Memories. This short documentary explores the impacts of Alzheimer's disease in Orange County, a growing epicenter for the disease. Featuring insights on the disease from experts like Dr. Joshua Grill from UCI MIND and Deborah Levy, Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association OC Chapter.
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We're celebrating #OlderAmericansMonth (OAM) this month! This year, our theme is Age My Way. We're focusing on how older adults can plan, participate, and connect in ways they choose while aging in place, living independently in their communities for as long as possible. Find OAM resources at Visit http://ow.ly/LB2L50IVOO0
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After decades of research into the causes and treatment of Parkinson's disease, UCI Health neurologist Dr. Claire Henchcliffe is hopeful that a new cell therapy can finally bring meaningful relief to patients with the progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder. A national expert on Parkinson's disease, she is one of a small group of U.S. researchers conducting a first-in-human clinical trial of transplanted stem cells engineered to replace dopamine-producing neurons that are destroyed by the debilitating and incurable condition. As the brain loses its ability to produce the potent neurotransmitting chemical, that leads to the tremors, stiffness, slowness and lack of coordination seen in Parkinson's patients. The…
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