Dr. Aimee Pierce, Assistant Clinical Professor in UCI’s Department of Neurology, has been named Medical Director of the UCI MIND Memory Assessment Clinic.  Hailing from Eugene, Oregon, Dr. Pierce earned her B.S. in Biology at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, and her M.D. at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.  After graduating she completed an internship in Internal Medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital, a residency in neurology at UCLA, and a fellowship in geriatric neurology and dementia at the VA San Diego Healthcare System affiliated with UCSD.  Dr. Pierce officially joined the Department of Neurology…

On January 19, UCI MIND launched the MIND Matters Club at the home of Burton and Linda Young, who graciously hosted this inaugural gathering of individuals who have committed to  giving $1,906 or more annually to UCI MIND.  Guests gathered to hear Dr. Margaret Gatz, Professor of Psychology at the University of Southern California and Foreign Adjunct Professor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, describe her research into dementia among Swedish twins.  Dr. Gatz and her colleagues followed Swedish twins across the past 25 years in order to identify differences between twin partners who developed dementia and those who did…

The graduate student group ReMIND and the UCI MIND Institute will be hosting the Emerging Scientists Symposium on Neurological Disorders on February 9th at the University Club. It is a unique opportunity for graduate and postdoctoral researchers to present their work. Renowned Alzheimer's disease researcher Dr. Li-Huei Tsai will give the keynote address. All are welcome to attend!  

Please click on the following links to watch each of the presenters at our 2012 Alzheimer's disease annual conference: 19th Annual Southern California Alzheimer's Disease Research Conference When Does It Become Dementia? Transitioning from Healthy Aging to MCI and Dementia September 30, 2011 Welcome McGaugh - Making Lasting Memories Morris - Redefining Alzheimer's Disease: The Danger of Revised Criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment Kawas - Diagnosing Alzheimer's Before Memory Loss Sets In: Proposed Research Criteria Snyder - When the Diagnosis is Early-Stage Alzheimer's: What Happens Next? Tariot - Treating Dementia: A Look at Current and Future Medications Coon - Caregiving…

Read all about it at the OC Register.  Click Here.

With Alzheimer’s a looming public health crisis, UCI MIND’s director discusses promising research.  Click here to read the full story http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zgvm_vvqq3I

When Does It Become Dementia? Transitioning from Healthy Aging to MCI and Dementia September 30, 2011 at the Irvine Hilton, Irvine   The UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) at the University of California, Irvine, the Alzheimer’s Association Orange County Chapter, and Alzheimer’s Family Services Center are pleased to announce the 19th Annual Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Research Conference, When Does It Become Dementia? Transitioning from Healthy Aging to MCI and Dementia.The conference will be held on Friday, September 30, 2011 at the Irvine Hilton located at 18800 MacArthur Blvd, Irvine. This year we anticipate over 450…

September 21, 2011, Frontiers of the MIND focusing on Traumatic Brain Injury Featuring Ann McKee, M.D. , Boston University Dr. McKee’s research interests center on the neuropathological alterations of neurodegenerative diseases, with a primary focus on the role of tau protein, axonal injury, trauma, vascular injury, and neurodegeneration. Much of her current work centers on the long-term consequences of repetitive head injury from contact sports and military service. As a board-certified neurologist and neuropathologist, she is particularly interested in the clinical, behavioral and psychological manifestations of pathological disease and the neuroanatomical localization of clinical symptoms. She has written widely on…

Medications and Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease – What to Avoid Gaby T. Thai, M.D. Doctors are often asked whether there are any medications that someone with Alzheimer’s disease should avoid. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease may need medicines to treat symptoms of the disease, as well as for other health problems such as bladder incontinence, mood disturbances, high blood pressure, etc…  However, when a person takesmany medications, there is an increased risk of adverse effects, including confusion, mood swings, sleepiness, andworsening memory problems. Some medications can worsen symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and should be avoided,if at all possible.   Sedatives and…

Aging is an inevitable journey for everyone, and includes many obstacles and different paths to take.  How we live our lives can have enormous impact on whether we grow old gracefully, or succumb along the way. Good physical health, through diet and exercise, will allow people to remain active well into their twilight years, but as lifespan increases it is also important to take care of and maintain brain health as well.  Fortunately, it appears that what is good for the heart is also good for the brain, and thus by keeping active, both physically and mentally, and maintaining a…