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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Message from the Director For many, the new year is a time for fresh starts and resolutions. As we enter 2025, we at UCI MIND are taking the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the mission to conduct research to discover solutions for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. UCI MIND investigators are unwavering in our commitment to this mission. The remainder of this newsletter, as with all of our newsletters, describes the manifold elements of the work of UCI MIND—from conducting fundamental basic science, to running vital clinical trials, to sharing our knowledge with you the community we serve and…
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Recent research has indicated that Americans face an increased lifetime risk of developing dementia. This finding has served as the topic of conversation from the New York Times to Saturday Night Live. Beneath the main headline, the increased lifetime risk of dementia was particularly pronounced among Black adults, who were in danger of developing dementia at three times the rate of White adults and with dementia arriving earlier. Dementia is life-changing for the person with cognitive impairment but also affects the spouses, adult children, and other supporters of older adults. In the article that sparked much of the recent attention,…
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Message from the Director Alzheimer’s disease research is a year-round activity. Our fall newsletter finishes telling the story of our investigators’ busy summer, including playing active roles at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia (p1). That conference was replete with presentations that drew major headlines (p 3), and some of the researchers who drew such headlines joined us at our 35th Annual Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Research Conference (p6). This conference, co-sponsored with the Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Orange County, traditionally features visiting faculty as well as our UCI talent, and this year was no exception. Our investigators remain…
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Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, This summer, we lost our founder, Dr. Carl Cotman. Under Dr. Cotman’s leadership, UCI became an independent ADRC in 2000. He recruited many of UCI’s most prominent researchers and leaders, such as David Cribbs, Claudia Kawas, and Frank LaFerla. He also lured UCI researchers into collaborative work on dementia, such as Andrea Tenner, Ira Lott, and Marcelo Wood. He launched the Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Research Conference, now in its 35th year; secured the Neurobiology of Aging NIH training grant, now in its 41st year; and established the UCI ADRC brain…
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Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, Please enjoy the latest issue of MIND Matters from UCI MIND. In this Spring issue, we highlight a number of exciting updates about the impact UCI MIND investigators are having in the field. On the cover, post-doctoral fellow Dr. Claire Butler highlights progress made by the collaborative MODEL-AD group, including a publication she led. Another post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Jessica Noche, highlights an exciting collaboration in which UCI MIND investigators are playing a leading role on the Ann S. Bowers Women’s Brain Health Initiative (page 4). We also highlight several awards…
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Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, Happy New Year! We hope that 2024 is off to a positive start for you. As we embark upon a new year, UCI MIND and the field of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) research are abuzz with excitement about progress made and opportunities to further advance our field. At the end of 2023, we held our annual signature fundraising event, the December to Remember Gala. We honored Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen, the founders of Hilarity for Charity (HFC) and our partners in a program to mentor and inspire…
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Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, Advances in the field of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research and the contributions of UCI MIND investigators remain tremendously exciting. Two new drugs have been approved by the FDA (page 3). These approvals are believed by many to represent the dawn of a new age in AD research and treatment. Both drugs received accelerated approval and we await a decision from the FDA about “full approval” for lecanemab. If received, full approval could cause the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to revisit their previous coverage decision about anti-amyloid antibody therapies. These…
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Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, As the fall MIND Matters newsletter goes to print, many of us are preparing to travel to San Francisco for the annual Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) meeting, where we will hear important results from recently completed Phase 3 clinical trials of potential new therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This includes trials of lecanemab (page 1) as well as other treatments. The topline results for lecanemab announced by the trial sponsors are exciting and suggest that lecanemab may slow the progression of AD. The availability of treatments to slow the…
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UCI MIND Director Joshua Grill, PhD and Jason Karlawish, PhD, Co-Director of the Penn Memory Center were featured in a recent podcast episode for the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center: The Case for Disclosing Biomarker Results to Alzheimer's Research Participants. Listen here > Did you know that UCI MIND has its own podcast specifically for caregivers called, Spotlight on Care? Listen to "Keeping the Holidays and Celebrations Happy, Healthy and Safe, with Dr. Miriam Galindo" and tell us what you think.
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Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, We hope that you had a summer full of sun, fun, and good health. As you can see in this issue of MIND Matters, it has been a busy summer here at UCI MIND. Our investigators played a prominent role at the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), a focus of this issue (p 1, 3, 6, and 7). We’re very proud of our own Maria Corrada, ScD, who played a role in planning this important meeting (p 1 and 7), as well as the many researchers who presented their work.…
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The CHOC Children's Neuroscience Institute and Alzheimer Biomarkers Consortium — Down Syndrome (ABC-DS) have teamed up to sponsor the 2022 Buddy Walk hosted by the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County (DSAOC). Funds raised for the walk support the programs and services DSAOC provides to their constituents. The event will be held on Sunday, Nov 6th starting at 11:00 am at the Santa Ana Zoo (admission included with registration)! In support of DSAOC, Eric Doran, MS, of UCI has created The CHOC/UCI Down Syndrome Program Team. Please consider supporting this event by: Joining our team (using the highlighted link or QR code above) Making a gift Sharing the event with…
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The newest edition of MIND Matters is now available to view digitally and will arrive in mailboxes soon! This issue is a special edition on Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) and covers: UCI MIND converges upon San Diego for AAIC Buzzworthy Brain News Evening on the Peninsula Michael Chang Foundation A December to Remember is back! In-person! Bright MINDs Shine at AAIC Spotlight on 90+ Learn more here > Donate to UCI MIND here >
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On Saturday, October 1st, UCI MIND participated in the HFC “10th Birthday Extravaganza,” hosted by Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen. The event raised critical dollars for HFC’s caregiver respite and education programs. This includes HFC’s funding of the UCI MIND Research And Mentorship Program with the School of Medicine and several of the trainees were able to attend this star-studded evening in Los Angeles. The night of laughter and music also gave UCI MIND the opportunity to talk about our research, share who we are with the community, and allowed attendees (including Mr. Rogen) the opportunity to hold a human brain. We thank…
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UCI MIND In The News on World Alzheimer's Day: Yahoo News and CBSLA report that Epidemiologist Dr. Christian Salazar of UC Irvine spoke to Chris Holmstrom and Marci Gonzalez about how Alzheimer's disproportionately affects the Latino community. Watch the news broadcast here >
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The Institute on Methods and Protocols for Advancement of Clinical Trials in ADRD (IMPACT-AD), is a comprehensive training program in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The course is directed by UCI MIND faculty member Joshua Grill and USC faculty member Dr. Rema Raman. Though in its third year, 2022 was the first time this innovative course could could be held in person and it was a resounding success. Throughout this past week, trainees from around the country, along with many of the nation’s best AD clinical trial investigators, stayed in La Jolla's Estancia Hotel for an immersive, interactive, and comprehensive program. More than 100 investigators with…
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World Alzheimer’s Day is today, Wednesday, September 21st. This day serves as a time to spread awareness, educate, and reflect on the need to develop better treatments and preventions for Alzheimer's and other dementias. On this day, UCI MIND recognizes the millions of people around the globe who are living with or providing care for a person living with dementia. In particular, we thank all of the people who have donated their time, energy, and more, to the cause of research to discover solutions for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
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Feedspot, an RSS service recently released its top 25 Alzheimer’s Podcasts on the web and UCI MIND’s Spotlight On Care: Alzheimer’s Caregiving was ranked 9th among the podcasts they reviewed. Feedspot reviewed all sites based on traffic, social media, followers, domain authority and freshness. This ranking is particularly noteworthy since the many of the other podcasts have been producing content for several years, some for over a decade. Spotlight on Care was launched in 2021 and now has thousands of downloads and over 25 episodes with excellent advice and tips for dementia and Alzheimer’s caregivers. Please listen for free at spotlightoncare.com and let your…
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On Friday, September 9th, 2022, UCI MIND, Alzheimer’s Orange County, and the Alzheimer’s Association Orange County Chapter hosted the 33rd Annual Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Research Conference at the Irvine Marriott. This year’s conference titled, “Dementia Across the Lifespan”, was the first one held in person in 3 years and was simultaneously live streamed to a virtual audience. The theme of the conference addressed different forms of dementia, contextualized by their typical age of onset. As with previous years, the line-up of speakers was outstanding. The day kicked off with a presentation from esteemed UC Irvine Professor of Pathology and UCI MIND faculty…
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UCI MIND A December to Remember Gala Honoring Dean Frank LaFerla, PhD Saturday, December 3, 2022 Balboa Bay Resort Learn more at gala.mind.uci.edu
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Megan Witbracht, PhD Join UCI MIND Director of Education Megan Witbracht, PhD at Cypress Senior Center on 9/21/2022 @ 9:30am – Dr. Witbracht will be speaking on “Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness.” Learn more about the Cypress Senior Center here >
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Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow in-person and virtually at the 33rd Annual SoCal Alzheimer's Disease Research Conference: Dementia across the lifespan... presented by UCI MIND, Alzheimer's Association, Orange County Chapter, & Alzheimer's Orange County. Haven't registered yet? Act now! Virtual Registration will close today, 9/8 at 5PM PT. General and Student Registration will close on Friday, 9/9 at 11AM PT. Those seeking CEUs must check in at Professional Registration prior to 9AM PT Friday, 9/9. In-person attendees: If you need day-of assistance, visit the Registration, Professional, or Exhibitor booths, or contact conference@mind.uci.edu Virtual attendees: You should receive your unique…
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September 9, 2022 8:00 AM – 3:15 PM PT Hybrid Event Join UCI MIND, Alzheimer’s Orange County, and Alzheimer’s Association for the 33rd Annual Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Research Conference. This hybrid conference will cover a wide range of topics across the lifespan, such as Down syndrome, frontotemporal dementia, early-onset Alzheimer’s, the oldest-old, and even more. There are two options to join this year: In-Person: Irvine Marriott Hotel, 18000 Von Karman Ave, Irvine, CA 92612 Virtual: Registrants will be sent an email close to the conference date with instructions and links to view and participate live via Zoom Click here…
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With the generous support of Don and Joan Beall, UCI MIND and its trainee organization REMIND hosted the second annual and first-ever in-person Beall Scholar Program July 18-22 on the UCI campus. The goal of the program is to inspire students who are typically underrepresented in STEM fields to pursue careers in brain research and geriatric medicine. Sixteen rising 12th graders were chosen from a very competitive pool of applicants from Santa Ana and Anaheim Unified School Districts. Fifty percent of the chosen scholars will be the first in their family to attend college. The program included lectures from UCI MIND faculty and trainees…
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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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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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The Head lab celebrating World Down Syndrome Day with their crazy socks! Some of those featured include: Liz Head Lorena Sordo Elizabeth Andrews Jeremy Rouanet Cherie Lepe Lisi Flores-Aguilar Jesse Pascual Learn more about Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease at https://sites.mind.uci.edu/headlab
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Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, The COVID-19 surge caused by the Omicron variant has produced unwanted challenges for our research. Yet, our investigators remain unrelenting and highly successful in their work. Dr. Ira Lott received the international Trisomy 21 Research Society Montserrat Trueta Award (page 1). Dr. Claudia Kawas received the UCI Senate Better World Award (page 5). We honored Bob and Virginia Naeve with our UCI MIND Award, though we were unable to hold our A December to Remember Gala, to deliver it with the pomp and circumstance they deserve (page 7). Cherry Justice has…
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UCI MIND Director Dr. Josh Grill is giving a talk on Zoom about Dementia Care, hosted by Happy 50 Plus, on March 24, 2022 from 4-5:30 PM. He will be speaking on "Effective Diagnosis and Treatment for Alzheimer's, and What's New on the Horizon." This event will be in English with Mandarin Chinese translation. The talk is free to join, but pre-registration is required. Zoom Registration link: bit.ly/DementiaCare0324 Please see the flyer below for information regarding this upcoming event.
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This International Women's Day, UCI MIND remains committed to understanding why almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's are women. Research conducted in partnership with Maria Shriver’s Women's Alzheimer's Movement, whose organization has awarded $500,000 to UCI MIND since its launch in 2017, seeks to answer that question. Show your support by advocating, donating, and participating in research today!
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We are pleased to announce that the in-person support group meetings for families who are caring for individuals living with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease are resuming next month in March. All details may be found in the flyer linked here and below. These meetings are co-sponsored by The Down Syndrome Program at UCI MIND, The Regional Center of Orange County, and Alzheimer's Orange County, in collaboration with the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County.
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Originally posted by Orange County Aging Services Collaborative (OCASC): We now have Mastering the Master Plan translated into Spanish, English, Vietnamese, and ASL! Please see below links to share with everyone you know. This event was hosted by the collaborative and the County of Orange on Nov 5th, 2021 to educate everyone about the CA Master Plan for Aging. It also included a town hall with elected officials. This is an important topic and this plan needs to be implemented at the local level. Do YOU know about the CA Master Plan for Aging? What are your elected officials doing…
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UCI MIND’s partner and sponsor of the Research And Mentorship Program (RAMP) HFC, led by Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, has announced their annual convention for caregivers, CareCon. Learn more here >
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Congratulations to UCI MIND member Dr. Claudia Kawas, who was just announced as the recipient of a UCI Academic Senate 2021-22 Distinguished Faculty Award. Dr. Kawas, who is a Professor of Neurology, will receive the Academic Senate Better World Award. To learn about her research studying longevity in the oldest-old, visit 90study.org.
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Here's to a great year of podcasting with our new series for caregiver stories, Spotlight on Care! Let's take a look at 2021: Top Episode Recognizing the Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease with Bill Edwards was the most popular episode of Spotlight on Care in 2021. It was published on February 02 and has been downloaded 186 times. Listen to it here! 19 Episodes In 2021, Spotlight on Care published 10 hours of new content across 19 episodes. That’s 587 minutes or 35,256 seconds to be more precise. 2,311 Downloads In 2021, Spotlight on Care episodes were downloaded 2,311 times thanks…
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❄️Wishing you a joyous holiday season with our sincere appreciation for your trust & confidence in us as we research ways to make memories last a lifetime We wish you a New Year filled with Peace, Happiness & Hope Joshua D. Grill, PhD & the Faculty & Staff of UCI MIND
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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) clinical trials require the enrollment of two people: a participant and a study partner. Study partners play critical roles for trial success. Yet, little is known about the impact of study partners, especially in trials that enroll individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). At this year’s Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference in Boston, Navneet Hakhu from the Grill/Gillen lab presented data about who study partners are in these important clinical trials. He showed that the prevalence of adult child and other dyads was much lower than that of spousal dyads. But importantly, these adult child and other dyads were much more likely…
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Cognitive assessments are a crucial part of Alzheimer’s disease studies as these help track cognitive decline; however, these assessments may be subject to a practice effect, an improvement in scores due to familiarity with the assessment. Practice effects can mask cognitive decline, so it is important to understand whether these exist in commonly used assessments. At this year’s Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference in Boston, Michelle Nuño in the labs of Drs. Joshua Grill and Daniel Gillen, presented the group’s work investigating whether the letter fluency test, a commonly used assessment, is subject to a practice effect. Through…
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TODAY is #GivingTuesday – a day that celebrates generosity in all its forms! In honor of this global generosity movement, make a gift today to UCI MIND. We hope you will expand our capacity to conduct promising research and advance progress toward ending Alzheimer’s disease by supporting the UCI MIND Alzheimer’s Disease Excellence Fund. GIVE NOW
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Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday – a day that celebrates generosity in all its forms! In honor of this global generosity movement, consider making a gift today to UCI MIND. We rely on the support of people like you in our community to advance life-changing research and accelerate the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating illness that impacts more than 6 million Americans and their families. GIVE NOW We hope you will support us by Giving Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 #GivingTuesday
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This month is #NationalCaregiversMonth – a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across California and raise awareness to increase support for caregivers. Many caregivers work and provide care which can make it challenging to maintain their own well-being. . As a caregiver, it’s essential to take care of yourself, too. The California Department of Aging has compiled a list of resources to assist you in this role. https://bit.ly/ALZDcare
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November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may show signs of: Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as getting lost in a familiar place or repeating questions. Difficulty completing familiar tasks. Confusion with time or place. Change in mood, personality, or behavior. If you or a loved one shows signs listed above, consult your health care provider. For more information on Alzheimer's disease and dementia, see https://bit.ly/ALZD10
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Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, Fall is here and the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. Though we are seeing signs of improvement, life is not yet back to normal. This fall, the pandemic once again forced us to move several of our major annual activities to a virtual format (page 7) or to cancel them entirely (page 5). But it has not slowed the important work happening at UCI MIND. In this issue, you will learn about funded work from Dr. Liz Chrastil (page 4). She studies the hippocampus, a part of the brain affected…
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Drs. Jean Ho (left) and Daniel Nation (right)Photo: Steve Zylius/UCI Continuing all this week, National Public Radio's “Academic Minute” series features a UCI expert. This Friday, tune in to hear Jean K. Ho, postdoctoral scholar at the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, who studies how hypertension medications help ward off memory loss. Learn More At NPR's Academic Minute: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564572329/the-academic-minute You Can Also Listen On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1060078714
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Join Neuropsychologist Dr. Michelle McDonnell on Thursday, Oct 21 @ 12 PM PT for a live discussion and Q&A on what to do if you suspect that you have a #memory problem. Bring your questions! See you Thursday on: Facebook YouTube
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Marina Ritchie Congratulations to UC Irvine Neurobiology and Behavior graduate student, Marina Ritchie for receiving the award for Best Virtual Student Poster in the theme of Drug Development at this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference #AAIC2021! Her poster, on "Estimating attrition in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment clinical trials," excellently conveyed her research to the judges and attendees at the esteemed conference earlier this year. As a 3rd year graduate student in the labs of Drs. Josh Grill and Daniel Gillen, Marina’s research focuses on identifying means to improve recruitment, retention and overall study design in Alzheimer’s disease…
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Message from the Director Dear Friends of UCI MIND, The summer of 2021 brought the Tokyo Olympics of 2020. Our UCI MIND researchers continue to earn gold medals for their work in fighting Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (page 1). Gold medals also go to Virginia Naeve and Steve O’Leary for establishing a remarkable resource for caregivers, Spotlight on Care (page 4), available through UCI MINDCast. Spotlight on Care is made possible by the generous support of Stephen Hamill and his family (page 5). And our REMIND trainees were also shining stars this summer—launching a new program to inspire local…
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On June 28–29, 2021, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a virtual workshop, “Behavioral and Social Research and Clinical Practice Implications of Biomarkers and Other Preclinical Diagnostics of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias” (AD/ADRD). UCI MIND Director Joshua Grill was an invited participant in this meeting, for which a brief report is now available.
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