In the News

UCI MIND releases a new video in which Dr. Aimee Pierce, Medical Director of the Institute’s Memory Assessment and Research Center, and her fellow researchers and clinicians talk about their latest efforts to advance research in Alzheimer’s disease.  

According to the recently released 2012 World Alzheimer’s Report, stigma negatively effects people with dementia across the world, resulting in loss of friends and social exclusion.

The 20th Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Research Conference, held on World Alzheimer’s Day, September 21, 2012, is now available for viewing online.  Addressing the topic, Beyond Memory: The Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms of Dementia, the conference featured internationally known researchers and expert clinicians who discussed non-cognitive symptoms – ranging from apathy and depression to hallucinations and agitation – and their treatment in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.  Led by UCI MIND with the support of the Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County and Alzheimer’s Family Services Center, this year’s conference brought together 560 caregivers, health care professionals, aging service providers, and…

Just published Online First by Archives of Neurology, a study led by Szofia Bullain, M.D., a Fellow in Geriatric Neurology at UCI MIND and a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Neurology, has shown that difficulty performing activities like walking at age 90 and older greatly increases the odds of having dementia. Using a cross-sectional design, Bullain and her colleagues found that the oldest old who performed poorly on measures of walking, rising from a chair, standing balance and grip strength were more likely to have dementia than their more able peers.  Odds of developing dementia increased for every unit…

Kawas honored as Visionary Woman by Alzheimer’s Association of OC Dr. Claudia Kawas, the Al and Trish Nichols Chair in Clinical Neuroscience and professor of neurology and neurobiology & behavior at UC Irvine, was honored for her clinical contributions to Alzheimer’s disease research and care by the Orange County Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Along with seven other recipients, Kawas was recognized as a 2012 Visionary Woman during a Sept. 28 reception at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel. Each year, the Visionary Women Circle of the Alzheimer’s Association honors Orange County caregivers who display extraordinary compassion in caring for those…

Investigators at the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders describe their efforts to advance research for Alzheimer’s disease.  Caregiver Bill Edwards shares how his wife, Nancy, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at UCI MIND and urges support for the Institute’s research.

CBS 2 News spot features Steve and Gincy Heins, who shared their story of living with Steve’s Mild Cognitive Impairment at the 2012 Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Regional Conference on September 21, 2012 – World Alzheimer’s Day.  As Dr. Aimee Pierce of the UCI MIND cautions, any memory or thinking difficulties that interfere with one’s everyday life should be brought to the attention of a physician and evaluated carefully.

KCAL 9 News highlights research at UCI MIND which was shared at the 20th Annual Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Conference, held on September 21st, World Alzheimer’s Day.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded $20 million to UCI Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI  MIND) to advance stem cell treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in partnership with Stem Cell, Inc. of Newark, California.  Led by a disease team that includes Dr. Frank LaFerla, a world-renowned researcher in Alzheimer’s disease who serves as director of UCI MIND and Dr. Mathew Blurton-Jones, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at UCI, the four-year project is designed to bring neural stem cell treatment into human clinical trials.  Both researchers are part of the UCI Bill…

Dr. Leslie Thompson, a member of the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), has been named editor in chief of the first academic journal dedicated to Huntington’s disease.  The quarterly Journal of Huntington’s Disease features original research in basic science, translational research and clinical studies.  The 7th most cited researcher in Huntington’s disease (HD) over the past 25 years, Dr. Thompson is a professor of psychiatry and human behavior in the UCI School of Medicine and of neurobiology and behavior prednisone online in the School of Biological Sciences.  She serves as the Director of the Interdepartmental…

Congratulations to Dr. Carl Cotman, professor of Neurology, Neurobiology and Behavior, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine who received an honorary doctorate from McGill University in Montreal as part of its 2012 commencement exercises.  Dr. Cotman, who founded the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), was awarded a Doctor of Science, honoris causa, in recognition of the many contributions he has made to our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related cognitive disorders throughout his distinguished career.  He joins a select group of faculty to receive this honor. In his invited convocation address,…

Register Now . . . for the 20thAnnual Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Conference, to be held on World Alzheimer’s Day, Friday, September 21, 2012 at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa. Joining worldwide efforts to increase understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders at the University of California, Irvine (UCI MIND) and its community partners, the Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County and Alzheimer’s Family Services Center, are bringing together experts from across the country to address the topic, Beyond Memory: The Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms of Dementia. Today, over 5.4 million…

The Family Education Series, taught by Dr. Malcolm Dick, Senior Neuropsychologist at the UCI MIND Memory Assessment and Research Center, and Dr. Cordula Dick-Muehlke, Director of Education at UCI MIND, is now available online.  Workshops available for viewing are Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias: What Does the Diagnosis Mean? and Alzheimer’s Disease: Behavior and Communication Strategies.   View the workshops online or attend the 2013 series in person.     For more information or to pre-register, call (949) 824-2382.

Dr. Carl Cotman, founding director of the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, explains how regular exercise and a diet rich in antioxidants support brain health. This video is part of the “The Alzheimer’s Project,” a presentation of HBO Documentary Films and the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health in association with the Alzheimer’s Association, the Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund and Geoffrey Beene Gives Back® Alzheimer’s Initiative.

Dr. Frank LaFerla serves as Chief Alzheimer’s Research Expert for SeniorCareHomes.com.  He shares the urgent need to advance research about Alzheimer’s disease and the efforts of UCI MIND to ensure that memories last a lifetime for future generations.  Today, 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and a new case of develops in the United States every 68 seconds.  Without effective treatment and prevention strategies, the number of Americans affected by Alzheimer’s disease will grow to at least 16 million by 2050, with the cost of care bankrupting our society.

Dr. David Cribbs, Associate Director of UCI MIND and Professor in Residence in the Department of Neurology, has been appointed to the Department of Veterans Affairs Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research  and Development (BLR&D) and Clinical Science Research and Development (CSR&D) Services Scientific Merit Review Board. As a board member, Dr. Cribbs will provide advice on the scientific quality, budget, safety and mission relevance of investigator-initiated research proposals submitted for intramural funding at the VA.  Funding is available for studies that prove both scientifically meritorious and relevant to the health of veterans. The board fulfills its mission through a series of expert…

An inspiration – that’s what Nancy Jenkins has been all her life – and continues to be even in the face of Alzheimer’s disease, which is gradually destroying her memory and thinking abilities.  These days, Nancy is inspiring others, even her husband, Larry, to follow her footsteps in advancing research for Alzheimer’s disease.  An active participant in the longitudinal research program at the University of California Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) for the past 8 years, Nancy is allowing doctors to follow the progression of her disease annually and has agreed to donate her brain…

An overflow crowd of 160 Chinese Americans attended the UC Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorder’s (UCI MIND) first workshop on memory loss targeting this growing ethnic community.  Offered with translation, Memory Loss: Should I Be Concerned? was presented at the Irvine Chinese School on May 4, 2012 by UCI MIND experts, Dr. Malcolm Dick, Senior Neuropsychologist, and Dr. Cordula Dick-Muehlke, Director of Education, with translation support from Florence Huang, M.S.G., Community Liaison. Located in the heart of Irvine, UCI MIND is serving its local community by reaching out to Asians, who represent 39.2% of the city’s population, up…

Staying physically active is critical for brain health, but you don’t necessarily have to break a sweat exercising to protect yourself from developing Alzheimer’s disease.   Among the oldest old, those who were the most physically active, whether through routine activities like housework and gardening or traditional exercise, had 2.3 times less risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who were the least physically active, according to a study just published in the April 24, 2012 issue of Neurology. Dr. A. S. Buchman, lead author, and his colleagues at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, measured level of physical activity among 716…

More than 500 guests stepped back in time to the 1960s at the Time of Your Life fundraiser, held at the Center Club in Costa Mesa on March 10, 2012.  The benefit, in support of Alzheimer’s research at UCI MIND, was led by Jacqueline DuPont, Ph.D., Irvine Cottages, and her husband, Marc Carlson, and fellow co-chair, Linda Young.  The threesome had volunteered for two previous successful UCI MIND fundraisers.  They gathered their team of loyal volunteers to serve on this year’s committee to produce a truly unique event.  You had to be there! With the generous support and underwriting of…

Every 4 seconds another person in the world develops Alzheimer’s disease, a statistic released by the World Health Organization in its 2012 report, Dementia, A Public Health Priority, on April 11 and highlighted by Dr. Frank LaFerla, Director of the UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), that same evening in his presentation, Researching Ways to Make Memories Last A Lifetime, at the 18th UCI Distinguished Lecture Series on Brain, Learning and Memory, co-hosted by the UCI Center for Neurobiology, Learning and Memory and UCI MIND. Speaking to an audience of more than 500, Dr. LaFerla…

Dr. Frank LaFerla , Director of UCI MIND, addressed the 1,000+ prominent political and entertainment industry leaders – in addition to celebrities – who gathered on March 21, 2012, at the Beverly Hilton to recognize advances in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and rally around the growing movement to end the disease.  This annual Alzheimer’s Association gala has raised over $19 million since its inception to advance cutting-edge research, increase awareness, and address the needs of Americans living with the disease and their caregivers. In his brief address, Dr. LaFerla reminded the audience that the price is just too high…

Over 500 guests enjoyed A Time of Your Life Saturday, March 10th, and raised much-needed funding to support research at UCI MIND.  Thank you to sponsor San Clemente Villas by the Seas for this video that shares the sights and sounds of the evening.

A study published in the February 28 issue of the journal Neurology provides more evidence that high dietary consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish such as salmon and tuna, may protect the brain against cognitive impairment. The research team, led by Dr. Zaldy S. Tan, found that healthy older adults 58-76 (m = 67) with the lowest  red blood cell (RBC) levels of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) had “older” brains than their peers as well as a vascular pattern of cognitive impairment.  Researchers examined the relationship of RBC fatty acid levels…

Learn about Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and ways to support research at UCI MIND Is dementia the same as Alzheimer’s disease?  Dr. Cordula Dick-Muehlke, Director of Education at UCI MIND, answers this common question and describes Mild Cognitive Impairment, the transitional stage between normal aging and dementia. In January 2012, UCI MIND was awarded a $25,000 grant by the S. L. Gimbel Foundation in support of Memory Screening and Education to Advance Alzheimer’s Disease Research.   Funding will enable UCI MIND to educate the community about memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias as well as opportunities to participate in…

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have demonstrated that bexarotene, an FDA-approved drug for the  treatment of skin cancer, dramatically and rapidly clears amyloid plaques from the brains of mice bred with Alzheimer’s disease.  Led by Gary Landreth, Ph.D.,  the study just published on line in Science Express, found that bexarotene not only enhanced clearance of beta amyloid, an abnormal protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease, but also improved some cognitive and behavioral functions.   After discovering that Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), the main cholesterol carrier in the brain, facilitates clearance of beta amyloid, Landreth and his colleagues decided…

Trailer video for the full version of a documentary that looks at what UCI is doing to fight Alzheimer’s disease.   UCI Mind Teaser from John Hess on Vimeo.

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, announced today that the Obama administration would increase funding for Alzheimer’s disease research by $130 million.   An extra $50 million will be made available immediately, and another $80 million will be added to the fiscal year 2013 federal budget to be released next week.  In total, this funding represents a 25% increase in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research over the next two years.  An additional $25 million will be allocated for caregiver support, provider education, public awareness, and improvements in data infrastructure.  “We can’t wait to confront the growing threat that Alzheimer’s…

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

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…

Researchers with the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) have discovered how a novel compound can reduce the accumulation of brain plaques seen in Alzheimer’s without the side effects produced by current drugs used for the chronic neurodegenerative disease. In a study published online in the Annals of Neurology, neurobiologists Kim Green and Frank LaFerla found that the ST101 compound triggers a process that carves up amyloid precursor proteins into benign molecules. These precursor proteins, when intact, ultimately can form into beta-amyloid plaques, which are the hallmark lesions of Alzheimer’s and believed to be the primary cause of dementia….

Bruce Cook, The Crowd: The mind is tops at wine event One American develops Alzheimer’s disease every 70 seconds, statistics report. According to Linda Scheck, who is with UC Irvine’s Mind Institute, the Baby Boomer generation is entering the high-risk age group for being diagnosed with the disease with as many as 10,000 turning 65 every day. Medical science is concerned that the possible onslaught of Alzheimer’s victims could become a national crisis in decades to come. In Orange County recently, the UCI Mind Institute, which focuses on memory impairment and neurological disorders, held a fundraiser called Saving Memories with…

UCI MIND graduate student Kara Neely, and Professors Green and LaFerla have discovered a key role for presenilin, a protein involved in the production of amyloid-beta, which forms the plaques in Alzheimer’s disease.  In a study published in the February 23rd edition of the Journal of Neuroscience, the research team show that presenilin plays an integral role in the way that cells, including neurons, dispose of misfunctioning and broken proteins.  The accumulation of misfunctioning and broken proteins inside cells is thought to contribute to many neurodegenerative diseases, as well as to the aging process itself.  This research highlights an important…

Wine for the MIND – Saving Memories with Style attracted over 300 guests who enjoyed food, wine and fashion, all related to Alzheimer’s.  It was a fantastic event, chaired by Jacqueline DuPont and a committee of dedicated volunteers.   Below are a selection of the photos – click on the thumbnails to see the photos and cycle through them.  

This event was a success!  Watch this space for further announcements about supporting research at UCI MIND.