Alzheimer’s and related dementias
Delving deep into the brain to understand Alzheimer’s and related dementias
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world and the most common type of dementia. Its symptoms include progressive loss of memory and cognitive abilities. Evidence suggests that the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease may start a decade or more before symptoms appear. Although a person may not show outward signs during this time, changes in the brain — such as the development of tangles and plaques — can occur and cause damage that leads to symptoms.
Other types of dementia include frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. Although rarer than Alzheimer’s, these devastating diseases share common features that may help us better understand and, one day, better treat multiple types of dementia.
At VAI, our scientists are tackling Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias from multiple angles with the goal of informing breakthrough new treatments. These efforts include:
- Decoding the genetic variants that impact Alzheimer’s risk
- Sleuthing out epigenetic changes that may propel disease progression
- Understanding the broader landscape of Alzheimer’s and other dementias
- Exploring how the brain’s structure itself may protect against or promote disease
By the numbers
Alzheimer's and related dementias
- 55M People have dementia worldwide*
- 5.8M People in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia**
- 60 The average age at which Alzheimer’s symptoms appear**
VAI scientists who study Alzheimer's and related dementias
José Brás, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Genomic Sciences and Neurodegeneration
Rita Guerreiro, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Genomic Sciences and Neurodegeneration
Michael Henderson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Protein Pathologies and Genetic Risk in Neurodegeneration
Qiang Zhu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Genetics, Epigenetics and Therapeutic Innovation in Neurodegenerative Diseases
