Alzheimer's disease (AD), afflicts some 4 million Americans with loss of memory, loss of capacity to live independently, and ultimately leads to death. AD is the most common cause of intellectual decline with aging.The initial cause of AD is unknown but the deterioration in mental functions results from shrinkage of brain tissue, as a result of the loss of brain cells.The mechanisms through which these cells die may in some ways be similar to mechanisms of cell death in neural trauma and stroke. Further, basic knowledge of factors that support the survival of brain cells may lead to methods to reduce the progression of AD.

  Members of the CNIR with research and/or clinical focus on Alzheimer's disease include Drs. Aisen, Colton, Kozikowski, Papadopoulos, and Ullman.