The Alzheimer's Disease Center (ADC) at UT Southwestern is one of 32 centers funded by the National Institute on Aging to evaluate patients and to conduct scientific research into the cause(s) of Alzheimer's disease. 

At UT Southwestern, an interdisciplinary research team pools its talents to study the nature of Alzheimer's disease from many vantage points. Research is ongoing, moving closer to improved diagnosis and care giving techniques, medical intervention, etiology and eventual cure.

Administrative Core
The ADC is directed by Roger N. Rosenberg, M.D., professor of Neurology and Abe (Brunky), Morris and William Zale Distinguished Chair in Neurology.

Deputy Director Perrie M. Adams, Ph.D., Margaret D. Harris professor in Alzheimer's Research and Associate Dean for Research co-directs the ADC.

Clinical Core
Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Neurology.

Neuropathology Core
Charles L. White III, M.D., professor of Pathology, directs the neuropathological services for the ADC.

Data Management Core
Joan Reisch, Ph.D., professor of Clinical Sciences directs the statistical and data management activities of the ADC.

Education and Outreach Core
Margaret (Peggy) Higgins, M.S., assistant professor of Healthcare Services, directs the educational activities of the ADC.

Research Activities: The Alzheimer's Disease Center has funded two new pilot projects for fiscal year 2009-2010 for $30,000 each. They are:

•          “Truncated Forms of Alpha-Synuclein in Lewy Body Disease,” by Kimmo J. Hatanpaa, MD, PhD, assistant professor of pathology

•          “Aβ42 Gene Vaccine to Produce High Titers of Anti-Aβ42 Antibody to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease” by Todd Eager, PhD, assistant professor of neurology

We initiated the Friends of the ADC which is a group of interested philanthropic citizens who wanted to support our research several years ago.  In this regard, the Friends’ group has raised at least $60,000 each year for the past six years and supported basic research by our faculty to assist them in developing an Alzheimer's Disease Research Program.  The Friends of the ADC funded two $60,000 grants in 2009to Grant Recipients Janine Prange-Kiel, PhD and Yuji Nagada, MD, PhD. Janine Prange-Kiel, Ph.D. assistant professor, Department of Cell Biology, was funded for her project “Hippocampal Aromatase Expression in Alzheimer’s Disease.”  She is studying Aromatase, the enzyme that catalyzes the production of the steroid hormone estradiol (E₂), and the potential protective effect of brain-derived E₂ in Alzheimer’s disease.  Yuji Nagada, MD, PhD was funded to study “Prevention of AD by the Aging-Suppressor Gene Klotho.” Aging is the major risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease and Dr. Nagada’s research will examine characteristics of the Klotho gene that slow the aging process.

Research Development: The Center continues to grow and develop clinical and research programs.  Faculty members at UT Southwestern have been awarded more than $700K in peer reviewed grants for pilot studies from the ADC and the Friends of the ADC.  This investment has been enriched by 21-fold as pilot studies have lead to federal or Alzheimer’s Association grants totaling $15M. Progress in basic science funding for Alzheimer's disease has been a major objective for our ADC and ranks us as one of the important Center's contributing to AD research.  We have more than 30 individuals conducting Alzheimer's Disease Clinical and Research Programs on our faculty, and our Center is recognized nationally as one of the most productive.  We published in excess of 160 peer reviewed scientific papers, chapters, and editorials in the past two years.