Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders
Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition, is the most common form of dementia. Common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease relate to memory and problems with other cognitive functions to a degree that inhibits daily tasks and activities.
As the disease progresses, physical changes to a person’s brain tissue leads to the build-up of protein clusters (plaque) between nerve cells, making it difficult for neurotransmitters to connect and communicate in order to facilitate routine body functions. People with Alzheimer’s disease experience escalating levels of memory loss, declining quality of thought clarity and decision-making capabilities, and become unable to care for themselves.
Early Diagnosis, Risk Assessment and Biomarker Development
Apostolova’s research group focuses on the characterization of early symptomatic and pre-symptomatic stages of Alzheimer’s disease and the development and validation of sensitive imaging and genetic biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementing disorders. The research program is affiliated with the Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, the Center for Neuroimaging, the Indiana University Network Sciences Institute, the Center for Enhancing Quality of Life in Chronic Illness, as well as the Departments of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Pathology, Psychiatry and Sociology.
Azheimer’s Clinical Trials Program (ACT)
Specialists in the Department of Neurology collaborate with colleagues in the Departments of Psychiatry, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Pathology and Medicine to offer an integrated approach to evaluation and treatment of patients with cognitive complaints, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Department physician scientists’ conduct—and have a decades-long history of conducting—clinical research studies of the latest investigational drugs targeting Alzheimer’s disease.