Brain Matters (Video)

More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association. UC Davis researcher Alyssa Weakley is working on I-Care, a new technology that's helping Alzheimer's patients live longer in their own homes. At UC Davis, our researchers are working to better understand the causes of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, its most common form, while advancing understanding and improving care for those affected. Through innovative studies, we’re paving the way for new treatments and strategies to slow, prevent and ultimately transform how we approach these complex neurological conditions. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41737]

Alzheimer’s disease can begin developing years before memory and thinking problems become noticeable. Iris Broce-Diaz, Ph.D., of UC San Diego is developing accessible, noninvasive, and cost-effective tools to help primary care physicians and neurologists identify people at higher risk earlier. Her models combine information from cognitive assessments, brain imaging, genetics, and PET scans to estimate the likelihood that mild cognitive impairment will progress within five years. Combining multiple measures improves the models’ ability to separate higher- and lower-risk patients. Broce-Diaz also plans to add women-specific factors, including menopause history, hormone therapy, reproductive history, endocrine markers, and symptoms. The goal is to support better referrals, guide monitoring, and help eligible patients consider treatment sooner. Earlier risk assessment could also strengthen clinical trials and make dementia care more useful across different health systems. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41632]

Alzheimer’s disease unfolds over many years through a complex interplay of amyloid, tau, genetics, lipid biology, and the brain’s immune response. John Hardy, Ph.D., explains how rare inherited forms of Alzheimer’s disease helped shape current thinking about how the disease begins, then connects those discoveries to broader questions about late onset disease and why it develops differently across people. Hardy shows that amyloid and tau are linked but not identical, and argues that problems with protein buildup and clearance both matter in understanding the disease. He also emphasizes that Alzheimer’s is not a single event but a long process, which makes prediction, diagnosis, and treatment especially difficult. While current amyloid-targeting therapies can help and show measurable benefit, Hardy says they do not stop the disease, underscoring the need for earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and wider access to care Series: "Shiley Endowed Lecture" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41250]

How fast are you really aging, and what could that mean for brain health? Aladdin H. Shadyab, Ph.D., explores the gap between chronological age and biological age, and why that difference matters for long-term health. Shadyab describes tools that use information from blood to estimate how quickly the body is aging, including approaches that look beyond the body as a whole to consider aging in specific systems. He connects faster biological aging with higher risk for age-related disease and declines in physical and cognitive function, and discusses how blood-based biomarkers may offer earlier signals of processes linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Shadyab also highlights lifestyle and treatment findings that may support healthier aging and longer survival. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41073]

Sarah Banks, Ph.D. explores why Alzheimer's disease affects women differently than men, emphasizing distinct patterns in tau pathology, cognitive testing bias, and treatment response. She explains how women tend to show a rapid buildup of tau during early cognitive decline, which may contribute to their higher prevalence of Alzheimer's. Banks also highlights how common diagnostic tools may overlook symptoms in women and how approved treatments may offer less benefit for them. Her research at UC San Diego investigates key sex-based differences in risk factors, including sleep apnea, diabetes, and exercise. One study reveals that over 70% of participating women had undiagnosed sleep apnea. Another focuses on Black women, using blood biomarkers to identify overlooked risks and improve care. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40768]