The University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (PITT-ADRC) has shown a clear scientific evolution over the past three decades. Since our inception, we have advanced the areas of AD neuropsychiatry, the natural history of AD, validation of clinical criteria, and clinico-pathological correlations. We have pioneered new PET techniques for amyloid imaging. We have used a multidisciplinary approach to better understand the transition from normalcy to dementia, have explored the biology of more aggressive forms of AD characterized by psychosis, and have made and contributed to new insights in genetics. This solid scientific background has allowed the PITT-ADRC to develop areas of excellence, which will serve as the basis for the future of the Center. These are reflected in the Center's cores and projects, and most notably in the large number of studies we support in Pittsburgh and at the national and international level. Equally important, the availability of a rich, multidisciplinary training environment along with dedicated, skilled mentoring creates the perfect laboratory to develop and advance young investigators. With our Projects, we are committed to remain at the forefront of the scientific efforts to understand the pathological processes involved in the etiology of AD. Project-1 takes a comprehensive neuroimaging approach to studying subjective cognitive decline (in the context of personality factors), with a focus on amyloid PET imaging as the putative earliest indicator of AD pathology. Project-2 will combine amyloid PET and tau PET (with T807) to examine fundamental characteristics of the T807 tracer with particular interest in the tau status of cognitively normal control subjects who are amyloid-negative but already show hypometabolism or hippocampal atrophy suggestive of suspected non-amyloid pathophysiology (SNAP). Project 3 will examine the pathological basis of psychotic symptoms in AD patients, which have a tremendous effect on the quality of life of the patients and their families, and are risk factors for rapid clinical progression of the disease and mortality. The PITT-ADRC, through its pilot projects, engages and involves as many clinical and basic researchers as possible. This extends to all aspects of research relevant to AD and related dementias. The PITT-ADRC is highly committed to leverage the strengths of the network of centers to provide large numbers of samples and standardized clinical data collection from our participants. The PITT-ADRC has designed novel methodology that improves the accessibility to its database to local and national researchers, and it has been a key player in multiple studies that advanced the understanding of AD pathology and its possible implications for the development of novel treatments and other symptoms. Therefore, we provide an excellent environment that enhances cutting-edge research by bringing together a multidisciplinary team of investigators to study AD and other dementias, and to improve health care delivery.
The University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (PITT-ADRC) aims to be a focal point of innovative research on the cause and effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). While serving as a local resource for outreach, education and support to patients and caregivers at all stages of the disease, we focus our research efforts on the transition from normal aging into the earliest detectable stages of cognitive declin and have pioneered transformative amyloid imaging technology to facilitate these efforts here and around the world. At the PITT-ADRC, we strive to accomplish our goal through: 1) our own research; 2) involving affiliated investigators at the University of Pittsburgh and nearby institutions in both clinical and basic research; 3) collaborations with other members of the Centers Program; and 4) collaborations with other national and international centers of excellence in AD.
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