University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

05/01/2026

The Oohs and Aahs of science can be cool...

Bob’s Story✨🔬🧠
While Bob doesn’t have relatives with Alzheimer’s, he has a daughter with Down syndrome, which puts her at increased risk for developing dementia. He is a healthy control volunteer, motivated by his daughter’s condition and his love of science. He also discusses and debunks some concerns that may make potential volunteers hesitant to join a study.
Video: National Institute of Health/National Institute on Aging

Interested in participating in dementia research? Visit our site: www.adrc.pitt.edu

34 likes. "Why I Participate in Alzheimer's Research - Bob's Story (Full version)"

04/28/2026

"Diagnosing LBD can be challenging. Early LBD symptoms are often confused with similar symptoms found in other brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease... LBD can occur alone or along with other brain disorders."

If you or a loved one has concerns about memory loss or changes in cognition, visit our website:
www.adrc.pitt.edu

Learn about Lewy body dementia, a progressive disease that is one of the most common causes of dementia, and read about possible symptoms and how the disease is diagnosed.

04/23/2026

Being a caregiver of someone living with dementia isn't always easy...

Will’s Story✨📖
When both of Will’s parents developed dementia, he and his wife moved back into his childhood home to be full-time caregivers. He discusses how participating in a clinical trial helped him take better care of himself physically and receive emotional support from other caregivers in his community.

Questions or concerns about memory loss? Visit our site: www.adrc.pitt.edu

40 likes. "Why I Participate in Alzheimer's Research - Will's Story (Full version)"

04/20/2026

Happy Draft Week, Pittsburgh!!!

The history of American Football runs deep in Pittsburgh. The founding of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1933 to SIX Superbowl Rings gives Pittsburghers a sense of pride in our sports teams. We are also home to the National Sports Brain Bank and the Athletic Brain Study (ABS), led by ADRC Co-director, Julia Kofler, MD.

Through the ABS, we follow current and former contact sport participants over time to better understand the effects of concussions, repeated head impacts, and related experiences on brain health, mood, behavior, and cognition. The ABS also includes an optional brain donation program (National Sports Brain Bank) that helps researchers study CTE and other neurodegenerative diseases.

For more information: https://www.neuro.pathology.pitt.edu/national-sports-brain-bank-and-athletic-brain-study

Full article: https://www.adrc.pitt.edu/jacob-ponce-the-day-my-brain-swelled/

04/14/2026

When you participate in a clinical trial, you help researchers study new diagnostic approaches, prevention strategies and test new treatments. You are the key that pushes the science of discovery forward.

Consider participating in a clinical trial. The link below will take you to the PittADRC's active trials.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies Consortium The purpose of this study is to collect clinical information, brain imaging scans, and biological samples from people that have dementia with Lewy bodies. This information will help researchers improve the diagnosis, care, and treatment of patients with this dise...

04/01/2026

Brain donation is an important part of Alzheimer's research. The University of Pittsburgh ADRC is able to provide this service to our participants. Through autopsy, we are able to diagnose the presence of Alzheimer's or other dementias. It also allows us to see other effects of neurodegenerative disease on the brain.

For questions about the donation program, visit our website: https://www.adrc.pitt.edu/volunteer/brain-donation-program/

The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) at the University of Pittsburgh hosted a webinar to provide more information about our Brain Donation Program....

03/26/2026

Have you heard of LATE? Recently recognized, LATE is a form of dementia that many people have not heard of. The symptoms are very similar to what is experienced in other dementias such as Alzheimer's. While it is difficult to diagnose, it's suspected that 15 - 20 percent of people with dementia, have LATE.

Read more about it in this article from the National institute on Aging.

Learn about a recently characterized form of dementia, limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE), including the causes, symptoms, and diagnosis.

03/24/2026

If you or someone you know is caring for a person living with dementia, consider joining our Caregiver Support Group.

🗓 Tuesday, March 31, 2026
🕗 6:00pm - 7:30pm
📍Online, Zoom

For more info, please email: Doug at [email protected] or Melita at [email protected]

03/19/2026

Exercise might be the single most important thing that you can do for your brain health. In this talk, Dr. Marissa Gogniat will review why exercise can be a powerful tool to promote healthy aging, along with practical recommendations based on the current research.

Join the Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association- Greater PA Chapter and Community and Family Builders as they host an in-person program about brain health.

🗓Thursday, March 26, 2026
🕗2:30pm -3:30pm
📍Vintage Center for Active Adults, 421 N Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Please arrive at 2:15 PM to take part in an exercise demonstration designed to support brain health. Refreshments are provided. Join us for this FREE in-person presentation!

Register here➡ https://tinyurl.com/mvcbppmy

03/18/2026

"Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological conditions affecting the brain that worsen over time. There are many types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common. Below you will find a description of four types of dementia." (National Institute on Aging website)

Check out our website: www.adrc.pitt.edu