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University of Miami and Other Florida Institutions Are Awarded a $15

Million National Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

A consortium of Florida institutions associate director of 1Florida ADRC and
including the University of Miami Miller director of the Center for Cognitive
School of Medicine has been awarded a Neuroscience and Aging at the
$15 million grant to collaborate on University of Miami Miller School of
Alzheimer’s disease research. Medicine.
The five-year National Institutes of “The Miller School is recruiting hun-
Health/National Institute on Aging grant dreds of older adults from our local com-
brings together top Florida researchers to munity,” said Dr. Loewenstein. Their
focus on better understanding how to focus is on engaging African American
diagnose, treat, prevent, and potentially and Hispanic older adults to make sure
cure Alzheimer’s in diverse populations. they are well represented, because these
The 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease groups are historically largely under-rep-
Research Center, or 1Florida ADRC, will resented in aging research, including
be recruiting participants from the studies looking at Alzheimer’s disease.
University of Miami Miller School of “I am the daughter of Cuban exiles; the
Medicine, the University of Florida, and first to be born in this country. Spanish
Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami was my first language. Miami has nur-
Beach. Investigators from these institu- tured this multicultural identity and I am
tions will also be collaborating with privileged to bring it to the forefront of
Florida Atlantic University and Florida my work,” said Rosie E. Curiel Cid,
International University. Psy.D., leader of the1Florida ADRC
“We are honored that this Alzheimer’s Outreach, Recruitment and
Disease Research Center is one of 31 cen- Engagement Core, associate professor (l-r) University of Miami researchers Dr. Rosie Curiel, Dr. David Loewenstein,
ters of excellence designated by the and chief, cross-cultural neuropsychol- and Dr. Elizabeth Crocco
National Institute on Aging. Of the 31 ogy and cognitive neuroscience, in the the methods we develop to detect and 1Florida ADRC study. LASSI-L is a scien-
centers in the U.S., the 1Florida ADRC is Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and treat diseases of the aging brain are gen- tifically proven measure that is highly
the only funded center in Florida,” said Aging (CNSA). “One of the greatest chal- eralizable to all older adults. The CNSA sensitive to early Alzheimer’s disease
David Loewenstein, Ph.D., ABPP/CN, lenges in aging research is ensuring that
is committed to addressing this by devel- brain pathology and can pick up early
oping tools and methods that are cross- changes in memory before traditional
culturally applicable.” cognitive testing detects the disease.
To better understand diseases of the Elizabeth Crocco, M.D., chief of geri-
aging brain, even decades before they atric psychiatry and director of UM’s
occur, the ADRC scientists have an state-funded Memory Disorders Clinic
expertise in studying people who don’t and medical director of the CNSA, will
yet have symptoms but might be con- be running the medical aspects of the
cerned about their risk for developing 1Florida ADRC, and Tatjana Rundek,
Alzheimer’s for another reason, such as M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurology and
family history. They also study older Evelyn F. McKnight Endowed Chair for
adults who may have thinking or memo- Learning and Memory in Aging, is co-
ry problems but haven’t yet been diag- leading the ADRC’s educational core
nosed, as well as people who have been with Glenn Smith, Ph.D., ABPP/CN,
diagnosed with early mild cognitive from the University of Florida. The
impairment. 1Florida ADRC will help train the next
“People in the study will receive annu- generation of scientists in Alzheimer’s
al evaluations including comprehensive and other neurodegenerative diseases.
This is a M inor Inconv neuropsychological testing, a careful Florida is home to about 12% of the
v venience.
clinical examination, an MRI scan of the approximately 5.4 million people in the
brain and an amyloid scan,” Dr. U.S. who have Alzheimer’s disease.
Loewenstein said.
Dr. Loewenstein and colleagues devel- For more information about 1Florida
oped a novel cognitive stress test, called ADRC, including how to participate, visit
the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for www.1floridaadrc.org, email
Semantic Interference and Learning info@1floridaadrc.org or call
(LASSI-L) test, which will be used in the (352) 273-7425 or (305) 355-9080.

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22 September 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News