Connections: Congratulations and Farewell to Dr. Reed

August 2024

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Deborah Reed, MD, who will be retiring from the Northwestern Medicine Neurobehavior and Memory Clinic on September 30, 2024, after serving as a Geriatric Psychiatrist for 24 years. It is understatement to say that we will miss her personally and professionally.

Dr. Reed joined the clinic in 2000 and quickly became an integral part of our team, playing a pivotal role in establishing the clinic's multidisciplinary approach. Her dedication and expertise helped to make Geriatric Psychiatry a cornerstone of our practice. Her commitment to clinical excellence and her weekly participation in the Wednesday Clinical Rounds are just a few examples of her remarkable contributions, which have left an enduring impact on our community.

In recognition of her transformative work, Dr. Reed's portrait will be proudly displayed in the founders’ gallery in the Mesulam Center offices—a fitting tribute to her legacy.

Dr. Reed’s retirement marks the end of an era, but thanks to her thoughtful mentorship, her patients will continue to receive the compassionate care they have come to expect. We are also delighted that she will now have the opportunity to pursue many of the personal projects she has long looked forward to.

Please join us in thanking and celebrating Dr. Reed for her exceptional service and wishing her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.

Marsel Mesulam, MD

Director, Northwestern Medicine Neurobehavior and Memory Clinic

[7 minute read]

Discover how the brain can maintain health and functionality despite aging. Tamar Gefen, PhD, discusses insights into the remarkable resilience of SuperAgers and the Northwestern University SuperAging Program. Learn about the latest research on cognitive health and the factors contributing to exceptional memory retention and mental skills in older adults.

Read the Full Article

August Events

August was an eventful month for the Mesulam Center, as we had the pleasure of connecting with community members at several key events! Here's a recap of our recent activities:

August 2-4: Black Women’s Expo at McCormick Place

The Mesulam Center joined Northwestern Medicine at the Black Women’s Expo vendor fair. Our team engaged with attendees, sharing valuable health information and resources.

August 6: CPD 1st District National Night Out at Lake & Randolph (Pictured Above)

At this evening event, we partnered with South Loop Village, sharing a table to connect with the community. Together, we provided insights and support to promote neighborhood safety and well-being.

August 9: 9th Annual Englewood Community Health Fair at West Englewood Library (Pictured Above)

We were excited to participate in the Englewood Community Health Fair for the first time. This event gave us the opportunity to meet Englewood community residents, discuss our Center’s research studies, and share tips on brain health.

Upcoming Events

Walk to End Alzheimer's

Saturday, September 21, 8:30 AM

The Mesulam Center is once again participating in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, September 21 at Soldier Field. We hope that you will join our team!

To register, click here and select “JOIN OUR TEAM.” Our team name is “Mesulam Center – Northwestern University”. You will receive an email after registering to confirm that you have joined the team!

For questions, please contact Bobby Bobbitt at robert.bobbitt@northwestern.edu or Loreece Haddad at loreece.haddad@northwestern.edu.

South Loop Memory Cafés

The South Loop Village Memory Cafés are free in-person and virtual monthly social gathering for persons living with dementia and their family, friends, and care partners. View upcoming virtual and in-person meeting dates.

September Theme: Celebrating Labor Day

In-Person: Thursday, September 12, 1–2 PM

Virtual: Tuesday, September 24, 2–3 PM

Music, Movement, & Community

Lorenzo's House presents Music Movement & Community, a free, in-person interactive experience where music and expression ignite joy. This is an inclusive and stimulating learning environment of personal connection and fun for families living with younger-onset dementia. Learn more here.

Upcoming Sessions:

Wednesdays, September 4 and September 18 at Bright Star Church Sanctuary

Questions can be sent to mmc@lorenzoshouse.org.

Musical Museum: The Many Faces of Love

September 24, 2:00 PM

This program is a musical and social engagement program for individuals with Alzheimer disease and related conditions to provide a safe and enriching environment. Click here to learn more.

To RSVP, email nmmp@northwester.edu.

Featured Publication

In this single case study, we describe a novel clinical syndrome called "Progressive Verbal Apraxia of Reading", defined by an isolated, progressive difficulty in reading words aloud. While the ability to convert letters into sounds was intact, difficulties arose when converting sounds into articulatory motions during reading and not during spontaneous speech. Neuroimaging showed reduced brain volume and metabolism in the right posterior cerebellum, suggesting that a disconnection of this region from the cerebral cortex may underlie this new syndrome.

Authors: Elena Barbieri, Joseph Salvo, Nathan Anderson, Sarah Simon, Lauren Ables-Torres, Michelle Los, Jordan Behn, Borna Bonakdarpour, Ania Holubecki, Rodrigo Braga, Marek-Marsel Mesulam

Published: Cortex, July 6, 2024

Read the Publication

Want to learn more about this and other recent publications from the Mesulam Center? Click here to view all recent publication.

Interested in Participating in Research?

We are currently enrolling participants in various research studies here at the Mesualm Center. Our research studies lead to better understanding of Alzheimer's and related dementias and help inform future treatments for these diseases.

Please follow the steps below to join our research registry and learn more about our active research studies. Our work is possible thanks to the generosity of our research participants — we appreciate you.

Join Our Research Registry: Click here or click the button below to join our registry.
Match to a Study: We will contact you when we identify a study that might be a good fit. Click here to view our active studies.
Participate: Participate in studies you choose and qualify for. Click here to view FAQs.

Join Our Research Registry

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