Clinic Responds to the Pandemic
Since stay-at-home orders from mid-March, the Mesulam Center clinicians have continued to see patients virtually to conduct memory testing and regular visits. Moving forward, the primary goal is to sustain the tele-neurology visits to make neurological care more accessible.

Borna Bonakdarpour, MD, spoke about Northwestern Neurobehavior and Memory Clinic’s response to COVID-19 and the swift move to teleneurology.
Meet Edith: A SuperAger
At the start of a new year, we circled back to one of our eldest research participants, a member of the SuperAging study, Edith Renfrow Smith. Featured on the Today Show, Edith again made headlines as she celebrated her 106th birthday in summer 2020.

The Grinnell College Alumni Organization and the town of Grinnell, Iowa, where Edith grew up, asked people in the community to send a card to celebrate her special birthday. She received over 200 cards.
New study shows PPA shares similar degenerative process to amnestic Alzheimer’s disease
A new discovery involving the neurobiological basis of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) shows PPA may share similar neurodegenerative processes with those found in amnestic Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Daniel Ohm, PhD, a former neuroscience doctoral student, recently published findings suggesting that abnormal tau pathology and neuroinflammation are potentially significant determinants of the brain shrinkage characteristic of PPA.
Featured in US News & World Report: New PPA Research
A new publication in Neurology affirms that in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) memory is preserved even when the underlying disease is Alzheimer's.

"More research is needed to help us determine what factors allow [people with primary progressive aphasia] to show this resilience of memory skills even in the face of considerable Alzheimer's disease pathology in the brain," Marsel Mesulam, MD, said.
Communication Bridge Study Still Enrolling!
Our Communication Bridge study is still enrolling individuals with a diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia. This speech language therapy clinical trial is completely remote and technology is provided.

If interested contact Clinical Research Associate Libby Rogers.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Seminar: Thursday, February 11, 12 p.m. CT
Join us for "Exciting Opportunities in Dementia Research: Updates from the Alzheimer's Association" presented by Maria C. Carrillo, PhD, Chief Science Office of the Alzheimer's Association.
Brain Health Basics: Thursday, February 11, 10:30 a.m. CT
In partnership with Chicago Department of Family & Support Services’ Atlas Senior Center, join us to discuss how lifestyle factors can influence the health of your brain and to learn strategies for wellness as you age. Topics will include sleep, exercise, nutrition, social relationships, mental activities, and stress management presented by clinical neuropsychologist Maureen Daly, PhD, Northwestern Neurobehavior and Memory Clinic.
Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute Opportunity
The Alzheimer’s Association Interdisciplinary Summer Research Institute (AA-ISRI) is an immersive, no-cost opportunity for early career researchers in psychosocial care and public health to launch a career in dementia science and accelerate breakthroughs in the field. Darby Morhardt, PhD, LCSW, is on faculty for August session.
Are you a Mesulam Center research participant? Are you interested in sharing your story? Consider joining our team of research advocates.
Consider making a gift to support the Mesulam Center.
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If you have thoughts about what you would like to see in this newsletter, please email your ideas to our senior communications coordinator Haleigh Ehmsen.



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