McCance Center Brain Fitness Quarterly

FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK

Greetings!

There is much to be excited about as we look ahead to 2025! Over the past year, affiliated faculty and staff from the Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health have made significant strides in the field, and we’re galvanized to carry that momentum into the new year.

McCance-affiliated faculty authored 90 peer-reviewed publications in 2024, spanning topics from the link between infection and Alzheimer’s disease to the impact of diet and exercise on cognitive decline. Over $6 million in new funding was secured by our affiliated faculty this year, building on the foundation of initial investments by the McCance Center.

We enjoy sharing our accomplishments with you and are grateful for your support. In this issue, we highlight our new Prediction and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease “Pre-AD” Initiative, key research findings, and insightful publications.

Here's to another year of exciting developments!

Rudy Tanzi, PhD, Director

McCance Launches New Efforts to Prevent AD

We are excited to launch an ambitious program to prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD) – “The Pre-AD Initiative” (Prediction and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease). This initiative builds on the dovetailing of three recent breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research: definitive proof that beta-amyloid is the trigger for the disease, the development of a revolutionary “Alzheimer’s in a Dish™” model for drug discovery, and blood biomarkers that can diagnose and track the disease decades before symptoms appear.

Omega-3 fatty acids show significant benefit for those predisposed to AD

A randomized three-year clinical trial recently released shows fish oil high in omega-3 fatty acids provides statistically significant benefit for those genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s. McCance Center’s Dr. Gene Bowman is senior corresponding author.

Tanzi Lab Cited in List of Groundbreaking Contributions to Alzheimer’s Research

The journal, Nature recently published The History of Alzheimer’s Disease, with a timeline from 1906 – 2024. This chart maps major developments that have helped shape current research on Alzheimer's disease. Three key discoveries from McCance Center Director Dr. Rudy Tanzi’s lab are featured in the chronology in 1987,1995 and 2008.