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The CADRC is a collaboration between Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland Clinic ~ Louis Stokes VA Medical Center ~ MetroHealth ~ University Hospitals

CADRC Winter E-Newsletter l Issue 10

Neuroimaging Co-Core

Leader Spotlight

Dr. Frank DiFilippo, Ph.D.

Tell me about yourself and how you are involved with the Cleveland Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (CADRC).

My primary appointment is in the Cleveland Clinic Division of Nuclear Medicine, where we perform a full range of clinical nuclear medicine services. A significant portion of our studies are brain PET scans, for patient care as well as for research and clinical trials. We collaborate with the CADRC to perform amyloid PET scans to evaluate whether or not a CADRC participant has accumulated beta amyloid protein in the brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer's dementia.

What are your main activities and goals as they relate to brain health?

I serve as a co-director of the CADRC NeuroImaging Core, focusing on PET scans and image analysis. PET differs from other types of brain imaging (MRI, CT) in that a tiny amount of an injected drug is imaged, which reveals the biochemical status of the brain. For example, one type of PET scan reveals the local metabolism of brain cells, which can assist with planning epilepsy surgery or diagnosing frontal-temporal dementia. Other types of PET scan reveal the presence or absence of certain proteins in the brain, which assists with diagnosing and staging Alzheimer's dementia.

What is the focus of your research currently, and where do you see your work going in the next two-five years?

Much of my work in AD involves quantitative analysis of amyloid PET images, which is highly valuable for research studies. Routine clinical amyloid PET scans currently are interpreted visually as a positive or negative scan. However this current approach does not specify the level of amyloid accumulation in the brain. Developing simplified and standardized measures of amyloid accumulation for routine clinical scans can make a significant impact in patient care.

How do you see research in brain health/Alzheimer’s Disease/dementia evolving in the next 2-5 years?

The recent approval of amyloid-lowering drugs is very exciting since the clinical trials demonstrated slower progression of AD. Further clinical trials to better understand the benefits versus risk and cost of amyloid-lowering drugs will be a focus area in the near future.

Do you have any suggestion or recommendations for students or young researchers who wish to get more involved in brain health research?

Brain health research teams such as the CADRC consist of highly motivated members with diverse skills and experiences. Many fields of study can lead to a career in brain health research.

Meet the Minority Advisory Board (MAB)

The Minority Advisory Board (MAB) is a significate part of engaging community members to help with getting the word out about the CADRC and to assist in the recruitment of minority participants into the study.

Recruiting participants for research studies is difficult, but it’s even more difficult to engage individuals that have been historically underrepresented in dementia research samples. This is extremely unfortunate given that African American and Hispanic individuals bear the brunt of dementia burden and are 1.5-2 x more likely to have dementia. That is why we have created the MAB to assist us in the effort. They are experts by experience and have the skills and talents to help us achieve equity in research engagement and participation.

The Mab is led by Martha Sajatovic, MD, Core Leader of the Outreach Recruitment Engagement Core/OREC, Edna Fuentes-Casiano, Senior Outreach Coordinator of the Outreach Recruitment Engagement Core/OREC, and Kellee Bacote, Lead Project Manager of the Outreach Recruitment Engagement Core/OREC.

Click here to learn more about the MAB

Minority Advisory Board (MAB) Spotlight

Devon Jones, LSW, MSASS, MNO

Born in Cincinnati, OH, and raised in Dayton, OH, Devon Jones relocated to Cleveland OH in 2019 to pursue a master’s degree in social administration from Case Western Reserve University’s Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. In May 2022, he earned two master’s degrees in social administration and non-profit organizations with a certificate in gerontology.

Devon is a Licensed Social Worker devoted to making a positive impact on individuals and the community. In his current role, he's a Program Manager at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine’s Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences where his focus is on research into the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease in African Americans.

As a part of his current role, his department collaborates with various organizations to provide resources and information to participants and community members. This has allowed Devon with an opportunity to serve on various committees and councils devoted to community engagement and enhancement. As a current member of CADRC’s minority advisory board, Devon has been focused on connecting as many individuals to AD research as possible. In pursuit of this mission, the Divine Nine Task Force was launched with a pursuit to engage and collaborate all nine of the Pan-Hellenic Greek letter organizations, to which Devon serves as the current chair with honor and pleasure. In addition, Devon is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. As we move forward into 2024, we are excited to continue building relationships and trust with these historical organizations and the community at large.

Are you Interested in Participating in Research at the CADRC?

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, University Hospitals and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center have joined together to form the Cleveland Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (CADRC). The CADRC is one of 33 centers funded by the National Institutes on Aging. The center aims to study the different forms of dementia in the hope that learning more about the disease can lead to new forms of treating and eventually curing Alzheimer's and related disorders. Volunteers are critical to the research process and the center studies both people with Alzheimer’s disease and healthy individuals who are at risk for developing dementia. This study is most interested in including volunteers who have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, mild cognitive impairment, Lewy Body Dementia, or Atypical dementia.

If you would like to be contacted about research opportunities at the CADRC for yourself or someone you know, please click the link below to fill out the form or contact us at 1-888-311-ADRC (2372).

Click here to complete the form

Meet the CADRC Ambassador Committee

The Mission of the CADRC Ambassador Committee is to assist the Cleveland Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in their commitment to reach out to the Greater Cleveland underrepresented communities to better understand Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Their purpose is to ensure advocacy, community representation, and provide brain health education/resources to those caring for or living with Alzheimer’s disease and Related Dementias. The goal is to increase participation in Alzheimer’s disease and Related Dementias research studies in diverse communities.

CADRC Ambassador Spotlight

Anita Williams

Anita Williams has been a volunteer ambassador since June of 2023. She has been actively involved with the CADRC since Jackie Whitlow, community outreach nurse, first introduced her to the center. Her passion and commitment to the outreach effort has shown through her willingness to provide outreach expertise at various events that were scheduled throughout the summer. Anita participated in the Senior Walks, the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, community presentations in senior’s centers and at her place of worship. She has shown an eagerness to learn more about the illness and has developed to be a leader in the ambassador program mentoring our younger volunteers during community outreach events. She is indeed a true volunteer and is a great example and role model for all.

Click here to access past CADRC webinar recordings

Alzheimer's Association Community Family Cookout

"Purple Out" for Alzheimer's

September 23, 2023 The Alzheimer's Association in collaboration with the East End Neighborhood Ubuntu Gathering Place and other community vendors provided attendees the opportunity to learn about Alzheimer's and its impact on families and caregivers, and hear about free brain health tools and resources. The day included food, games, line dancing, and vendor presentations.

Annual Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's

September - October 2023 This event is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide and is the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support, and research. This event was hosted at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Akron Rubber Duck Stadium and Youngstown State University. Several fundraiser's were conducted by the CADRC to support this endeavor.

Cleveland Clinic 2023 Celebrate Sisterhood Event

October 28, 2023 This event provided attendees the opportunity to talk about healthy living and strategies for mental and physical well-being. The day included breakfast and lunch, on-site health screenings and assessments, a resource exhibit and raffles. The event theme was: Generational Health - Resilience, Revival, and Restoration!

Alzheimer's Association Cleve Area Chapter Caregiver Luncheon

November 9, 2023 In honor of National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness and Caregiver Awareness Month, this second annual caregiver appreciation luncheon was designed for caregivers and their loved ones to enjoy a free family portrait session, lunch, caregiver testimonials and informational session about free resources offered by the Alzheimer's Association and the CADRC.

Lunch and Learn - The Importance of Participating in Clinical Trials and Research

December 1, 2023 In collaboration with Woodmere City Hall and on behalf of the CADRC, Dr. Jagan Pillai (Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health Neurologist), spoke about the importance of participating in brain research observational studies and clinical trials. Attendees enjoyed a free lunch catered by Whitmore's BBQ, bain health trivia, prizes, and resources.

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