UCI researcher receives $3.5 million grant to study older adults diagnosed with dementia

Irvine, Calif. – March 23, 2020

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, were awarded a five year, $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study a type of dementia called hippocampal sclerosis (HS) that often mimics Alzheimer’s.

Led by Seyed Ahmad Sajjadi, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology at UCI, the study will test the hypothesis that HS sufferers have significant memory impairment, as compared to those with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers will also test whether MRI detected disproportionate atrophy of the CA1 region of the hippocampus, combined with increased hippocampal T2 relaxation can be used to diagnose HS during life. In addition, they will examine the relationship between HS and blood markers of autoimmunity and thyroid disease. By measuring these markers, researchers hope to demonstrate that high levels of markers of autoimmunity and thyroid disease are associated with HS and precede dementia in HS sufferers.

Hippocampal sclerosis of aging (HS-aging) is present in up to a third of brain autopsy samples of patients 90-years of age and older who die with dementia. Compared to Alzheimer’s disease pathology (AD), HS pathology is a much stronger predictor of dementia in the oldest old.

“Despite its importance, HS remains a post-mortem diagnosis due to lack of specific biomarkers that can predict the pathology during life. Most patients harboring HS pathology are misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need to diagnose this important cause of dementia during life with the hope of developing effective treatment against HS,” said Sajjadi.

America’s population of persons aged 90-and-older has tripled since 1980 and currently stands at nearly 2 million.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, Americans are now living longer and dying less than ever before.  As a result, people 90 and over now make up 4.7% of all people 65 and older.  By 2050, the Census Bureau predicts people aged 90+ will make up 10 percent of our population.  The 90+ age group is the fastest growing segment of our population currently, and they also have the highest rates of dementia.

About the UCI School of Medicine

Each year, the UCI School of Medicine educates more than 400 medical students and nearly 150 PhD and MS students. More than 700 residents and fellows are trained at the UCI Medical Center and affiliated institutions. Multiple MD, PhD and MS degrees are offered. Students are encouraged to pursue an expansive range of interests and options. For medical students, there are numerous concurrent dual degree programs, including an MD/MBA, MD/MPH, or an MD/MS degree through one of three mission-based programs: the Health Education to Advance Leaders in Integrative Medicine (HEAL-IM), the Program in Medical Education for Leadership Education to Advance Diversity-African, Black and Caribbean (PRIME LEAD-ABC), and the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC). The UCI School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Accreditation and ranks among the top 50 nationwide for research. For more information, visit medschool.uci.edu.