June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, established to raise awareness of the need for breakthroughs in the detection and treatment of devastating neurological conditions. Houston Methodist experts are available to share their expertise and discuss recent research on these topics.
Joseph Masdeu, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, can discuss recent research he led that finds that brain swelling (a side effect during Alzheimer’s treatment) may signal a strong response to this treatment approach. Muralidhar Hegde, Ph.D., professor of neurosurgery in the Houston Methodist Research Institute’s Center for Neuroregeneration and Department of Neurosurgery, can discuss research he led about how a dementia-linked protein can, when out of balance, damage brain cells instead of helping them and increase cancer risk.
Stephen Wong, Ph.D., the John S. Dunn Presidential Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Engineering, can speak about his team’s research on the following topics:
- How obesity alters brain lipids and can accelerate Alzheimer’s progression;
- Why the eyes may be a window into early Alzheimer’s detection;
- How a newly developed artificial intelligence platform can decode cellular communication and may provide important insights for future treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Robert Krencik, Ph.D., associate professor in the Houston Methodist Research Institute’s Center for Neuroregeneration and the Department of Neurosurgery, can discuss his team’s work in the following areas:
- Development of human-brain-like technology that could accelerate understanding of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases;
- Development of a tiny treatment system to help the brain fight back against neuroinflammation.