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Mission
The mission of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR) is to promote and conduct multidisciplinary clinical and basic research to increase the understanding of the causes and mechanisms leading to brain dysfunction and degeneration in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), Motor neuron disease (MND), and related disorders that occur increasingly with advancing age. Implicit in the mission of the CNDR are two overarching goals: 1.) Find better ways to cure and treat these disorders, 2. Provide training to the next generation of scientists.
“My vision for CNDR is to create a world with effective interventions to prevent and cure aging-related neurodegenerative diseases.” – Eddie Lee, MD, PhD, Director of CNDR
John Q. Trojanowski, MD, PhD | 1946 - 2022
In loving memory of John Q. Trojanowski, MD, PhD
Latest Research
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Genetic Risk for Alzheimer Disease, Midlife Hypertension, and Dementia: The ARIC Neurocognitive Study
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Genetics represent a nonmodifiable risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD), with 60%-80% heritability. Midlife hypertension is a modifiable risk factor for both dementia and death. Our primary objective was to determine how genetic risk for AD modifies the association between hypertension and dementia.
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Cognitive impairment, no dementia and hospitalizations - the role of formal and informal care: A population-based cohort study
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that people free from dementia but with mild cognitive symptoms were at higher risk of avoidable hospitalization, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive disease management in outpatient care. Formal care use appeared to attenuate this risk, highlighting the need for accessible and coordinated care services tailored to cognitive impairment, even in its mild forms.
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Prior Traumatic Brain Injury and Alzheimer Disease Blood Biomarkers
Monday, June 29, 2026
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Results of this cross-sectional cohort study of a diagnostic test suggest that among individuals who are cognitively unimpaired or have mild cognitive impairment and a TBI history, the p-tau217/Aβ42 ratio test may miss over half of amyloid-PET-positive cases. Caution is advised in interpreting AD blood test results in this context.