Home
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
-
Sleep architecture and self-reported sleep quality are associated with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in older adults without dementia
Thursday, April 2, 2026
CONCLUSIONS: Greater REM sleep was associated with a more favorable plasma amyloid profile, whereas associations between subjective sleep quality and plasma biomarkers were nominal and require confirmation in larger studies. These findings suggest that REM sleep architecture measured using ambulatory EEG may be particularly sensitive to amyloid-related changes prior to dementia.
-
Reduced Frontal White Matter Hyperintensities in Superagers: Evidence of Resistance to Age-Related Structural Brain Changes
Thursday, April 2, 2026
CONCLUSIONS: Using a novel regional mapping approach, we found that superagers exhibited a lower burden of frontal WMH, particularly in the juxtacortical and mid-white matter layers, which may contribute to their preserved cognitive performance. This is the first study to apply a detailed topographical analysis of WMH in superagers, reporting that reduced WMH in specific strategic brain areas could serve as a potential neuroimaging marker of the superager-resistant phenotype.
-
The Impact of Participation in the Parkinson's Pals Program on Psychosocial Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease: An Unblinded Feasibility Study
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
CONCLUSIONS: Participation in Parkinson's Pals was feasible, reduced loneliness and demoralization in pwPD, and enhanced student education. Further studies are needed to explore the psychosocial benefits of intergenerational programs for pwPD.