The Litwin-Zucker Center for Research in Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders is a large research and clinical program devoted to figuring out Alzheimer's disease at every level -- from basic biology to clinical response to medications. The Center supports almost two dozen Feinstein scientists who are running dozens of projects in the laboratory and with patients suffering from Alzheimer's and other age-related memory problems. There are studies looking for genes that put people at risk for Alzheimer's, experimental drug trials, brain imaging, neurocognitive testing and basic research on the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's - the plaques and tangles that are found in the brains of patients.

Patients and their families are part of longitudinal studies to test a wide range of factors in an attempt to identify subtle changes in behavior or mood that could be targeted with treatment. Scientists are conducting studies on cognitive aging in normal people and those with memory impairments.

There are studies looking for genes that put people at risk for Alzheimer's, experimental drug trials, brain imaging, neurocognitive testing and basic research on the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's - the plaques and tangles that are found in the brains of patients. Patients and their families also come to the Center to be part of longitudinal studies to test a wide range of factors over time to identify subtle changes in behavior or mood that could be targeted with treatment.

Scientists are conducting studies on cognitive aging in normal people and those with memory impairments. The goal is to figure out what causes Alzheimer's and identify ways to detect and treat the debilitating disease. There are a large number of clinical studies that test the benefits of current treatments over the course of the disease.

In 2008, scientists discovered a new risk gene for Alzheimer's disease, a novel treatment that is heading into clinical trials and a new way of looking at the biological triggers for Alzheimer's disease.

The Litwin-Zucker Research Center was established in 2004 through the generosity and vision of Leonard Litwin and Donald & Barbara Zucker.

Research in the Clinical Laboratory includes the study of clinical and genetic correlates of memory impairment; studies on cognitive aging; an open label study of the Alzheimer's drug Namenda (memantine) that includes brain scan studies to try to understand how the drug works; a comprehensive long-term study evaluating patients with memory disorders and unaffected volunteers; a study to understand the biological, genetic and cognitive components of frontotemporal dementia, which is different from Alzheimer's; a major drug discovery program to identify the mechanisms that cause the destructive changes characteristic of Alzheimer's and to design medicines that target these processes; and another study to look at neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's to understand the early biochemical changes that lead to the two classic pathological signs of Alzheimer's - the plaques and tangles.

The investigators are also committed to unraveling the puzzle of the tangles found in the neurons of Alzheimer's brains. The tangles are made up of a protein called tau and studies are underway to figure out why tau is present and what role it plays in the disease process. Finally, the team is interested in substances produced by the body called endocannabinoids that are closely related in structure and function to the active ingredient in marijuana and there is evidence that it may have effects on immunity and memory, and scientists are testing this hypothesis and examining whether the brain's cannabinoid system is abnormal in Alzheimer's disease.

		Name:   Edward Huey, MD Position:   Geriatric Psychiatrist Research:   Dr. Huey is a clinical researcher who studies Alzheimer’s disease and frontal temporal dementia. His research focuses on the neuroanatomical and genetic bases of, and medication treatment trials for, dementia. Email:  ehuey@nshs.edu
		Name:   Jeremy Koppel, MD Position:   Geriatric Psychiatrist Research:   Dr. Koppel is a clinical and basic science researcher whose current focus is on immune modulation in Alzheimer's disease. Current protocols include investigations of immune-related genes, biomarkers of disease progression, and transgenic mouse models of dementia. Email:   jkopell@nshs.edu
		Name:   Marc L. Gordon, MD Position:   Neurologist Research:   Dr. Gordon conducts clinical trials for patients with Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and mild cognitive impairment. His current studies explore potential biomarkers of disease progression, and imaging techniques such as volumetric MRI and proton.  Email:   mlgordan@nshs.edu
		Name:   Terry Goldberg Position:   Neuropsychologist Research:    Works on identifying early indicators of Alzheimer's and memory disorders. Email:  tgoldberg@nshs.edu
		Name:  Erica Christen Position: Administrative Director Phone: (516) 487-3492 Email:echriste@nshs.edu
		Name:   Michele Ma  Position:   Research Assistant Research:   Focuses on grant financing. Email:   mma@nshs.edu
		Name:   Nicole Taylor, MA  Position:   Research Assistant Research:   Organizes patient recruitment and scheduling. Administers neuropsychological testing. Email:   ntaylor@nshs.edu

Selected  Publications:

Hampel H, Buerger K, Zinkowski R, Goernitz A, Teipel SJ, Andreasen N, Sjogren M, DeBernardis J,  Kerkman D, Ishiguro K, Ohno H, Vanmechelen E, Vanderstichele H, McCulloch C, Möller HJ, Davies P, Blennow K. Measurement of phosphorylated tau epitopes in the differential diagnosis of Alzheinmer's disease - a comparative CSF study, Archives of General Psychiatry , 61; 95-102, 2004.

Conrad C. Vianna C. Schultz C. Thal DR. Ghebremedhin E. Lenz J. Braak H. Davies P. Molecular Evolution and Genetics of the Saitohin Gene and tau haplotype in Alzheimer’s Disease and Argyrophilic Grain Disease. J Neurochem, 89, 179-188, 2004.

Bargorn S. Davies P. Mandelkow E. Tau paired helical filaments from Alzheimer’s disease brain and assembled in vitro are based on beta-structure in the core domain. Biochemistry , 43, 1694-1703, 2004.

Andorfer CA. Acker CM. Kress Y. Hof PR. Duff K. Davies P. Cell Cycle Re-entry and Cell Death In Transgenic Mice Expressing Non-Mutant Human Tau Isoforms. J Neurosci, 25; 5446-5454, 2005.

Marambaud P. Zhao H. Davies P. Resveratrol promotes clearance of Alzheimer’s disease amyloid-beta peptides. J Biol Chem, 280, 37377-37382, 2005.

de Leon MJ. DeSanti S. Zinkowski R. Mehta PD. Pratico D. Segala S. Rusinek  H. Lia J. Tsui W. Saint Louis LA. Clark CM. Tarshish C. Lia Y. Lair L. Javier E. Rich K. Lesbre P. Mosconi L. Reisberg B. Sadowski M. DeBernadis JF. Kerkman DJ. Hampel H. Wahlund  L-O. Davies P. Longitudinal CSF and MRI biomarkers improve the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiology of Aging 27, 394-401, 2006.

d’Abramo C.Ricciarelli R. Pronzato MA. Davies P. Troglitazone, a Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor-gamma  agonist, decreases tau phosphorylation in CHOtau4R cells. J. Neurochem, 98, 1068-1077, 2006.

Park KHJ. Hallows JL Chakrabarty P Davies P Vincent I. Conditional neuronal SV40 T Antigen expression induces Alzheimer-like tau and amyloid pathology in mice. J Neurosci, 27, 2969-2978, 2007.

Espinoza M. de Silva R. Dickson DW. Davies P. Differential Incorporation of Tau Isoforms in Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 14, 1-16, 2008.