Focus Areas
Research in the Memory Disorders Laboratory led by Neill R. Graff-Radford, M.D., at Mayo Clinic is finding ways to identify patients at risk of memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia.
Research focus areas in the Memory Disorders Lab include:
- Genetics of degenerative brain disease and normal pressure hydrocephalus. Findings with healthy cognitive aging and different dementias may lead to interventions that can mimic the gene effects and allow people to age with less change of dementia. Learn more about genetics of brain disease and normal pressure hydrocephalus.
- Clinicopathological studies. Investigators create new ways to visualize the body's structure and function, from individual cells to entire organs, to enhance care for patients with a wide variety of diseases. Learn more about clinicopathological studies.
- Biomarkers. Researchers develop new methods to read, interpret and respond to the body's electrical, chemical and mechanical signals, providing clues to disease processes and responses to therapy. Learn more about biomarkers.
- Lewy body dementia. The Memory Disorders Lab collaborates with investigators in clinical, pathology, imaging, genetics, biomarker and basic research. Learn more about Lewy body dementia.
- African American studies. Dr. Graff-Radford has several projects evaluating the differences in dementia in Caucasians and African Americans. Learn more about African American studies.
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus studies. By studying the different associations with ventricle size in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, Dr. Graff-Radford hopes to shed light on the causes of normal pressure hydrocephalus. Learn more about normal pressure hydrocephalus studies.