Annual Reports | Alzheimer's Disease Research Center | UC Davis Health

An estimated 6.5 million older Americans lived with Alzheimer’s disease in 2022,  By 2060, this figure is projected to grow to 13.8 million people.1 That means 42% of Americans over age 55 will eventually develop dementia. 

As one of 34 NIH-funded ADRCs in the nation, we are home to paradigm-shifting thought leaders leading novel research in prevention, causes, and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Our center follows X people annually over X studies.Our research impacts the real, daily lives of all of us as we care for a person with memory challenges or receive that care ourselves.  

Select findings across our more than 100 published papers this past academic year include: 

• Larger brains are developing among people from younger generations; 
• A novel MRI biomarker predicts dementia;  
• In the oldest-old among us, depression can impact brain volume. 

We completed impactful studies such as the first multi-domain lifestyle intervention trial on cognitive decline in the. U.S, and the first cohort study following elderly Vietnamese Americans to identify how adversity and vascular risk factors impacts brain health.

In addition, we developed new technologies, including a new automated way to screen human brain tissue samples for strokes. This powerful research grows out of the center’s location within the world-class interdisciplinary community of more than 300 neuroscientists who call UC Davis home. And we’re always looking for new partners. 

Our hope in providing this report is to make visible the collaboration and training opportunities, research resources and unique strengths the UC Davis ADRC offers. We seek to inspire you, as a research colleague, scientific partner, philanthropist or member of our community, to connect with our ADRC. And we’d love for you to share our work with your professional and personal communities. 

We also recognize our debt of gratitude to the many donors, supporters and — especially — research participants who make our work possible. Your commitment to neurological health for all is changing the landscape of brain health. 

Join our quest to treat, cure and one day prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.