Hope for Families Facing Dementia: New Research Could Change Everything

Dementia is among the most feared medical conditions for older adults.¹ Some decline in memory and thinking is expected with age, but neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease lead to progressive cognitive loss² that can leave your friend or family member unable to live independently.

According to the National Library of Medicine, while Alzheimer’s disease is the most frequent cause of dementia, it is far from the only cause, and research is revealing that other diseases often contribute to dementia either as the sole cause or co-occurring with Alzheimer’s disease.³

UCI MIND and its essential research

UCI MIND the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders at the University of California, Irvine, is one of 37 dementia centers of excellence funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). It is devoted to research to rid the world of all causes of dementia. This, of course, includes Alzheimer’s disease, but also other conditions that are increasingly recognized as common causes.

PHOTO CREDIT: Shutterstock

LATE is one of these diseases. LATE stands for limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy. It is particularly common in people with memory problems in their 80s and 90s; the fastest-growing age groups in which most dementia sufferers will belong.⁴

Like Alzheimer’s disease, LATE presents with prominent memory problems – though in LATE these problems appear to progress more slowly. The two conditions frequently co-occur and cause more rapid decline, compared to either disease alone. There are still important unanswered questions, such as: what predisposes some people to harbor both conditions; what tests can distinguish LATE from Alzheimer’s; and ultimately, what treatment options might slow progression of LATE.⁴

That is why new research on LATE, such as a new study at UCI MIND funded by the NIA, is essential. The goal in studies like this is not just to understand LATE and other conditions that cause dementia, but to find ways to treat and prevent them.

What are the next steps in dementia research?

Dementia research is progressing in meaningful new directions. Recent years have brought clearer understanding of conditions like LATE and improved approaches to identifying the diseases that contribute to cognitive decline. While there are no approved treatments for LATE yet, growing investment in research has positioned the field to make important therapeutic advances, and clinical trials now underway are an encouraging step toward that goal.⁵

Participating in studies is one of the most important ways to support research. UCI MIND has developed novel tools to facilitate this, with unique and remarkable philanthropic support from a community counting on its success.

Nearly $80 million in philanthropic support has been raised to propel UCI MIND toward building Ann Hutchinson Quilter Hall, a new state-of-the-art facility designed to bring research, clinical care, and community engagement together under one roof.

PHOTO CREDIT: UCI MIND

Ann Hutchinson Quilter Hall isn’t just about expanding space. It’s about amplifying discovery. It’s about creating a place where Alzheimer’s, LATE, and other neurological diseases that cause dementia can be studied in-depth and across disciplines. It’s about moving faster, thinking bigger, and serving families better. And it’s about an unwavering commitment to this mission.