CADRC Newsletter Mind Matters Issue 15

March 3, 2025|Newsletter|4.1 min|

CADRC Newsletter Mind Matters Issue 15

March 3, 2025|Newsletter|4.1 min|

CADRC Spring E-Newsletter | Issue 15 – New Leadership, Black History Month, and More!

Dr Pillai CADRC Director Awarded New $4.9 Million Research Grant

Dr. Pillai

Meet Our New Director, Dr. Jagan Pillai!

 

If you are a part of the CADRC, you may recognize Dr. Pillai. He has served as our Clinical Core Co-Leader and has now transitioned to the Director of the CADRC.

We are excited to welcome him into this new role and look forward to his leadership in advancing our mission. Learn more about his vision for the CADRC in his welcome letter here: Letter from the Director.

Thank You for Joining Our Black History Month Webinar Series!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s CADRC Black History Month Webinar Series! Your engagement helped make it another successful event.

Throughout the month, we explored key topics impacting brain health and Alzheimer’s disease in the Black community:

Week 1: Genetics & Alzheimer’s – Experts discussed how genetics influence Alzheimer’s risk and the importance of participation of people from all backgrounds in research to better understand these connections.

Week 2: Caregiving 101: Preparing for the Future – We covered essential steps for planning ahead, including legal considerations, care options, and family communication.

Week 3: Taking Care of the Caregiver: The Importance of Self-Care – Speakers highlighted the emotional and physical toll of caregiving and shared strategies to maintain personal well-being while supporting a loved one.

Week 4: Hypertension & Brain Health – The series concluded with a discussion on how managing high blood pressure can reduce dementia risk and improve long-term brain health.

Are you Interested in Participating in Research at the CADRC?

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, University Hospitals and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center have joined together to form the Cleveland Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (CADRC).

The CADRC is one of over 30 centers funded by the National Institutes on Aging.

The center aims to study the different forms of dementia in the hope that learning more about the disease can lead to new forms of treating and eventually curing Alzheimer’s and related disorders.

Volunteers are critical to the research process. The center studies both people with Alzheimer’s disease and healthy individuals who are at risk for developing dementia.

This study is most interested in including volunteers who have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, mild cognitive impairment, Lewy Body Dementia, or Atypical dementia.

If you would like to be contacted about research opportunities at the CADRC for yourself or someone you know, please click the link below to fill out the form or contact us at:

1-888-311-ADRC (2372).

I serve as the Lead Clinical Research Coordinator for the UH Brain Health and Memory site of the CADRC study. In this role, I oversee the coordination of research visits from start to finish, including patient recruitment and enrollment, data collection and entry, imaging, and biofluid collection for both new and follow-up visits throughout the study. Additionally, I contribute to programming efforts such as our annual Black History Month Webinar Series, where I was recently featured by News 5 Cleveland.

My primary research interest is dementia, as it holds a deep personal significance for me and my family. More broadly, I am passionate about initiatives that enhance the health and well-being of minority populations and underserved communities.

My goal is to attend medical school and continue pursuing my passions as a physician. I am particularly interested in specializing in primary care, where I can serve as a trusted point of contact for my future patients. Through this role, I hope to implement preventive measures that reduce the prevalence of illness and improve long-term health outcomes.

My passion for dementia research was deeply influenced by the passing of my mother-in-law from early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Her experience is what initially drew me to this field and motivated me to contribute to research that could lead to a better understanding of and successful treatments for dementia. Since joining the UH Brain Health and Memory Center, I have found even greater fulfillment in my work through the connections I’ve made with other family members affected by dementia as well as with my patients. Their experiences have reinforced my commitment to this research and continue to inspire me to advocate for greater inclusion of minority communities in studies to improve outcomes for all, especially those who have been historically marginalized.

Fond Farewell to Our Leaders

We would like to thank Dr. Leverenz and Dr. Bekris for their leadership and service! Dr. Leverenz has served as CADRC Director for the past five years, while Dr. Bekris led the Biomarker Core and will continue to consult. We wish you both the best in your new endeavors!

Get the Latest News & Research Updates with the Mind Matters Newsletter

Get the latest news, research updates, and community events from the Cleveland Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Our quarterly newsletter Mind Matters shares stories of progress, education, and hope – keeping you informed and involved in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

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