Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

04/14/2026

Memory University continues with our final sessions of the season!

Join the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (IADRC) for two powerful opportunities to learn, connect, and access resources that support aging, caregiving, and community wellness.

Remaining Sessions (refer to flyer for details):
• April 17 — Virtual Only
• June 8 — Hybrid: Virtual + In Person

June 8 Closing Event Includes:

• Community vendors
• Valuable resources
• Free giveaways
• Prize drawings (must be present to win)

These sessions are free, insightful, and deeply relevant for families, caregivers, professionals, and anyone navigating aging or memory related concerns.

As a proud member of the IADRC Community Advisory Board, I encourage you to take advantage of these final opportunities. The information shared is practical, empowering, and designed to support our community.

04/14/2026

New research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is changing how we think about the aging brain. Scientists have discovered that some brain cells are much more sensitive to aging than others.

Key takeaways from the study:
📍 Specific Vulnerability: Cells in the hypothalamus (which controls things like sleep, hunger, and heart rate) showed some of the most significant changes in genetic activity.
📍 Immune Response: As we age, genetic activity related to the brain’s immune and inflammatory systems actually increases, while activity in neuronal circuits tends to decrease.
📍 A New Roadmap: This highly detailed "brain map" helps researchers understand why certain areas are more prone to aging-related disorders like Alzheimer’s.

This discovery is a huge step forward in developing more targeted treatments for brain health!

Read more about how our brains change over time: https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/aging-may-change-some-brain-cells-more-others

NIH-funded researchers discover that not all cell types in the mouse brain age in the same way.

04/08/2026

Learn and earn!

Join us tomorrow at Byrne Court Apartments for a Brain Health Education Session.

Note: You must bring a study partner and complete all parts of the session.

04/03/2026

The AHORA! study, led by the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, is focused on improving the community’s involvement in Alzheimer’s disease research.

🌟 Why This Matters:
This study is looking at the barriers and motivations for participating in research studies, with a goal of increasing representation and developing better treatments for Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

📝 How You Can Help:
If you are 55+, identify as White non-Hispanic or Hispanic/Latino, and live in Indiana, you may qualify to take part in this 25-minute survey!

By participating, you’ll help us understand how social factors impact research engagement in the community.

💸 Incentive: Receive compensation for completing the survey! 🎁

📅 Key Details:
• Survey takes 25 minutes (online or phone)
• You can participate from the comfort of your home
• Your personal information will remain confidential

For more information, or to sign up, contact the study team at iadrc@iu.edu or call 317-963-5500.

Let’s advance Alzheimer’s research together! 💪

04/02/2026

Come visit the IADRC table this weekend at the Marion County Senior Health Expo! The event takes place at the Frederick Douglass Family Center.

Marion County seniors can attend a free health expo this weekend for health screenings, wellness information, and fun activities.

04/02/2026

Register now for Memory University: https://redcap.uits.iu.edu/surveys/?s=L9TJ78KDMHCLPRJY

03/31/2026

For Miriam Rodriguez, PhD, a marathon is not just a foot race; it’s a perfect metaphor for her career. As a researcher currently training for her third half-marathon, she knows that both distance running and scientific discovery require a "long game" mindset.

IU researcher and clinical psychologist Miriam Rodriguez is making it her personal mission to redefine caregiving for people with dementia, using the same grit and determination gained from half marathon running. 

03/30/2026

We hope to see you tomorrow!

03/30/2026

On National Doctors' Day, we celebrate the doctor-scientists who lead CLARiTI's mission.

From our national leadership to our clinical sites around the country, these experts work to deepen our understanding of dementia and support people of all backgrounds to get involved in brain research. Thank you for your dedication to our 2,000 participants nationwide!

Learn more about CLARITI: clariti.naccdata.org

03/17/2026

Why do biomarkers matter in Alzheimer’s research?

Biomarkers are biological clues or signs, like specific proteins found in the blood or seen on brain scans, that help doctors detect and track Alzheimer’s disease.

These biological clues allow researchers to identify the disease earlier, even before symptoms appear, leading to more accurate diagnoses and better treatment strategies.

The CLARiTI study uses advanced imaging to find reliable ways to detect Alzheimer’s by looking for two key biomarkers: amyloid (plaques) and tau (tangles). This research is paving the way for future breakthroughs in brain health.

Learn more about biomarkers by visiting https://www.alzdiscovery.org/news-room/blog/alzheimers-biomarkers-explained

03/17/2026

Nearly 1 in 4 American adults provide unpaid care for a loved one. Many of those adults fall into the middle-income bracket, who do not qualify for public benefits to pay for care.

This Friday, Indianapolis attorney Anita Gartland will join us for Memory University to share details on how to get support and how the landscape of caring for a loved one is changing.

Register now: https://redcap.uits.iu.edu/surveys/?s=L9TJ78KDMHCLPRJY

03/13/2026

Can we find Alzheimer’s before memory loss even begins? 🧠🔍

A new study from researchers at our center, published in NBM in Biomedicine, has unveiled a powerful "all-in-one" MRI framework designed to spot the disease at its earliest, "preclinical" stage.

By combining different high-tech scanning methods, researchers can now distinguish between the three major signs of early brain decline:
✅ Amyloid Plaques (Protein buildup)
✅ Iron Overload (Stress and vascular damage)
✅ Myelin Loss (Damage to the brain's "wiring")

This precision allows scientists to see exactly how the brain is changing before symptoms appear, paving the way for earlier diagnosis and more effective drug trials.

🔗 Read the full study:

This study investigates the effect of cerebral and vascular (beta-amyloid) Aβ on regional myeloarchitecture and lipid composition in a murine model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study highlights t...