New Findings Related to Alzheimer's Genetic Risk Factor

Timothy Hohman, PhD, Logan Dumitrescu, PhD, Katherine Gifford, PsyD, and Angela Jefferson, PhD
A genetic variant of apolipoprotein E (APOE), a protein involved in fat metabolism, is the strongest common genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. However, many APOE-e4 carriers remain cognitively normal throughout life, suggesting there may be modifiers of APOE effects that protect the brain.

Health Conditions Associated with Alzheimer’s

Bennett Landman, PhD
A recent study completed by Dr. Bennett Landman, the Biomarker Core Co-Leader for the Vanderbilt Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, suggests several health conditions are associated with future dementia. Some conditions were found to begin at least five years before dementia diagnosis.

VMAP Participant Encourages Research Involvement

In February 2023, Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project participant Tonya Brown shared her study experience with Newschannel5 including why she encourages others to get involved. Black and African American people are nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as their White counterparts but are underrepresented in research. “A lot of African Americans are afraid to get involved in research, but times have changed,” said Brown. “Anything that I can provide to help find a cure — I feel that I am making a difference.”

Irregular Sleep, Heart Health, and Brain Health

Kelsie Full, PhD, MPH
A recent study led by Dr. Kelsie Full, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and faculty member at the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, found sleep irregularity was associated with a higher risk of atherosclerosis, or hardened arteries. Sleep irregularity is defined as frequently disrupted sleep and varying sleep durations night after night. “These results suggest that sleeping close to the same total amount of time each night may play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Full.

VADRC Clinical Core Co-Leader Talks Alzheimer's and Dementia on Local 'Let's Talk About It' Podcast

Katherine Gifford, PsyD
In April 2023, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Vanderbilt Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Clinical Co-Core Leader Dr. Katherine Gifford joined the North Nashville Business and Ministries “Let’s Talk About It” podcast along with Community Outreach and Engagement Manager Pam Cowley to answer the community’s questions about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In the audio clip below, Dr. Gifford answers one of the most common questions we hear from participants and community members.  

Arterial Stiffness May Impair Cognition

Angela Jefferson, PhD, Dandan Liu, PhD, Taylor Davis, MD, Bennett Landman, PhD, Katherine Gifford, PsyD, Timothy Hohman, PhD, and John Jeffrey Carr, MD.
Small vessel disease (SVD) is associated with cognitive decline and development of dementia. Enlargement of the perivascular spaces (ePVS) surrounding blood vessels in the brain may be a marker of SVD.  

Abigail Miga

Abigail
Miga
Clinical Translational Research Coordinator I
abigail.miga@vumc.org

Abigail Miga is a Clinical Translational Research Coordinator I at Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center. She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in December 2022 with a bachelor's in biochemistry and religious studies. During her time at MTSU, she gained hands-on laboratory experience studying metabolic engineering within the context of finding sustainable alternative biofuels and oncogenic transcription factor MYC, leading to her interest in genetics.

In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dogs, going on walks, and listening to podcasts.

Becky Goodridge, MS

Becky
Goodridge
MS
Clinical/Translational Research Coordinator III
rebecca.goodridge@vumc.org

Becky Goodridge is a Clinical Translational Research Coordinator III at the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with a master of science in Speech-Language Pathology with a thesis under Dr. Katherine Gifford at the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center studying informant-based subjective cognitive decline. Becky completed her Clinical Fellowship training in a Veterans Affairs healthcare system. She has experience working clinically as a speech-language pathologist serving patients with impairments in cognitive-communication as well as other communication and swallowing disorders.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her friends and her dog. 

Alexis Smith

Alexis
Smith
MS
Statistical Genetic Analyst II
alexandra.n.smith@vumc.org

Alexis Smith is a Statistical Genetics Analyst II at the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center working with the Computational Neurogenomics Team. She graduated from Rhodes College with a bachelor's degree in neuroscience. She later obtained a master of science in biostatistics from the University of Memphis. In her spare time, Alexis enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.

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