The department of geriatrics at Upstate Medical University has been redesignated as a New York State Department of Health Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease.
“We are thrilled that this five-year, $2.3 million award that will allow us to continue our work in providing high quality dementia care to the people of Central New York,” said Distinguished Service Professor Sharon Brangman, MD, who also serves as chairwoman of the department of geriatrics and director of the Center for Excellence for Alzhemier’s Disease.
The award also supports the education and training of students at Upstate, and has an active clinical trials program for evaluating emerging drugs for this disease. One such trial under way at CEAD is Phase 2/3 study, called T2 Protect AD, that is evaluating the investigational drug troriluzole (BHV-4157), which may have the potential to protect against, slow down, and even improve memory and thinking problems that increase as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.
The Upstate center consists of an interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers who served more than 4,500 people last year by providing diagnosis, management and support services for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
The CEAD serves as a regional resource, serving 14 counties, providing coordinated delivery of services to patients and their families which is essential to allow these individuals to remain at home in their communities for as long as possible.