Research
Our Research
The Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center is focused on characterizing the pathways through which vascular risk and disease intersect with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia pathogenesis, progression, and clinical manifestation at the societal, systems biological, and cellular levels.
Modification of vascular risk and disease has demonstrated efficacy in improving Alzheimer’s outcomes and is a leading target for drug discovery, early intervention and disease prevention. Our Center investigators have led groundbreaking work to better understand vascular contributions to Alzheimer’s disease.
Interested in joining a research study? Fill out an eligibility survey here.
Investigating the Link Between Heart Health and Brain Health
The Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project (VMAP) is our flagship study at the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center. Since 2012, we have been researching the impact of vascular health on brain aging. VMAP was among the first studies to integrate imaging and fluid biomarkers to better understand how cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health affect brain health in older adults.
In 2020, the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center received two important grants from the NIH to support the expansion of the VMAP cohort, nearly tripling the existing cohort and expanding the possibilities for discovery. Learn more about the study.
TENNESSEE’S ONLY ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE RESEARCH CENTER
In August 2020, the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center was awarded a 3-year, $3.8M grant from the National Institute on Aging to establish an NIA-funded exploratory Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The exploratory Center supports the planning and infrastructure development for an eventual NIA-funded P30 ADRC designation for Vanderbilt. Learn more about the Vanderbilt Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.
Explore Our Research Data
To accelerate the pace of discovery, the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center Data Sharing Portal serves as a hub of data availability generated by the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center cohort studies and other studies in the field. We invite you to explore the site, see what is available, and submit your data or biospecimen request.
Contact
Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
3319 West End Avenue, 8th Floor
Nashville, TN 37203
615-322-8676
