This group provides in-patient consultation services for patients with cognitive and behavioral disorders and staffs the Memory Disorders Clinic at the Psychiatric Institute. Residents are encouraged to elect rotations on this service. Research interests in behavioral disorders and dementia primarily focus on degenerative diseases such as Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, Huntington disease and stroke. Neurologic, psychiatric and neuropsychologic functions are assessed. Current projects include studies of dementia in Parkinson disease, use of brain imaging in dementia, clinical trials and epidemiology of Alzheimer disease and related disorders; natural history of HIV; cognitive performance in children with complex metabolic disorders. Aging and dementia rounds are held weekly at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and monthly at Harlem Hospital Center. The research activities of the Division of Aging and Dementia are integrated closely with those of the Sergievsky Center, and all divisional faculty hold appointments in the Sergievsky Center.
Dr. Karen S. Marder, Director, ksm1@columbia.edu
Investigations of genetic influences in families of probands with early-onset compared to late-onset Parkinson disease. Multicenter investigation of risk factors for the development of dementia in HIV. Clinical trials of new therapeutic agents in Huntington disease. Longitudinal study of subjects at risk for developing Huntington disease.
Field work and clinical and basic research utilizing an extended kindred with Huntington disease living in Venezuela, including genotype/phenotype analyses. The Huntington Disease Center of Excellence provides experience in clinical care, psychotherapy and genetic counseling. Clinical trial of Coenzyme Q10 and remacemide in Huntington disease. Activities relating to the ethical, legal and social implications of the Human Genome Project.
Dr. Mark W. Albers, mwa28@columbia.edu
Laboratory research mapping the circuits that underlie odor discrimination in mice using genetic markers of olfactory neurons and genetic sensors of neuronal activation; cellular and molecular changes in these neurons induced by experience-dependent learning. Studies using transgenic models of Alzheimer disease to study how olfactory stimuli are processed.
Dr. Karen L. Bell, klb1@columbia.edu
Development of new clinical treatments for Alzheimer disease. Currently Conducting research for the prevention of Alzheimer disease in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Other research interests include understanding barriers that minorities face in receiving clinical care for dementia and cognitive loss, and developing mechanisms to recruit minorities into clinical research.
Dr. Lucien Coté, lcote@sergievsky.cpmc.columbia.edu
Epidemiology and genetics of Parkinson disease. Studies of depression and dementia in Parkinson disease.
Dr. Laurence C. Honig, lh456@columbia.edu
Clinical studies of Alzheimer disease. Clinical-pathological correlations in Alzheimer disease and related dementias.
Dr. Jennifer Manly, jjm71@columbia.edu
Epidemiology and genetics of Parkinson disease. Studies of depression and dementia in Parkinson disease.
Dr. Richard Mayeux, rpm2@columbia.edu
see Sergievsky Center
Dr. Scott Small, sas68@columbia.edu
Correlations of memory and changes in the hippocampal formation using functional magnetic resonance imaging in normal aging and in Alzheimer disease.
Dr. Nancy S. Wexler, wexlern@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu
Genetic and field studies of Huntington disease in Maricaibo, Venezuela.