A doctor referencing a patient's brain scans.

With age comes disease. Cancer and Alzheimer’s dementia are among the commonest and most feared health conditions – particularly in countries with ageing populations such as the UK.

Atcharaporn Ontawong

My name is Atcharaporn Ontawong, and I am a second-year postdoctoral scholar at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging under the mentorship of Anika Hartz, PhD.  My journey with the Hartz lab began in 2018 when, as a PhD student from Thailand, I joined the group through a scholarship from Thailand's Research and Researcher for Industry program.

Elaf Ghoneim working in a UK laboratory under a hood ventilator.

Recent University of Kentucky graduate Elaf Ghoneim was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. Her family, originally from Libya, established a tight-knit, community-oriented home that emphasized the importance of service and advocacy.

Linda J. Van Eldik working in her laboratory

The University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Director Linda Van Eldik, PhD, hopes to shed light on how specific brain cells may contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, paving the way for potential new therapeutic approaches.

Bob Sompol, Yang Jiang, & Chris Norris

Reyna Katko

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- University of Kentucky researchers made a major breakthrough in understanding long COVID: it could lead to Alzheimer’s-like brain changes.

"I was shocked how people will find COVID in their brain," Dr. Yang Jiang said.

Blaine Weiss

My name is Blaine Weiss, and I am a graduate student in the department of pharmacology and nutritional sciences in the lab of Christopher Norris, PhD. Our group studies the role of astrocyte reactivity in contributing to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. 

gme residents

In many residency programs, the need for accessible and up-to-date information is critical for effective training and patient care. Traditional residency handbooks, often updated annually, can sometimes fall short in providing real-time access to evolving guidelines and best practices.

David Fardo looking through paperwork on his desk.

Work by several researchers within the University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging was recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics. 

Gregory A. Jicha

Just like the rest of the human body, the brain changes as it ages. Most people eventually notice some slowed thinking and occasional memory problems. However, serious memory loss, confusion and other major changes in the way the mind works could be a troubling sign that brain cells are failing.

Drs. Gregory A. Jicha, left, and Pete Nelson In front of the Sanders Brown Center on Aging building

In the ever-evolving field of Alzheimer’s disease research, the development of disease-modifying therapies has sparked both excitement and debate. While these therapies represent a promising shift in the treatment landscape, questions remain about their clinical benefits, risks and economic impact.

brain image

September 2, 2024

The brain needs a lot of energy — far more than any other organ in the body — to work properly. And aging and Alzheimer’s disease both seem to leave the brain underpowered.

But an experimental cancer drug appeared to re-energize the brains of mice that had a form of Alzheimer’s — and even restore their ability to learn and remember.

Covid and Alzheimer's disease pathologies

New research from the University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging shows compelling evidence that the cognitive impairments observed in long COVID patients share striking similarities with those seen in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. 

An illustration of neuron activity in the brain.

The 14th annual Markesbery Symposium on Aging and Dementia is set for Sept. 27-28. The symposium, hosted by UK’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, is named in honor and memory of the late William R. Markesbery, MD, the founding director of Sanders-Brown.

Xian Wu, PhD

Despite the prevalence and toll of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease—the most common type, which begins after age 65— causes of the disease remain only partly understood.  Is it genes? Lifestyle? Environment?

Astrocytes in the brain

Scientists are experimenting with a novel approach to treating Alzheimer's disease in mice. They're using a drug that helps the brain make energy. NPR's Jon Hamilton says in a mouse, at least, the treatment can reverse memory loss.

In the United States, it's estimated that about 7 million people are living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. But the number of people with a formal diagnosis is far less than that.

Erin Abner, PhD, an epidemiologist at the University of Kentucky, said the results were not surprising and that there are many barriers to diagnosis.

Preet Patel working at a microscope in the laboratory.

Fourteen University of Kentucky students spent the summer expanding their research skills through the Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Fellowship program, sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Office of the V

Kentucky Edition
A watercolor painting of poppies, side-by-side with a palette of paints.

The University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging has introduced a groundbreaking initiative, Brain Health Activities, aimed at supporting individuals with dementia and their caregivers.

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging building

Researchers from the University of Kentucky’s Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and the University of California Irvine are some of the first to show socialization and enrichment are good for aging brains.