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Signature Seminar Series: Reframing Alzheimer’s Disease As a Disease of Aging, Not of The Aged
ABOUT THE LECTURE:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of death that exacts a heavy toll on affected patients and society. Most AD patients develop cognitive symptoms after age 65, but changes have been occurring in the brain for years to decades before the onset of memory loss. The long "preclinical" window of Alzheimer's disease presents new opportunities to detect and intervene on the disease process. In this talk, Dr. Whitson will reframe Alzheimer's disease as an aging-related disease that develops across the lifespan. She will describe data and other resources being collected in the Duke/UNC Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre (Duke/UNC ADRC) from high risk individuals as young as age 25, with yearly follow-up beginning at age 45. Dr. Whitson will discuss hypotheses explored in the Duke/UNC ADRC, preliminary findings, and opportunities for collaboration and resource access.
HOST:
Dr Angelique Chan
Associate Professor
Senior Advisor
Centre for Ageing Research & Education
Duke-NUS Medical School
VENUE:
Duke-NUS Medical School
Amphitheatre, Level 2
CONTACT PERSON:
Ms Kathleen Chan (kathleen.chan@duke-nus.edu.sg)
Duke-NUS Research Affairs Department
Date and Time
30 Sep 2025 @ 12:00 - 30 Sep 2025 @ 13:00
Speaker
Prof Heather Whitson
Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience
Director
Duke Centre for the Study of Aging and
Human Development
Duke University School of Medicine
Dr. Heather Whitson is a geriatrician and clinical investigator. She is a Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience at Duke University. She is Director of the Duke Aging Centre and co-Director of the Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centre. She has expertise in physical resilience and multiple chronic conditions, with a particular focus on how aging biology and comorbidities affect the brain.