Category: Research

Steady as she goes! Daily fluctuations in cognitive ability are associated with risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Links to an external site)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results in progressive loss of cognitive function. It is critical to identify individuals who are at the highest risk of developing AD as early as possible so that appropriate treatment plans can be developed. Neuropsychological tests of psychomotor speed, attention, and memory are frequently used to assess […]

Geisler, McPherson awarded grants as part of ICTS’s Clinical and Translational Research Funding Program

Stefanie Geisler and Laura McPherson

Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) and The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital have awarded Stefanie Geisler, MD, and Laura McPherson, PT, DPT, PhD, grants as part of the 17th annual Clinical and Translational Research Funding Program (CTRFP). This program is the largest internal grant funding program in the ICTS, requiring applicants to […]

WashU Medicine rises to No. 2 in nation in NIH research funding (Links to an external site)

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis received in 2023 the second highest amount of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of all medical schools nationwide. This ranking reflects the school’s commitment to cutting-edge research and positions it as a key player in shaping the future of medicine. (Photo: Matt Miller/School of Medicine)

In the realm of biomedical research, securing funding is a testament to an institution’s record of scientific accomplishments and potential for further advances to improve human health. In 2023, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis received the second-highest amount of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of all medical schools nationwide. […]

Washington University Neurofibromatosis Center Celebrates 30 Years of NF

Angie Hirbe adult NF care

One of the largest and most comprehensive centers in the world specializing in the care of people with Neurofibromatosis (NF) and related disorders — the Washington University NF Center — is celebrating 30 years of NF. Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a set of four rare genetic medical conditions with which children and adults are prone to […]

Is There a Possible Connection Between HIV Infection and a Lower Risk of Multiple Sclerosis? (Links to an external site)

Image of a virus

An analysis of two large, population-based databases suggests that people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at lower risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS), a finding hinted at in previous research. In particular, people who are HIV-positive with a history of taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) were less likely to develop MS than people in the […]

Clues to preventing Alzheimer’s come from patient who, despite genetics, evaded disease (Links to an external site)

A woman who never developed Alzheimer's despite a strong genetic predisposition may hold the key to stopping the disease in its tracks. Studying the woman's unique complement of genetic mutations, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found clues that could help cut the link between the early, asymptomatic stage and the late stage, when cognitive decline sets in.

Alzheimer’s disease has plagued one large Colombian family for generations, striking down half of its members in the prime of life. But one member of that family evaded what had seemed would be fate: Despite inheriting the genetic defect that caused her relatives to develop dementia in their 40s, she stayed cognitively healthy into her […]