Research

Research Publication Contributions

Recent Publications

Blood biomarkers predict conversion from cognitively stable to mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome at 16-month follow-up in ABC-DS
INTRODUCTION: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) face high risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet presymptomatic detection of cognitive decline is hindered by lifelong intellectual disability.
The impact of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on cognitive performance and amyloid beta in older adults: A randomized controlled trial
INTRODUCTION: Insomnia is associated with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is unknown how cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) impacts two hallmarks of AD progression, cognitive performance and beta-amyloid (Aβ) burden.
Intraindividual cognitive variability predicts amyloid beta, tau PET, and dementia conversion in Down syndrome: a potential marker of cognitive resilience
INTRODUCTION: Adults with Down syndrome (DS) are at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet identifying the preclinical phase remains challenging. Intraindividual cognitive variability (IICV) may be a sensitive marker of early AD-related changes but remains understudied in DS.
Inflammation Associated With Obesity, Aging, and Amyloid Burden in Adults With Down Syndrome
CONCLUSIONS: Obesity, aging, and amyloid burden relate to systemic inflammation in adults with DS. Obesity showed the strongest and most consistent associations, emphasizing the value of regular monitoring and weight management strategies to help reduce inflammation. Aging and early amyloid accumulation showed more limited links with systemic inflammation; future work should examine whether these processes are more closely related to biomarkers of neuroinflammation as AD progresses.
Higher Heart Rates During Locomotor High-Intensity Interval Training Are Associated With Gait Asymmetry and Fatigue After Stroke
CONCLUSION: Few baseline walking characteristics were associated with cardiovascular intensity during the initiation of locomotor HIIT, potentially because of large variability in the heart rate response. As individuals progressed over time and were able to reach higher cardiovascular intensity, the associations were abrogated.
Feasibility, acceptability, and pre- post-program outcome changes of the real-world implementation of an informal caregiver support program via text message
BackgroundFew dementia caregiver support programs have been tested in real-world settings.ObjectiveWe tested the feasibility and pre- post-program outcome changes (e.g., preparedness for caregiving) of the first short message service texting program to support informal caregivers of people with dementia.MethodsWe analyzed observational data from 147 caregivers of people with dementia participating in a service program. This program was a remote, asynchronous, and bidirectional texting program...
Neocortical tau burden determines the degree of cognitive impairment in individuals with Braak stage V neurofibrillary degeneration
Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) is considered to be the most common cause of cognitive decline and dementia worldwide. ADNC level is determined using the density of neuritic plaques in combination with the topographical distribution of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau)-positive neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). While cognitive decline correlates with the level of ADNC, there remains a great deal of variation in cognitive outcomes between individuals that is...
Evaluating the causal effect of mitochondrial dysfunction on Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease using polygenic risk scores and Mendelian randomization
INTRODUCTION: Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), a measure of mitochondrial genomes per nucleated cell, has an unclear causal relationship with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). We integrated genetic correlation, polygenic risk scores (PRSs), and Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess whether mtDNAcn influences the risk of AD and PD, and evaluate how study-specific factors in mtDNAcn genome-wide association studies (GWASs) distort these causal estimates.
Frequency of mixed neuropathologies in individuals with down syndrome with and without Alzheimer's dementia
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) develop Alzheimer's disease neuropathological change (ADNC) by the age of 40 years, and most develop dementia by their early 50s. The frequency of co-pathologies in clinically and neuropathologically characterized adults with DS has not been systematically characterized. We characterized the frequency of ADNC and common co-pathologies, including cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), Lewy pathology (LP), limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy...
Pilot evaluation of a dance-based physical activity program for adults with Down syndrome
CONCLUSION: Intervention retention, attendance, and satisfaction were all high and energy expenditure met the threshold for moderate intensity. Remotely-delivered dance may represent a feasible and effective exercise modality for adults with DS to increase overall exercise participation and should be tested in a larger intervention.
Global and domain-specific cognitive intraindividual variability associations with neurodegenerative diagnoses and postmortem pathologies
BACKGROUND: Cognitive intraindividual variability (IIV) or within-person variation in neuropsychological test performance relates to in vivo biomarkers of neurodegeneration and progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. The current study aimed to explore longitudinal associations between global and domain-specific IIV with cognitive status and neuropathological findings at autopsy, and whether these associations differed by sex. METHODS: The sample included 20,715 older adults...
Brain health care accelerator: A primary care-centered model for scaling dementia diagnosis and care
Plasma biomarkers and disease-modifying therapies for early Alzheimer's disease have created an urgent need for scalable care models. In this Perspectives, we describe how a health system is adapting dementia care delivery through a primary care provider (PCP)-centered initiative designed to improve diagnostic readiness and care capacity. The program integrates (1) blood-based biomarker testing into clinical workflows, (2) a Cognitive Assessment Visit (CAV) supported by Electronic Health...
Downward bias in the association between APOE and Alzheimer's disease using prevalent and by-proxy disease sampling in the All of Us research program
BACKGROUND: Recent genome-wide association studies for Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD) have increased statistical power via larger analysis datasets from biobanks by (1) including non-age-matched controls and prevalent cases, and/or (2) including individuals who report a family history of ADRD as proxy cases. However, these methods have the potential to increase noise and distort genetic associations which are important for genomic-informed prevention and treatment of ADRD....
Neuropathological measures of increased tau phosphorylation across the Down syndrome lifespan
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD), with nearly all individuals exhibiting AD neuropathology, including amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), by age 40 years. Fluid AD biomarker studies highlight an increase in several phosphorylated tau (p-tau) epitopes in DS. However, neuropathological measures of p-tau epitopes in DS have not been examined. Therefore, our main objective was to characterize p-tau epitope...
Genetic and Hormonal Contributions to Psychosis Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease: A Sex-Stratified Analysis
CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore sex-specific genetic and biological contributors to psychosis in AD and support sex-stratified approaches to understanding and addressing psychosis symptoms in clinical settings.

Please review some of our most recently featured stories about the work happening at the KU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

Study finds estrogen-based hormone therapies could protect brain health in older women

Discover how hormone exposure across a woman’s lifetime may play a powerful role in protecting memory and cognitive function. Learn what researchers uncovered about birth control, menopause, and brain health—and why it could reshape how we think about aging. Read the full article to explore the science and its potential impact on women’s long-term well-being.

Towards Reimaging Care

See how Dr. Burns is helping shape the future of Alzheimer’s care, with a vision focused on access, innovation, and better outcomes for patients and families.

Brain Bros

From fast friends to research pioneers, discover how Jeff and Russ helped shape the KU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center into a national leader in Alzheimer’s disease research.

A New Blueprint for Dementia Care

Dr. Jeffrey Burns and our colleagues on the Brain Health Care Accelerator, an innovative model designed to improve access to dementia diagnosis, treatment, and support. The publication highlights a scalable approach to integrating brain health assessment and care into primary care settings.

Russell Swerdlow appointed to National Advisory Council on Aging

From Kansas to the National Stage of Aging Research, read about how Dr. Swerdlow is making an impact.

KU Medical Center to receive $5 million from state legislature to build Kansas Brain Health Assessment Network

Read the article about how Dr. Sandra Billinger is a visionary in stroke rehabilitation.

KU neurology professor persistent in push for more understanding of stroke rehabilitation

Dr. Matt Taylor was featured on Open Mics discussing diet and brain health. Watch How Changing Your Diet Can Boost Brain Health - The Keto Difference

Read about the recent visit the KU ADRC had with Senator Moran and the NIH

KU Medical Center leadership and staff hosted Senator Moran and Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health

Dementia experts Dr. Jeffrey Burns and Dr. Ryan Townley discuss what it means to be young and diagnosed with Alzheimer’s — and why early awareness is key to brain health and hope.

All Things Brain Health - Young and Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

Dr. Burns and experts discuss dementia and hearing in the KU Morning Medical Update

Congratulations to all — we’re honored to work alongside such inspiring leaders!

Blood Tests Spark New Hope for Alzheimer’s Detection — Dr. Jeffrey Burns Weighs In.

Read, "Blood Will Tell"

Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Research Publication Contributions

Recent Publications

Featured Information

Study finds estrogen-based hormone therapies could protect brain health in older women

Towards Reimaging Care

Brain Bros

A New Blueprint for Dementia Care

Russell Swerdlow appointed to National Advisory Council on Aging

KU Medical Center to receive $5 million from state legislature to build Kansas Brain Health Assessment Network

KU neurology professor persistent in push for more understanding of stroke rehabilitation

KU Medical Center leadership and staff hosted Senator Moran and Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health

All Things Brain Health - Young and Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

All Things Brain Health - The Hearing–Brain Connection: How Hearing Loss May Be Linked to Dementia

KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center leading the nation in work with Down syndrome and dementia

Drs. Swerdlow, Burns, and Sullivan were named 2025 Distinguished Professors

Blood Tests Spark New Hope for Alzheimer’s Detection — Dr. Jeffrey Burns Weighs In.

KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center collaborating with Brigham Young University on study of blood test for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease

Your Brain On...Ketogenic Diets Podcast

NIH-funded study to test the effects of first text-message support intervention for Latino caregivers of people with dementia

JAMA Neurology editorial calls for interdisciplinary team-based care during new therapeutic era for dementia

ABATE study to test a vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome