CCBBI Director Dr. Ruchika Prakash was awarded the INS Memory and Memory Disorders Award from the International Neuropsychological Society (INS) at its Mid-Year Meeting in Dublin, Ireland, in recognition of her work on the potential of blood-based biomarkers as a practical tool for the early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Analyzing data from the Health and Aging Brain Study – Health Disparities (HABS-HD), a large longitudinal study focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in a diverse cohort of adults over age 50, Dr. Prakash, research scientist Dr. Madhura Phansikar, and graduate student Quinn Meyerson examined the relationship between two biomarkers and cognitive decline over a four-year period. The research team focused on pTau217 and Aβ42, biomarkers for two key biological features of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. 

Dr. Prakash explained, "Plasma-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease have the potential to revolutionize early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. In a large sample of over 2,000 ethnoracially diverse participants, our study demonstrated that individuals with higher baseline levels of plasma-based amyloid and tau markers show steeper declines in cognitive functioning over four years. This was particularly pronounced among those in the preclinical and prodromal stages of the disease. Our upcoming study will examine mind-body interventions as a preventative strategy for reducing plasma-based biomarkers of amyloid and tau in individuals with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease."

Congratulations to Dr. Prakash and her research team!