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The impact of Alzheimer’s Disease touches nearly all of us in some way. According to the Alzheimer’s Association,  is afflicted with the disease. November is and a time to recognize UC Davis’ leadership in research, treatments, and support for people living with the disease in our community and beyond.

Some of our students know the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s disease in their families and loved ones. So, they’re determined to work toward a cure while offering community support and friendship. Sharan Tamber, a third-year UC Davis student majoring in neurobiology, physiology and behavior, vividly recalls the heartbreak of witnessing her grandmother's battle with Alzheimer’s. That memory fuels her determination to make a difference.

Now, she’s the co-president of , part of a national program where volunteers visit senior care facilities, including four in Davis. In the process, she connects with “buddies” who are afflicted with Alzheimer’s, forms true friendships and eases the feelings of isolation that often come with the disease. As the fight continues, this club a model of care and compassion in our community and beyond.

Sharan’s work is part of UC Davis’ determination to find solutions, treatments and community support for a disease that afflicts more than 7 million Americans and is the seventh leading cause of death in the country. That number is expected to grow to 13.8 million over the next 35 years.

The at UC Davis Health is at the forefront of clinical trials and evaluations finding innovations, community outreach and professional education. The center’s team has made discoveries in how depression impacts brain volume and pinpointed an MRI biomarker that predicts dementia. The center’s co-director, Rachel Whitmer, is a world leader in studying brain health and the epidemiology behind cognitive aging and its related diseases.

Our Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is also home to scientists like , who is at the frontier of studying cognitive decline. Her lab develops new MRI technologies that help us better understand how the brain uses oxygen as we age. Federal funding helps make this research successful for future application and prevention.

UC Davis students play a crucial role in our research efforts. Claire Hsu, a student in Dr. Fan’s lab,  in June. Her personal experience of losing someone close to her with Alzheimer’s has motivated her to contribute to this research.

Finding breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s takes a cross-disciplinary approach. One example can be found in Chen-Nee Chuah, a professor of electrical and computer Engineering who’s also co-director of the UC Davis AI Center in Engineering. She partners with the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Research Center to leverage artificial intelligence in neuropathology analysis for individuals who identify as Hispanic/Latino, a population disproportionately affected by the disease.

I applaud the UC Davis community for showing such care and compassion while supporting those with Alzheimer’s, whether medical patients or those living in senior care facilities. The time to act is now, especially as it’s estimated that 42% of Americans over 55 years old will eventually develop dementia.

I further appreciate the volunteers from  for the human touch they offer. Co-director and fourth-year student Zoe Routh is inspired by seeing the club members bring smiles to the faces of their buddies, offering connection and companionship to those who need it the most. Her volunteer work supports the communication, team-building skills and empathy that will shape her own leadership in the workforce.

Let’s keep working together in the face of a disease affecting so many. We must also speak up for science and draw attention to the importance of federally funded research, like that conducted by Rachel Whitmer and others studying Alzheimer’s. I encourage you to stay updated with our “From Labs to Lives” series, where UC Davis scientists show the human impact of their research and its implications if federal funding is cut.

Whether conducting pivotal research or lending a compassionate touch, UC Davis research is a public service that improves lives. We’re working towards a day when Alzheimer’s is a thing of the past while providing treatment and supporting those who are afflicted now.