Conditions We Treat

The USC Memory and Aging Center provides diagnostic and treatment services through a memory clinic and two State of California Alzheimer’s Disease Centers. The center primarily treats dementia, the progressive loss of memory and thinking skills. 

Conditions that include memory loss: 

• Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible disease of the brain in which memory and thinking skills are destroyed over time. Symptoms usually appear after age 65, but younger patients have been identified. It’s estimated that more than 5 million Americans older than 65 have Alzheimer’s disease, and rates of occurrence are growing rapidly. It is the most common dementia among older people. 

• Frontotemporal dementias are dementias that occur in areas of the brain just behind the forehead (the frontal lobe) or just behind the ears (temporal). Formerly known as “Pick’s Disease,” these are a group of disorders that can alter memory and behavior and produce speech deficits or movement impairments. They are believed to be the cause of dementia in up to 50% of patients under the age of 65. 

• Vascular injuries, such as stroke and chronic vascular disease, affect blood flow to the brain and can cause dementia. Whether or not a stroke or other disease causes dementia (and how severely the symptoms become) depends on the severity and location of the stroke or other injury. 

Treatments We Offer

Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobe diseases are currently incurable, while vascular dementias can be managed by treating the underlying stroke or vascular disorder. The USC Memory and Aging Center conducts clinical trials and research studies for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease via the USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. 

The diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobe diseases are complex. No blood tests yet exist to test for the disease, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans usually do not show lesions. Our USC Memory and Aging Center physicians and staff apply research methods in advanced imaging or lumbar punctures to attempt to reach a more conclusive diagnosis. 

Treatments of dementias usually consist of drug treatments, including cholinesterase inhibitors that seem to have a limited effect. Our physicians treat the symptoms of dementia as they arise and work with social workers as they counsel the patient and family members. 

Patient Information

The USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) conducts clinical trials for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. These clinical trials and research projects represent a crucial step in advancing care and developing potentially memory and life-saving drugs and treatments. 

For more information about ongoing treatment studies, click here. 

Patient Resources

• USC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center 

• Alzheimer’s Association 

• California Alzheimer’s Disease Program 

USC Center for Personalized Brain Health

The primary focus of the USC Center for Personalized Brain Health is on people carrying a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease. The apolipoprotein E4 (APOE ε4) allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Around 25% of the general population and more than half of patients with Alzheimer’s disease carry this genetic risk factor. We employ cutting-edge imaging techniques and other biological markers to understand the implications of APOE ε4 on the brain. By studying this gene, our researchers aim to develop personalized, early diagnostic techniques and interventions for preventing Alzheimer’s disease progression in high-risk individuals. 

Our interdisciplinary efforts integrate expertise in genetics, neuroscience, neuropsychology, computer science, radiology, pharmacy and nutrition to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in at-risk patients. 

Prevention Clinic 

For those with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, we offer genetic testing and thorough neuro-endocrine-vascular evaluations to understand your disease risk. Based on these assessments, we create customized plans to manage your individual risks. 

Through collaborative science, we aim to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease. For more information on Prevention Clinic appointments, please call (323) 442-6845 or visit our USC Center for Personalized Brain Health’s Prevention Clinic website. 

USC GeneScreen 

You can become a partner in reimagining Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment by signing up for USC GeneScreen. The registry includes individuals screened for the APOE ε4 gene variant — a significant risk factor for dementia — who are interested in participating in clinical studies. Joining is easy: complete a questionnaire and consent form online; receive a cheek swab kit from the center; collect a sample; and send it to the lab in a prepaid package. Your sample will be tested only for the APOE gene. If you qualify for a future clinical trial, you will be contacted.