More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease today, and that number is expected to double within the next 30 years. 

These are staggering statistics. Many of us know someone who’s struggled with Alzheimer’s and have witnessed its devastating impact on loved ones and those who care for them. 

As a psychologist who researches aging, the vital importance of brain health throughout the lifespan is a topic I think a lot about. And two recent UNLV studies give me hope that science is turning a corner in the fight against the disease. 

This morning, Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, a UNLV professor and leading Alzheimer’s clinician-scientist, published an annual review of all active clinical trials in the drug development pipeline for Alzheimer’s. The 187 clinical trials underway represent the most ever on record, with 58 new drugs entering the pipeline within the past year. 

And last month, a UNLV-led team published a study in the Nature journal Scientific Reports that furthers research into what they call the brain-belly connection: essentially, how bacteria in the gut (influenced by genetics and diet) can slow or even prevent the development of dementia. 

These studies – both of which included interdisciplinary and multi-university partnerships – demonstrate the immense role research institutions play in advancing human health. At UNLV, our Department of Brain Health is immersed in impactful and translational research that involves interdisciplinary collaborations on our campus and throughout the world.

Keith Whitfield, Ph.D.
UNLV President