Charles DeCarli, M.D.
Director, Alzheimer's Disease Center
Healthy Brain Aging Initiative Big Idea
My passion for this Big Idea
“My philosophy of care prioritizes the needs of individuals and respects their beliefs and values, along with the beliefs and values of those who support them. I believe in providing compassionate, person-centered support to patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers because I’ve seen firsthand how cognitive impairments dramatically affect both those who suffer and their family and friends. I also see that we have not made much progress in the treatment or prevention of dementia during my 30-plus-year career.
“With funding and support from UC Davis and the community, we can achieve a society where everyone has a chance to have a healthy brain – from birth through their golden years.”
I’m optimistic about this Big Idea because it’s rich with opportunity, especially here at an interdisciplinary place like UC Davis. At UC Davis, we can view brain health across our lifespan as critically important. Using advanced structural and functional brain imaging, we can study the brain during development and throughout life, including normal aging, mild cognitive impairment and transition dementia. With the addition of basic science expertise, we have the opportunity for remarkable creativity and innovation, which would not be funded through traditional programs, but that we hope will lead to new treatments.
With funding and support from UC Davis and the community, we can achieve a society where everyone has a chance to have a healthy brain – from birth through their golden years.”
Read more about the Healthy Brain Aging Initiative Big Idea »