North Texas Launches Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center with $23 Million NIH Grant to Combat Dementia

North Texas Launches New Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

North Texas has become a key federal site in Alzheimer's and dementia research with the establishment of the North Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Backed by a $23 million, five-year grant from the National Institute on Aging, this center joins a network of 37 ADRCs nationwide, and is the second in Texas.

The center will focus on research that could change how Alzheimer’s is detected and treated. Projects include investigating how cardiometabolic conditions like hypertension influence dementia progression, developing AI tools to detect vocal signs of cognitive decline, and creating digital patient models to test therapies.

Texas Faces a Growing Alzheimer’s Challenge

Texas ranks second in population but third in the number of Alzheimer’s patients and second in Alzheimer’s-related deaths. It also has the highest dementia burden score, reflecting the emotional and psychological impact on caregivers. These factors, combined with UT Southwestern’s strengths in neurology and its Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, helped secure this designation.

Focusing on Cardiometabolic Factors and AI Innovation

Each ADRC has a distinct research theme. North Texas will concentrate on how cardiometabolic factors—particularly hypertension—contribute to Alzheimer’s and related dementias. With nearly 120 million Americans affected by hypertension, this focus addresses a major public health issue.

The center will also develop AI voice analysis to identify subtle vocal changes linked to cognitive decline. In addition, researchers aim to build “digital twins”—virtual patient models—to differentiate between normal aging and dementia-related changes, enhancing precision in diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Ihab Hajjar, principal investigator and professor of neurology and internal medicine at UT Southwestern, emphasized that the designation reflects both scientific excellence and a commitment to the local community. He sees it as a chance to make significant advances in understanding and treating Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

Collaboration Across North Texas Institutions

The North Texas ADRC involves collaboration with UT Dallas and UT Arlington. Beyond advancing research, the center aims to foster both local and national scientific and clinical partnerships and provide education for researchers, clinicians, and students.

Dr. William T. Dauer, director of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, highlighted the power of combining expertise across institutions to tackle urgent societal challenges. This partnership will accelerate translating lab discoveries into patient care improvements across North Texas and beyond.

Dr. Elan D. Louis, chair of neurology and an investigator at the O’Donnell Brain Institute, noted that the ADRC reflects growing departmental focus on disorders affecting millions of elderly Americans.

Contributing to a National Research Network

Research outputs from all ADRCs feed into shared datasets accessible to researchers nationwide, facilitating collaboration and speeding discoveries. This collective effort holds promise for patients and families affected by dementia.

The North Texas center builds upon over a decade of work by the O’Donnell Brain Institute and UT Southwestern’s strong national reputation, including a No. 9 ranking for Neurology & Neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report and multiple recognized specialties. The institution’s faculty includes Nobel laureates and members of prestigious scientific academies.

Experienced Leadership Guides the New Center

• Dr. William T. Dauer holds the Lois C.A. and Darwin E. Smith Distinguished Chair in Neurological Mobility Research.
• Dr. Ihab Hajjar holds the Pogue Family Distinguished University Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Research and Care.
• Dr. Elan D. Louis holds the Linda and Mitch Hart Distinguished Chair in Neurology.

Since their establishment in 1984 as NIH Centers of Excellence, ADRCs have aimed to improve detection, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and care for Alzheimer’s patients and their families. Each center aligns its focus with local scientific priorities and population needs.

The North Texas ADRC joins the first Texas ADRC, a collaboration between UT Health San Antonio and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, designated in 2021. Together, these centers strengthen Texas’s contribution to national dementia research efforts.