Neuroimaging leader to receive the 2010 Taylor Prize in Medicine

Dr. Charles DeCarli's research has led to new brain imaging techniques and a new way of looking at Alzheimer's disease, and now it's earned him the 2010 J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine from The University of Western Ontario's Robarts Research Institute. "Imaging of the aging brain" is this year's Taylor Prize topic.

Dr. DeCarli is a Professor of Neurology at the University of California at Davis, as well as the Associate Director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center and Co-Director of the Imaging of Dementia and Aging Laboratory.

"Dr. DeCarli is an international leader in neuroimaging. He developed the first software that allowed accurate volumetric measurement of the brain. So for example, we can measure the size of the hippocampus, the major memory area of the brain," says Ravi Menon, Associate Director of Robarts and Chair of the selection committee. "But this award also recognizes his research which revealed a vascular component to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. This is exciting because we know the risk factors for vascular diseases and many can be managed through lifestyle changes and medication. If it holds true for Alzheimer's disease, we could start treating those at risk a lot earlier. In fact, many forms of dementia could become preventable."

The 2009 World Alzheimer Report found there are more than 35 million people in the world living with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia. It also expects the number to nearly double in the next 20 years.

Provided by University of Western Ontario