James Hall, PhD

The focus of my research over the past few years has been on Alzheimer’s disease and the identification of blood-based biomarkers that can be used in the early diagnosis of the disease. I have focused on investigating risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia in the Mexican-American elderly. I have also investigated the occurrence and identification of factors leading to neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer’s such as depression, anxiety, and inappropriate behavior. Alzheimer’s is a major public health concern, and developing accessible means to predict the disease and potentially allow for intervention to prevent or slow the disease is of upmost importance. Additionally, being able to identify those with the disease who are most likely to develop neuropsychiatric symptoms (the primary cause of caregiver stress and nursing home placement) can lead to early intervention and provide the groundwork for understanding the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. Developing treatment approaches for the pre-clinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease to reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases is crucial to our aging population.