The University of Pittsburgh Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) Research Center of Excellence (RCOE) is a coordinated effort of the Department of Neurology Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), the Division of Movement Disorders, and the Division of Dementia & Cognitive Disorders, and it closely integrates experts from these programs to advance LBD care and research. We provide a comprehensive LBD clinic that encompasses expert neurological, psychiatric, social work, and other allied health professional care, as well as connections to other providers and therapies, to address the range of issues that impact people with LBD and their families. The Pitt LBDA RCOE is also actively engaged in LBD research to promote a better understanding of causes, progression, and new treatment targets for LBD, and there are numerous opportunities to participate in research studies. We are committed to LBD caregiver support and community/medical education. We have a monthly LBDA caregiver support group and sponsor community outreach and educational events.
University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA
About This Center
Contact Information
Name: MaryAnn Oakley
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 412-692-2721
Contact this person for: Information on research studies or clinical trials
Name: Shaila Porter
Phone: 412-692-4670
Contact this person for: Information on the LBD clinic
Sarah Berman, MD PhD
Dr. Berman is Professor in the University of Pittsburgh Departments of Neurology and Clinical & Translational Science, Director of the Clinical Core of the NIH-funded University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), where she is also Director of DLB programs, and Principal Investigator in the Pittsburgh Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases. She received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University, M.D. and Ph.D. (Neuroscience) degrees from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and residency and fellowship training at Johns Hopkins University. At the University of Pittsburgh, she is a member of the Department of Neurology Movement Disorders faculty and established its specialized LBD clinic. In addition to caring for patients with LBD and other neurodegenerative diseases, she oversees a research program investigating the role of dysfunction of the energy system (mitochondria) of brain cells in LBD, in order to understand the earliest changes that cause LBD and find new targets for protective therapies. She is also site Principal Investigator for the Dementia with Lewy Bodies Consortium and several dementia-related clinical trials.
Learn about LBD
Educational resources to assist individuals with LBD, their families and healthcare providers.
