Mesulam Center Connections: Meet Robert Vassar, New Director of the Mesulam Center

February 2023

Dear Mesulam Center Community,

To those of you that I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, I want to start by introducing myself. My name is Robert Vassar. I am honored to serve as the new director of the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease and carry on the legacy that Marsel Mesulam, MD, built during his 28 years of leadership.

While I am new to this role, I am not new to Northwestern University or the Mesulam Center, as I have been with the University since 2001. I look forward to continuing our work on achieving the next clinical and basic science summits, wherever the science takes us. The Center has many talented investigators and I look forward to working with each of these wonderful people.

The Mesulam Center’s research is near to my heart. My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1983, which spurred me to pursue graduate training to investigate the causes of this devastating neurodegenerative disorder. After completing my doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1992 and postdoctoral fellowship in molecular neuroscience at Columbia University in 1996, I joined the biotechnology company Amgen to start an Alzheimer’s program. There, I co-discovered an enzyme called BACE that is responsible for making amyloid plaques, one of the hallmark pathologies of the Alzheimer’s brain. I came back to academia at Northwestern in 2001 to further investigate the role of BACE and other molecular factors that may cause Alzheimer’s.

I have devoted my career to finding a treatment for this dreaded disease. I am deeply committed to advancing the clinical and basic science in the field of progressive dementias and have been honored to work with so many experts in the field during my career, including Dr. Mesulam and all the outstanding researchers that I’ve worked with at the Mesulam Center.

The success and scientific advances of the Mesulam Center would not be possible without every member of our community and I look forward to working with all of you to continue building on the work that Dr. Mesulam established 28 years ago.

If you would like to learn more about me and my vision for the center, I invite you to read my Q&A profile that was recently published. Thank you for your continued support of the Mesulam Center.

Warm regards,

Robert Vassar, PhD

Director, Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease

Director, Northwestern Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Davee Professor of Alzheimer Research

Professor of Neurology and of Cell and Developmental Biology

Scientific Director of Behavioral Neurology in the Department of Neurology

Learn More About Dr. Vassar

At Northwestern Medicine, our patients are our top concern. Know that we closely study each medication before we recommend it for you. We look at its benefits and risks. A new medicine called lecanemab (Leqembi) received accelerated approval by the FDA in January of 2023 after a phase III clinical trial reached completion and showed some potential for benefit.

We have launched a webpage to answer questions about the medicine and provide additional information, as it becomes available. This is an ongoing process and the webpage will be updated regularly.

Learn More About Lecanemab

Save the Date: May 11, 2023

Join us for our 29th annual Alzheimer Day on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Feinberg Pavilion Conference Center.

Northwestern Alzheimer Day was established to showcase Alzheimer’s-related dementia and aging research conducted throughout Northwestern and to bring this information to the community. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with community members and researchers over lunch and through the presentation of research posters.

Registration opens on March 1, 2023.

Learn More About Alzheimer Day

Upcoming Events with Community Partners

South Loop Memory Café: Celebrate First Ladies

February 9, 3:00 - 4:00 PM

The South Loop Village Memory Café is a free monthly social gathering for persons living with dementia and their family, friends, and care partners. Meetings are in-person at the Second Presbyterian Church in Fellowship Hall. They are hosted every second Thursday of the month.

South Loop Virtual Memory Café: Celebrate First Ladies

February 28, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Join the South Loop Village and the Mesulam Center for the monthly Virtual Memory Café. These free virtual social gathering are for persons living with dementia and their family, friends, and care partners. Meetings are held via Zoom every fourth Tuesday of the month. RSVP here.

Northwestern Medical Orchestra: Winter Chamber Music Concert

February 17, 7:00 PM

The Northwestern Medical Orchestra invites you to its Winter 2023 Chamber Music Concert featuring members of the Northwestern medical community. You are invited to attend in-person or via Zoom. Admission is free. Learn more and register.

Parent University – Healthy Aging, Dementia, and Caregiving

February 25, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

As a part of Parent University, Molly Mather, PhD from the Mesulam Center will be leading a community conversation on healthy aging, dementia, and caregiving at Timothy Community Corporation.

Parent University is a monthly workshop for parents and caregivers of Chicago Public School students to provide resource, tools and education to promote wellness. Through resources tables and community conversations Parent University works to strengthen the family framework and increase parental resilience.

Jumpstart your Health and Wellness Community Health Fair

February 26, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Join Providence Missionary Baptist Church for a health fair and Black history month community celebration. Hear from community pharmacists, oncologists, and healthcare advocates about how to support your health and wellness in the new year.

Neuropsychologist Dr. Allison Lapins will be at the Mesulam Center resource table to answer questions from the community about Dementia, brain health and healthy aging. Learn more here.

News & Announcements

How art impacts health and wellness

As we age, it becomes more and more vital to maintain our minds and our bodies. Participating in artistic or creative endeavors allows older adults the opportunity to engage the right side of their brand and, often, socialize in a community setting. Darby Morhardt, PhD, LCSW discussed the Memory Ensemble program, just one way that the Mesulam Center seeks to improve the lives of memory care patients.

FDA approves Alzheimer’s drug shown to moderately slow cognitive decline in early stages of the disease

On Friday, January 6, 2023, the FDA approved a new Alzheimer's disease treatment that moderately slows cognitive decline in people with early-stage disease. Ian Grant, MD, discussed lecanemab and the potential benefits and concerns of the new drug.

An 85-year-old 'SuperAger' with the memory of someone decades younger shares what keeps her mind sharp

Scientists are studying the behavior of "SuperAgers" — defined by Northwestern as a rare group of elders who have the brains of people 30 years younger than them — to find out how humans can keep their memory sharp as they get older.

Share Your Story

Are you a Mesulam Center research participant? Are you interested in sharing your story? Consider joining our team of research advocates.

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