A Pioneer in early detection of Alzheimer's

Steven DeKosky, along with University of Pittsburgh colleagues William Klunk and Chet Mathis, isolated the Pittsburgh B compound (PIB), a plaque-like substance secreted in the brain that allows the clearest scans possible of potential damage from Alzheimer's. Prior to this study, there had not been a non-invasive way to monitor the brains of people with Alzheimer's, a significant barrier to studying disease progression and treatment effectiveness. Dr. DeKosky and others are currently conducting a series of tests on PIB in the brains of early-onset Alzheimer's patients in their early 30's who have a genetic risk for the disease to pinpoint when brain function begins to be affected, even before behavior is affected, so that treatments can begin earlier.

SELF-EXAMINATION

Occupation:Physician, Researcher, and Vice President and Dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Alternative career choice: Psychologist (the next B. F. Skinner) or play-by-play announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies.

I tend to approach life: With a sense of wonder and humor.

My mentor is/was: Ken Heilman at the University of Florida, Norm Bass at the University of Virginia, and David Clark at the University of Kentucky.

Biggest misconceptions about me or my work: Many people still think that Alzheimer's disease cannot be accurately diagnosed while one is alive—absolutely incorrect.

Worst part-time job ever: Summer job as a moving company assistant.

Longest med school study session: Four years—I did not get out much.

Best moment in medicine/research: 1) When my daughters were born. 2) My first discovery—when the number of synapses the brain in Alzheimer's disease correlated with the severity of thinking impairment—I still remember seeing the data graph come up on the screen!

Worst moment in medicine/research: Finding out that our eight year federally-funded study to see if Ginkgo biloba would prevent Alzheimer's disease did not show a positive effect of the drug.

The title of the story of my life will be: You Must Remember This...

Musical instrument I play: Piano, clarinet.

I lent my time to the “Rock Stars of Science” campaign because: With the great cooperation of rock stars, and the great humor surrounding this idea, I hope it will call attention to the importance of science and medical research, and the need to support both!

The hardest part about being a “Rock Star of Science” is: The static I am receiving from my colleagues, friends, and family. And of course, the paparazzi. Everywhere the paparazzi.

RELATED LINKS:

University of Virginia, Steven T. DeKosky, M.D., Vice President and Dean of the School of Medicine

Dr. DeKosky Profile on Wikipedia

UVA Today “DeKosky Appointed Dean of University of Virginia School of Medicine”

The Journal of the American Medical Association, “Ginkgo Biloba for Prevention of Dementia” November, 2008