CLEVELAND -- The University Alzheimer Center has a new name -- the University Memory and Aging Center. It remains part of Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland.

The new name reflects an important broadening of the center's mission and research direction over the past few years, according to Karl Herrup, the center's director.

"This change reflects a new vision for all aspects of who we are and what we do," said Herrup. "We've begun seeking people with milder memory loss, in addition to those we already serve who have more serious memory problems. We believe that this broadening of our service and research activities may help us to more quickly unlock the mysteries of the aging brain and its vulnerability to memory loss."

The move to the new name also affects the center's interest in caregiving research. "I hope that we can start to investigate how the caregiving relationship unfolds and what can be done in the early stages to prepare a stronger foundation for the changing relationship that inevitably lies ahead," said Herrup."

The name change also reflects directives from the National Institute of Aging, which partially funds the center as Ohio's only Alzheimer Disease Research Center.

"Years ago, our only focus was Alzheimer's disease," said Herrup. "The National Institute of Aging told us to widen our scope, to serve the community better by studying other dementias. So we've moved from only seeking people diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's to include all dementias, and even those concerned about their memory to want to talk with a physician."

Improved strategies for treating and preventing Alzheimer's disease are more and more attainable goals, according to Herrup. "As we move towards this new era, it is crucial to learn how to identify and work with Alzheimer's in its earliest stages," he said. "That is when the new interventions and therapies will have the largest impact on an individual's quality of life."

The center's research program begins with a three-hour registry visit, followed by referrals to appropriate studies. Two new medication studies are expected to begin soon. There is no charge for research activities, which include a voluntary autopsy program. All information is confidential. To participate, call Kathleen Shaw at 216-844-6326.