Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence

Columbia University Irving Medical Center is a designated Lewy Body Dementia Research Center of Excellence (RCOE). The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA), a national non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness, supporting patients, and assisting in scientific advances in Lewy Body dementias, made this designation in 2017. Columbia was among the first group of such centers, now numbering 26 nationally, in which there are leading LBD clinicians to which LBD patients and their families can turn for advanced LBD diagnosis and treatment. LBD includes both Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia. The LBDA Research Center of Excellence is based in the Department of Neurology, Division of Aging and Dementia, and the Taub Institute. The Center includes eight neurologists, one psychiatrist, two nurse practitioners, two social workers, and clinical and research staff who work as a team to support patients and the LBD community. This team is committed to conducting LBD research, providing excellent LBD care, community outreach, and support. 

Click here to visit LBDA Official Site(link is external and opens in a new window)

Lewy Body Disease Association RCOE Leadership Team

• Principal Investigator: Lawrence S. Honig, MD, PhD, FAAN
• Principal Investigator: Karen S. Marder, MD, MPH, FAAN
• Research Nurse: Lambrini Whitney, MS, RD, RN (email: lnw2109@cumc.columbia.edu(link sends e-mail))

LBD News

• “Lewy Body Dementia: Hope Through Research”(link is external and opens in a new window)
• “Genetic study of Lewy body dementia supports ties to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases”(link is external and opens in a new window)
• “Challenges and opportunities for improving the landscape for Lewy body dementia clinical trials”(link is external and opens in a new window)

Current LBD Studies

Outreach

• Beginning in fall of 2020, we hosted a virtual seminar series focused on highlighting LBD issues and resources available at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
• We covered a wide range of topics related to Lewy Body Disorders including Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia.
• These seminars were recorded, and each video includes Q&A sessions.
• To be added to the quarterly update newsletter for Parkinson’s Disease patients, please email Erika Adelman, LCSW, SIFI at era2142@cumc.columbia.edu(link sends e-mail).
• View our recent video seminar series “Living with Lewy Body Disorders”:
  • Lewy Body Disorders Research Update(link is external and opens in a new window)
  • Lewy Body Disorders Disease Overview(link is external and opens in a new window)
  • Lewy Body Disorders Speech and Swallowing Presentation(link is external and opens in a new window)
  • Lewy Body Disorders Social Work and Caregiver Support(link is external and opens in a new window)
  • Exercise for Lewy Body Disorders(link is external and opens in a new window)
  • Lewy Body Disorders Cognitive Impairment(link is external and opens in a new window)
  • Fall Prevention for Lewy Body Disorders(link is external and opens in a new window)
  • Lewy Body Disorders Palliative Care/Hospice Care(link is external and opens in a new window)

Events

New events we host will be listed on the Department of Neurology's events calendar.