A Gene That May Increase Alzheimer’s Disease Risk in African-Americans

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) report that two rare variants in the AKAP9 gene significantly increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in African-Americans. This previously unknown association furthers the understanding of the role of genetic factors in the development of AD, according to the researchers, whose findings appear in Alzheimer’s & […]

Tagged: ,

Saying Goodbye to BU’s Former “First Lady”

Jasmine Chobanian remembered as a patron of the arts and a humanitarian. Jasmine Chobanian, who was regarded as the “First Lady” of Boston University during the many years that her husband Aram V. Chobanian, MD, served in University leadership, both as dean of the School of Medicine and the ninth president of Boston University (2003–2005), […]

Dr. Domenic Ciraulo Appointed Chairman of NIAAA Review Group

BUSM’s Domenic A. Ciraulo, MD, was appointed as the chairman of the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) study section AA-3, which reviews all grant applications requesting funding for clinical studies of treatments for alcoholism and health services research on alcoholism. He has been funded by NIAAA for more than 18 years, serving […]

Researchers Identify Potential Biomarker for Alzheimer’s

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) report variants in a new gene, PLXNA4, which may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The discovery of this novel genetic association may lead to new drug treatment options that target PLXNA4 specifically. These findings appear in the Annals of Neurology. AD is the most […]

Tagged:

Engaging Patients to Improve Health Care Outcomes

How can engaged patients improve health care? BUSM’s Suzanne Mitchell, MD, and other expert panelists tackled the question during a recent TEDMED#GreatChallenges discussion, “Examining the Case for Patient Activation Measures.” Research indicates clinical sites using the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) — a tool developed by researchers at the University of Oregon to measure patients’ knowledge, skills […]

Tagged:

Researchers Release Clinical Update on Transient Ischemic Attacks

BUSM researchers have released a guide to help primary care doctors navigate the new May 2014 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines on transient ischemic attacks (TIA). TIA’s, commonly known as “mini-strokes” can be the first and only warning sign of a larger, debilitating stroke to come. The most common symptoms are temporary weakness on […]

Tagged:

BUSM and BMC Welcome Two New Surgeons

Surgeons Teviah Sachs, MD, MPH, and Jeffrey J. Siracuse, MD, are joining Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center (BMC). Sachs, who is board certified by the American Board of Surgery, was named assistant professor of surgery at BUSM and an attending surgeon in the section of surgical oncology at BMC. After […]

Tagged: