Thomas M. Wisniewski, MD

Caring for people who have Alzheimer’s disease and related types of dementia is a family tradition. One of my first childhood memories is helping my father, who was a renowned Alzheimer’s researcher and neuropathologist, conduct research. My mother was a pediatric neurologist who made significant contributions to the field. Their work inspired me to pursue a career in neurology and neuropathology.

As the director of the New York State Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease at the Pearl I. Barlow Center for Memory Evaluation and Treatment, I evaluate patients who have a variety of cognitive disorders. These include mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

My colleagues and I conduct research to better understand the genetics and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, so we are familiar with the latest advances in the field. To identify the cause of a person’s symptoms, I recommend neuroimaging, which involves performing a combined MRI and PET scan.

I prescribe medication and offer my patients access to clinical trials focused on new therapeutic approaches, which may include medication and lifestyle changes. At the Pearl I. Barlow Center for Memory Evaluation and Treatment, there are typically 8 to 10 clinical trials running at any given time.

Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders can be stressful for patients and their families, so my colleagues and I work as a team to meet their needs. Neurologists, psychologists, geriatricians, geriatric nurse practitioners, and social workers who specialize in geriatric care collaborate to support patients, caregivers, and family members.

NYU Langone’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Family Support Program provides counseling, support, and education for caregivers. The program partners with community support groups, such as the Alzheimer’s Association and CaringKind, to help patients and families.

I enjoy working with patients and their families and researching promising new therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. I am the director of NYU Langone’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and its Center for Cognitive Neurology. For more than 30 years, I have been studying Alzheimer’s disease and related types of dementia, with continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health. This has led to more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and 30 U.S. patents. My work has contributed to the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutic approaches to Alzheimer’s disease. I am currently studying a medication that stimulates immune system cells to eliminate the brain lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

I am the field chief editor of the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. In addition, I received the Alzheimer’s Association’s Zenith Fellows award, which funds innovative scientific research.