Virginia Memory Project Breakthrough Publication Shines a Light on Novel Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Surveillance

Richmond, VA – January 16, 2025 – The Virginia Center on Aging’s (VCoA) Virginia Memory Project (VMP), a groundbreaking initiative focused on improving the surveillance of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) in Virginia, has received national recognition with the publication of its latest research in the prestigious Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

The journal article, titled “Virginia Memory Project: Using the Healthy Brain Initiative Roadmap to design a statewide dementia registry,” introduces a new model for tracking and understanding ADRD prevalence and trends across the state.

“The VMP stands at the forefront of evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes in dementia care,” Annie Rhodes, Ph.D., Director of Virginia Memory Project, Director of Evaluation for Virginia Geriatric Education Center and Assistant Professor for Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Gerontology said. “Guided by the CDC HBI roadmap the VMP bridges traditional epidemiology with community engagement, workforce development, and education to guide data-informed advocacy. We are building a Virginia free from neurodegenerative disorders.”

The Virginia Memory Project, an initiative of the VCoA at VCU’s College of Health Professions, is poised to expand its efforts in the coming years. It will focus on enhancing enrollment, particularly among underrepresented communities, to drive data-informed dementia policies and care strategies.

About the Virginia Memory Project

VCU Gerontology and VCoA’s Virginia Memory Project is a statewide epidemiological registry for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) and other neurodegenerative conditions. It aims to support dementia research, policy, and care by leveraging the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Roadmap.

About the Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association

The mission of Alzheimer's & Dementia: Journal of the Alzheimer's Association is to bridge the knowledge gaps across a wide range of bench-to-bedside investigation. Content emphasizes interdisciplinary investigations, integrative/translational articles, related to: etiology, risk factors, early detection, disease modifying interventions, prevention of dementia and applications of new technologies in health services.

For more information about the Virginia Memory Project, please visit the Virginia Memory Project. To read the full article in Alzheimer's & Dementia, visit https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.14478.

Media Contact:
Annie Rhodes
rhodesas2@vcu.edu