Improving Early Alzheimers Detection in Women by Integrating Multimodal Data Into Clinical Decision Tools with Iris Broce-Diaz Ph.D.

Alzheimer’s disease can begin developing years before memory and thinking problems become noticeable. Iris Broce-Diaz, Ph.D., of UC San Diego is developing accessible, noninvasive, and cost-effective tools to help primary care physicians and neurologists identify people at higher risk earlier. Her models combine information from cognitive assessments, brain imaging, genetics, and PET scans to estimate the likelihood that mild cognitive impairment will progress within five years. Combining multiple measures improves the models’ ability to separate higher- and lower-risk patients. Broce-Diaz also plans to add women-specific factors, including menopause history, hormone therapy, reproductive history, endocrine markers, and symptoms. The goal is to support better referrals, guide monitoring, and help eligible patients consider treatment sooner. Earlier risk assessment could also strengthen clinical trials and make dementia care more useful across different health systems. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41632]