Mission

The mission of the UCSF Memory and Aging Center is to provide the highest quality of care for individuals with cognitive problems, to conduct research on causes and cures for degenerative brain diseases, and to educate health professionals, patients and their families.

Approach

The global population is undergoing a dramatic change. Thanks to great advances in public health and socioeconomic factors, we are enjoying increased life expectancy. As a result, our elders represent the fastest growing age group worldwide. We celebrate this transition and the wealth of new opportunities for members of the younger generation to share in the experience and wisdom of our elders. At the same time, we must acknowledge and address the health issues which accompany such a change. The risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders increases as we age, and these conditions often require specialized care and treatment. The increasing demand for these services places a large strain on our healthcare system. Moreover, Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration and related disorders can have a devastating impact on the lives of patients and their families. Cutting-edge clinical and research endeavors not only make a huge impact on the lives of patients and caregivers now, but will also help us to realize our vision of developing therapies to prevent these diseases from destroying lives in the future.

Our vision is to:

• Find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and related neurodegenerative conditions;
• Offer universal and model care to San Francisco community members (and beyond) who are affected or at-risk for these disorders
• Educate the wider community with web resources while educating health care providers in-house
• Bring new appreciation to the creativity and wisdom associated with aging through the “Center for Social Cognition, the Arts and Aging”
• Secure stable funding (endowment & funding for clinical care)
• Utilize technology in the clinic to make patient care error-free and comprehensive