David Perry, MD, is a neurologist and associate professor of neurology at the UCSF Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center, part of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. He specializes in the care of patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and other conditions that cause cognitive impairment. Dr. Perry is dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive care while advancing research to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment for these complex disorders.
Dr. Perry earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. He completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he also conducted research on obsessive-compulsive features in dementia. Following his residency, Dr. Perry pursued a fellowship in behavioral neurology at UCSF’s Fein Memory and Aging Center, further specializing in neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive disorders.
Dr. Perry’s research focuses on understanding behavioral changes in dementia, particularly those related to reward processing and motivation. By examining how neurodegenerative illnesses and mood disorders impact reward systems, his work aims to uncover links between these behavioral changes and specific brain abnormalities. Additionally, Dr. Perry investigates clinical and neuroimaging features to improve diagnostic certainty and predict pathological changes in neurodegenerative diseases. His goal is to enhance patient outcomes through earlier and more accurate diagnoses.
Dr. Perry is actively involved in the evaluation and treatment of patients at the UCSF Fein Memory and Aging Center clinic. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to translate research findings into clinical applications that benefit patients and their families.