Dr. Claudia Kawas awarded $100,000 Potamkin Prize for dementia research

The American Academy of Neurology is giving UCI’s Dr. Claudia Kawas a 2017 Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s & Related Diseases for her dementia work. Sometimes referred to as the Nobel Prize of Alzheimer’s research, the $100,000 award is an internationally recognized tribute to those advancing our understanding of dementia. Kawas will be honored for her work with people who are 90 and older. More than 1,700 individuals have enrolled in her 90+ Study, one of the largest examinations of these “oldest-old” in the world. Despite being the fastest-growing segment of the population throughout much of the globe, little is known about these pioneers of aging. “More than half of the children born in developed countries today are expected to reach their 100^th birthday or more,” said Kawas, the Nichols Term Chair in Neuroscience. “Preventing dementia and improving quality of life as we age will benefit all of us individually, as well as have an enormous public health and economic impact.” She and fellow Potamkin Prize recipient Dr. Kristine Yaffe of UC San Francisco will be honored at the American Academy of Neurology’s 69^th annual meeting, taking place April 22-28 in Boston.