{"id":436180,"date":"2025-12-09T19:06:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T19:06:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/436180\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T19:06:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T19:06:23","slug":"a-broader-impact-ut-health-san-antonio-center-for-brain-health-expands-care-and-discovery-across-dozens-of-neurological-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/436180\/","title":{"rendered":"A broader impact: UT Health San Antonio Center for Brain Health expands care and discovery across dozens of neurological conditions"},"content":{"rendered":"

New center opens tomorrow with comprehensive clinical care, advanced research and family-centered support<\/strong><\/p>\n

Content by Claire Kowalick<\/p>\n

While much of the focus of tomorrow\u2019s opening of UT Health San Antonio\u2019s Center for Brain Health<\/a>\u00a0deservedly is on Alzheimer\u2019s disease, it also marks a major step forward for families as a transformational resource for individuals and families navigating a wide spectrum of neurological and neurodegenerative conditions. Those include complex and rare diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).<\/p>\n

The new center brings together expertise in dozens of disorders and will participate in national research initiatives and focus on clinical trials and biomarker identification to find ways to provide earlier detection and treatment of these rare diseases. And beyond research, it will emphasize education, family support and community connection.<\/p>\n

By integrating world-class research with multidisciplinary clinical care and family-centered programs under one roof, the Center for Brain Health represents a new model for future-focused neurological care and one that brings hope to countless families across South Texas and beyond.<\/p>\n

\"PhotoCarlayne Jackson, MD, FAAN<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about building a community,\u201d said\u00a0Carlayne Jackson, MD, FAAN<\/a>, chair of the Department of Neurology and professor of neurology and otolaryngology at the\u00a0Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0The University of Texas at San Antonio<\/a>. \u201cThese families are dealing with rare, devastating diseases in the prime of their lives. We want them to know they are not alone. We provide tools, support and hope and we do it in a way that respects the patient and the family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Understanding ALS<\/strong><\/p>\n

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig\u2019s Disease, is a degenerative disease of nerves called motor neurons, which are in the brain and spinal cord. It is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between ages 50 and 60, but cases have been reported in teenagers as well as individuals in their 90s. The disease is relatively rare, with an incidence of only two to five cases per 100,000 people.\u00a0Approximately 30,000 people in the United States live with ALS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen firsthand how the disease can overwhelm caregivers,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cThe logistics of helping a loved one with mobility, nutrition, daily hygiene and multiple medical appointments can feel worse than the disease itself. We wanted to create a center that could support the whole family, not just the patient.\u201d<\/p>\n

About 90% of ALS cases are sporadic, or having no identifiable cause, while roughly 10% are genetic. Most genetic forms are caused by dominant mutations, which can affect multiple family members across generations. Symptoms often begin in the hands, arms or legs leading to tripping, weakness and difficulty with everyday tasks like opening a jar or turning a key. Speech muscles can also be affected. The disease progresses over time, ultimately leading to respiratory failure or pneumonia.<\/p>\n

Despite decades of research, effective treatments remain limited. Medications like riluzole and edaravone slow progression, but no therapies currently stop the disease, and average life expectancy is two to five years after diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Still, UT Health San Antonio\u2019s Center for Brain Health is part of an\u00a0ongoing national ALS study<\/a>\u00a0that collects genetic and biomarker data, while monitoring participants\u2019 functional abilities, strength and disease progression.<\/p>\n

It is also participating in the\u00a0HEALEY ALS Platform Trial<\/a>, conducted in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital and more than 40 other national centers, which is evaluating seven different drugs for ALS under the same protocol, allowing for faster and more efficient clinical trials.<\/p>\n

Unlike traditional studies with 50\/50 placebo distribution, 75% of participants in this study received active treatment, making enrollment more appealing for patients seeking new therapies.<\/p>\n

ALS, FTD connection and genetics
<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"A. Campbell Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP-CN<\/p>\n

A. Campbell Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP-CN<\/a>, associate clinical professor with the Division of Neuropsychology in the Department of Neurology at the Long School of Medicine and with the\u00a0Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer\u2019s and Neurodegenerative Diseases<\/a>, has spent her career studying rare and early-onset neurological conditions, including ALS and FTD.<\/p>\n

Frontotemporal dementia often strikes before age 60 and affects behavior rather than memory, leading to challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Sullivan\u2019s research has focused on genetic connections between FTD and ALS, including the C9ORF72 and TARDBP genetic mutations.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor some families, understanding the genetic link can provide clarity,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cIn my own family, we\u2019ve seen the impact of ALS-FTD across generations. Having a diagnosis allowed us to test other family members and plan for the future. That\u2019s what we hope to provide for all families \u2013 answers, guidance and support.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Center for Brain Health will participate in another national research initiative called\u00a0ALLFTD<\/a>, which tracks patients and at-risk gene carriers to understand disease progression. Jackson said early identification is crucial in these diseases.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce symptoms appear, patients have already lost a significant portion of motor neurons,\u201d she said. \u201cOur goal is to identify and intervene as early as possible. That\u2019s where precision medicine and early-phase clinical trials come into play.\u201d

Looking ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early research into new drugs, such as tofersen for genetic forms of ALS, has been promising, and ongoing efforts to understand the mechanisms of both genetic and sporadic neurodegenerative diseases may spur development of new therapies in the coming years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re starting to find therapies that can slow disease progression,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cThe next step is stopping it altogether. Ten years from now, I believe we\u2019ll have that breakthrough.\u201d<\/p>\n

For now, Sullivan finds inspiration in both the families she serves and the next generation of scientists she mentors.<\/p>\n

Patients and caregivers have access to telemedicine and virtual programs, allowing families across Texas to participate even if they cannot travel. Support groups, caregiver education and resources on navigating medical information are integral parts of UT Health San Antonio\u2019s holistic approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to support families and help them make the most of the time they have,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cWe may not be able to stop the train of disease progression, but we can do everything possible to slow it down with care and compassion.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New center opens tomorrow with comprehensive clinical care, advanced research and family-centered support Content by Claire Kowalick While…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":436181,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5133],"tags":[5229,7202,7203,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-436180","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-antonio","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-san-antonio","10":"tag-sanantonio","11":"tag-texas","12":"tag-tx","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-united-states-of-america","15":"tag-unitedstates","16":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","17":"tag-us","18":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115691178881988838","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=436180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/436181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=436180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=436180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=436180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}