Erin Hascup Lab

Overview

Alzheimer’s disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder that over time leads to severe memory impairment and greatly impacts patients and their loved ones. There is no cure or effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and recent evidence support early intervention as essential for improving disease outcome.

Our lab is dedicated to finding effective preventions and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Research emphasis is on determining risk factors, and their associated mechanisms, that contribute to memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease that will allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment to improve patient outcome. To accomplish this, we focus on discovery of early biomarkers and intervention strategies, primarily in the areas of neurotransmission, inflammation, and cell senescence, in combination with cognitive assessments.

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Erin R. Hascup, PhD Primary Investigator

Director, Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, Associate Professor of Neurology

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Research Focus

CURRENT PROJECTS

Neurotransmitter Regulation in AD (NIH R01 AG057767)
Early Intervention in AD
Cell senescence in aging and AD (NIH R01 AG061937)
Inflammation in aging and AD (NIH R01 AG061937)
Disease Stage Specific AD Therapies (NIH R01 AG057767)
Cell senescence in epilepsy

Grant funding

News

Providing hope, quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s

November 21, 2023

Art Express is one of many programs at the Smith Alzheimer’s Center at SIU Medicine designed to help those with dementia and their caregivers improve their quality of life.

Going on the offensive: The potential link between cell senescence and Alzheimer's

September 12, 2023

When you catch a cold or cut your finger, the immune system begins the healing process by clearing damaged cells. As we age, that process weakens. Health problems linger as immune systems aren’t quite as robust as they once were, whether it’s fighting bacteria, viruses, or cancer cells. Alzheimer’s researchers are now exploring a process called senescent cell accumulation to see if it could be detrimental.

ALS drug shows varying effects against Alzheimer’s, metabolism

June 26, 2023

Effects are unique between males and females A recent study from the Hascup labs at SIU Medicine has shown how riluzole, a drug compound typically used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)