Dr. Hascup at work in the lab

Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer's Research and Treatment

Since 2018, the Smith Alzheimer's Center has garnered more than $7.2 million in grant funding from the National Institutes of Health.

The Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment at SIU Medicine provides clinical care, research and community programs throughout Illinois. Since 1986, its employees have diagnosed, treated and educated Illinois families with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. In the past year, the center, along with its Memory and Aging Network, has served more than 4,000 patients and their families. Learn more about our mission.

RESEARCH, PATIENT CARE

Gift offers renewed hope

A major gift to Southern Illinois University School of Medicine will transform the health care of people throughout Illinois and beyond. Dale and Deborah Smith recently donated a substantial financial gift to the Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders at SIU Medicine to expand research, enhance programming and improve care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and assist their caregivers.

Learn more

PATIENT CARE

Beyond the Medical Center

While the researchers at the Smith Alzheimer’s Center investigate new and better ways to prevent, slow, and cure dementia-related diseases, our team is caring for and supporting patients and their families through free, therapeutic, evidence-based programs to improve quality of life.

These programs are designed not only for those with Alzheimer’s, using creativity through art, music, exercise and more, but also for the individuals caring for them, equipping family caregivers with resources and skills. 

Dementia Caregiving 101

Art Express

Minds in Motion

Music and Memory

Stepping Up

Elderly man smiling
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Your support makes a difference

From evidence-based programs supporting patients and their families to ongoing research dedicated to finding ways to slow progression of the disease to training the next generations of dementia care specialists, the Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment has big ideas, big hearts and big goals. Your gift impacts our communities and supports our vision of better health for all.

Donate

An ally for caregivers

Alzheimer's disease impacts not just the diagnosed individual, but their entire network and especially their caregiver. Here at the Smith Alzheimer's Center at SIU Medicine, we know how crucial support for caregivers is toward ensuring the best possible treatment for patients. Ann Jirmasek, LPC, shares how the Smith Alzheimer's Center can help provide that thoughtful attention for not only the person with memory loss, but their caregiver as well in this Medicine Minute.

Hascup Lab

Volunteer for a clinical trial

The Smith Alzheimer's Center conducts cutting-edge investigational interventions through clinical trials offered here at SIU Medicine. See how you can volunteer for a trial and be a part of helping find better and more effective treatments for Alzheimer's.

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Meet our team

Advancing care through research

Latest news

Stepping Up

Like one of the family

Through Smith Alzheimer's Center outreach programs, participants have found camaraderie, compassionIt didn’t take Chris Burns long to realize he found something special.Looking for more resources to
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Meet Lindsey Teefey

Lindsey Teefey leads Stepping Up, an exercise-based program from the Smith Alzheimer's Center. After growing up in Anna, Ill., and graduating from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Lindsey
Radio Alzheimers Center

Erin Hascup discusses recent investiture, Alzheimer's research

Dr. Erin Hascup, director of the Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer's Research and Treatment, sat down with WMAY's Jim Leach to discuss Alzheimer's research.
Hascup Lab

Hascup named Stark Endowed Chair in Alzheimer's Research

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Erin R. Hascup, PhD, director of the Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, was named the Kenneth Stark Endowed Chair in Alzheimer’s Research at

Latest blog articles

ALZ_Idea

Ask a Caregiver: Joining a support group makes a difference

Mel Kuntemeier is a caregiver and current volunteer at the Smith Alzheimer’s Center’s Beyond the Medical Center programs. If you would like to submit a question for the next column, please email care@siumed.edu.
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Alzheimer's disease: Sharing the experience

One in 3 seniors die with dementia, more than breast and prostate cancers combined. More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer’s Association projects it will
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Considering the MIND Diet

Diet has an effect on your brain health. Here's one recipe that can make it a positive one.
Ask a caregiver

Ask a Caregiver: Tips to Help Loved Ones with Alzheimer's

Sue Monteyne is a former caregiver and current volunteer at the Smith Alzheimer’s Center’s Beyond the Medical Center programs. If you would like to submit a question, please email care@siumed.edu.