Alzheimer's Disease

Patients are treated at the Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer's Research and Treatment

    Overview

    Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disease that attacks memory and other important brain functions. The Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer's Research and Treatment at SIU Medicine provides focused treatment and therapy for the physical and emotional needs of patients and families suffering from this disease. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.

    Smith Alzheimer's Center

    SIU Medicine is home to the Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer's Research and Treatment. The Smith Alzheimer's Center not only provides personalized care for those with dementia as well as their caregiver(s), the Center also provides numerous community outreach programs to help improve quality of life as well. The third component of the Center is finding better treatments, whether in the research lab or through clinical trials. All three components are critical to advancing care not only for the patient, but for their families and the community.

    To learn more about the Smith Alzheimer's Center, visit our mission page.

    Our providers

    Profiles
    Paula Mackrides

    Paula Mackrides, DO

    Family Medicine
    612 N. 11th St. Quincy, IL 62301
    Not Currently Accepting New Patients
    Profiles
    Thomas Ala

    Thomas Ala, MD

    Medical Director of the Alzheimer's Center Neurology
    751 N. Rutledge St. Suite 3100 Springfield, IL 62702
    Not Currently Accepting New Patients
    Profiles
    Jennifer Arnold

    Jennifer Arnold, MD

    Neurologist Neurology
    751 N. Rutledge St. Suite 3100 Springfield, IL 62702
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment
    Profiles
    Priyanka Bhandari

    Priyanka Bhandari, MD

    Family Medicine
    520 N. 4th St. Springfield, IL 62702
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment
    Profiles
    Tomonao Hashimoto

    Tomonao Hashimoto, MD

    Geriatrician Family Medicine
    520 N. 4th St. Springfield, IL 62702
    View all locations
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment
    Profiles
    Ann Jirmasek

    Ann Jirmasek, BS, MA, LPC, NCC

    Clinical Gerontology Specialist Neurology
    751 N. Rutledge St. Suite 3100 Springfield, IL 62702
    Not Currently Accepting New Patients
    Profiles
    Dale Korinek

    Dale Korinek, Psy.D

    Clinical Neuropsychologist Psychiatry
    319 E Madison St 3rd Floor Springfield, IL 62702
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment
    Profiles
    Lauri Lopp

    Lauri Lopp, MD

    Family Medicine
    520 N. 4th St. Springfield, IL 62702
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment
    Profiles
    Andrea Perkins

    Andrea Perkins, FNP-BC

    Certified Nurse Practitioner Neurology
    751 N. Rutledge St. Suite 3100 Springfield, IL 62702
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment
    Profiles
    Eukesh Ranjit

    Eukesh Ranjit, MD

    Director of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Family Medicine
    520 N. 4th St. Springfield, IL 62702
    View all locations
    Not Currently Accepting New Patients
    Profiles
    Ankit Sharma

    Ankit Sharma, MD

    Family Medicine Physician Family Medicine
    520 N. 4th St. Springfield, IL 62702
    View all locations
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment
    Profiles
    Zachary Sims

    Zachary Sims, PA-C

    Family Medicine
    520 N. 4th St. Springfield, IL 62702
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment
    Profiles
    Mehul Trivedi

    Mehul Trivedi, PhD

    Clinical Psychologist Psychiatry
    319 E Madison St 3rd Floor Springfield, IL 62702
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment
    Profiles
    Cindy Womack

    Cindy Womack, DNP, FNP-BC, CNRN

    Certified Nurse Practitioner Neurology
    751 N. Rutledge St. Suite 3100 Springfield, IL 62702
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment
    Profiles
    Charlene Young

    Charlene Young, FNP-BC

    Certified Nurse Practitioner Neurology
    751 N. Rutledge St. Suite 3100 Springfield, IL 62702
    View all locations
    Accepting new patients
    217-545-8000
    Request appointment

    Why SIU

    Continually learning

    With a focus on continual improvement, our doctors take the time to research, study and innovate to provide the latest treatments for our patients.

    Patient-first experience

    Our care ranges from primary care physicians to specialists and sub-specialists who have advanced training. We're here for you when you need us.

    Breakthrough technology

    Continually teaching the next generation of doctors, our physicians use the latest developments in procedures and technologies for our patients.

    Clinical Trials

    Trial
    Neurology

    Roche: An open-label, multicenter, rollover study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of long-term gantenerumab administration in participants with Alzheimer's disease

    Active not recruiting

    POST GRAD: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good or bad, of long term gantenerumab on subjects with prodromal or mild Alzheimer's disease. 

    Contact: Sara Boarman 217-545-6829
    Trial
    Neurology

    Caregiver Characteristics That May Predict When Patients With Alzheimer Disease Are Placed in Long Term Care Facilities

    Active recruiting
    This research will be conducted by the SIU Memory and Aging Network (MAN), which comprises 38 sites that evaluate and treat patients with dementia throughout non-metropolitan Illinois.  AD patients and their caregivers who are living in private homes will be recruited.  Primary outcome measures will be the ratings of the caregiver’s physical status (grip strength, walking speed, and score on the Timed Up-and-Go Test11 and the rating of the caregiver’s chronic medical illness burden using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (Geriatric).12,13  The patient and caregiver dyad is required.
    Contact: Stephanie Kohlrus 217-545-3013
    Trial
    Neurology

    Lilly: Assessment of Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Donanemab in Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease

    Active not recruiting

    I5T-MC-AACI: Alzheimer’s is a disease that attacks the brain, causing problems with memory, thinking, and behavior.  Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, eventually making daily tasks impossible. Although we don’t know the exact cause, researchers found out that the two proteins called tau and amyloid are building up in brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease even before they have any symptoms.

    Contact: Barbara Lokaitis 217-545-9737
    Trial
    Neurology

    Lilly: Assessment of Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Donanemab in Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease

    Active not recruiting

    I5T-MC-AACI: Alzheimer’s is a disease that attacks the brain, causing problems with memory, thinking, and behavior.  Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, eventually making daily tasks impossible. Although we don’t know the exact cause, researchers found out that the two proteins called tau and amyloid are building up in brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease even before they have any symptoms.

    Contact: Barbara Lokaitis 217-545-9737
    Trial
    Neurology

    Athira: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Dose-Ranging Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of ATH-1017 Treatment in Alzheimer’s Dementia Patients

    Active recruiting

    ATH-1017-AD-201: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good or bad, of ATH-1017 on patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease.

    Contact: Sara Boarman 217-545-6829
    Trial
    Neurology

    Athira: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Dose-Ranging Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of ATH-1017 Treatment in Alzheimer’s Dementia Patients

    Active recruiting

    ATH-1017-AD-201: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good or bad, of ATH-1017 on patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease.

    Contact: Sara Boarman 217-545-6829

    Latest articles

    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
    Teefey

    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.