Paul Aisen, MD 

Dr. Aisen joined the Department of Neurosciences in November 2007 as the new NIA-appointed director of the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS). Prior to his recruitment to UCSD, he was Associate Director of the ADCS, Professor of Neurology and Medicine, and Director of the Memory Disorders Program at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Dr. Aisen received his MD from Columbia University in 1979. He interned at Case Western Reserve University and completed his residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital and a fellowship at New York University. 

He is board certified in internal medicine, rheumatology, and geriatrics. Dr. Aisen's research focuses on inflammatory mechanisms in the brain and the development of new treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

In the laboratory, Dr. Aisen uses cell culture and animal models to test potential therapeutic agents. On the clinical side, as Director of the ADCS, he continues his work of collaborating with pharmaceutical companies on drug development and designing and directing multicenter randomized controlled trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new treatments.

Therapeutic approaches under investigation include secretase modulators, amyloid-binding compounds, cholinesterase inhibitors, nicotine, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

As Director of the ADCS, Dr. Aisen has collaborated with pharmaceutical companies on drug development and designing and directing multicenter randomized controlled trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new treatments. Therapeutic approaches under investigation include secretase modulators, amyloid-binding compounds, cholinesterase inhibitors, nicotine, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dr. Aisen’s research focuses on inflammatory mechanisms in the brain and the development of new treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Testing the right target and right drug at the right stage.
Sperling RA,Jack CR Jr,Aisen PS.
Publish Date :2011 Nov 30
PMID :22133718

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative: A review of papers published since its inception.
Weiner MW,Veitch DP,Aisen PS,Beckett LA,Cairns NJ,Green RC,Harvey D,Jack CR,Jagust W,Liu E,Morris JC,Petersen RC,Saykin AJ,Schmidt ME,Shaw L,Siuciak JA,Soares H,Toga AW,Trojanowski JQ,Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.
Publish Date :2011 Oct 31
PMID :22047634

Amyloid-β associated volume loss occurs only in the presence of phospho-tau.
Desikan RS,McEvoy LK,Thompson WK,Holland D,Roddey JC,Blennow K,Aisen PS,Brewer JB,Hyman BT,Dale AM,Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.
Publish Date :2011 Oct
PMID :22002658

Clinical trial methodologies for disease-modifying therapeutic approaches.
Aisen PS.
Publish Date :2011 Dec
PMID :21983242

Prevention trials in Alzheimer's disease: an EU-US task force report.
Vellas B,Aisen PS,Sampaio C,Carrillo M,Scheltens P,Scherrer B,Frisoni GB,Weiner M,Schneider L,Gauthier S,Gispen-de Wied CC,Hendrix S,Feldman H,Cedarbaum J,Petersen R,Siemers E,Andrieu S,Prvulovic D,Touchon J,Hampel H.
Publish Date :2011 Dec
PMID :21925234

Chronic divalproex sodium use and brain atrophy in Alzheimer disease.
Fleisher AS,Truran D,Mai JT,Langbaum JB,Aisen PS,Cummings JL,Jack CR Jr,Weiner MW,Thomas RG,Schneider LS,Tariot PN,Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study.
Publish Date :2011 Sep 27
PMID :21917762

Impact of apolipoprotein ɛ4-cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid interaction on hippocampal volume loss over 1 year in mild cognitive impairment.
Chiang GC,Insel PS,Tosun D,Schuff N,Truran-Sacrey D,Raptentsetsang ST,Thompson PM,Reiman EM,Jack CR Jr,Fox NC,Jagust WJ,Harvey DJ,Beckett LA,Gamst A,Aisen PS,Petersen RC,Weiner MW,Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.
Publish Date :2011 Sep
PMID :21889115

Q&A: The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.
Aisen PS.
Publish Date :2011 Sep 1
PMID :21884605

Evidence for Ordering of Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers.
Jack CR Jr,Vemuri P,Wiste HJ,Weigand SD,Aisen PS,Trojanowski JQ,Shaw LM,Bernstein MA,Petersen RC,Weiner MW,Knopman DS,for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.
Publish Date :2011 Dec
PMID :21825215

Chronic divalproex sodium to attenuate agitation and clinical progression of Alzheimer disease.
Tariot PN,Schneider LS,Cummings J,Thomas RG,Raman R,Jakimovich LJ,Loy R,Bartocci B,Fleisher A,Ismail MS,Porsteinsson A,Weiner M,Jack CR Jr,Thal L,Aisen PS,Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Group.
Publish Date :2011 Aug
PMID :21810649

Factors affecting Aβ plasma levels and their utility as biomarkers in ADNI.
Toledo JB,Vanderstichele H,Figurski M,Aisen PS,Petersen RC,Weiner MW,Jack CR Jr,Jagust W,Decarli C,Toga AW,Toledo E,Xie SX,Lee VM,Trojanowski JQ,Shaw LM,Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.
Publish Date :2011 Oct
PMID :21805181

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of simvastatin to treat Alzheimer disease.
Sano M,Bell KL,Galasko D,Galvin JE,Thomas RG,van Dyck CH,Aisen PS.
Publish Date :2011 Aug 9
PMID :21795660

AMPA workshop on challenges faced by investigators conducting Alzheimer's disease clinical trials.
Vellas B,Pesce A,Robert PH,Aisen PS,Ancoli-Israel S,Andrieu S,Cedarbaum J,Dubois B,Siemers E,Spire JP,Weiner MW,May TS.
Publish Date :2011 Jul
PMID :21784343

Longitudinal stability of subsyndromal symptoms of depression in individuals with mild cognitive impairment: relationship to conversion to dementia after 3 years.
Mackin RS,Insel P,Aisen PS,Geda YE,Weiner MW.
Publish Date :2011 Jul 8
PMID :21744390

Longitudinal change of biomarkers in cognitive decline.
Lo RY,Hubbard AE,Shaw LM,Trojanowski JQ,Petersen RC,Aisen PS,Weiner MW,Jagust WJ,Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.
Publish Date :2011 Oct
PMID :21670386

Commentary on "Biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease drug development." Can't live without 'em.
Aisen PS.
Publish Date :2011 May
PMID :21575868

Toward defining the preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease.
Sperling RA,Aisen PS,Beckett LA,Bennett DA,Craft S,Fagan AM,Iwatsubo T,Jack CR Jr,Kaye J,Montine TJ,Park DC,Reiman EM,Rowe CC,Siemers E,Stern Y,Yaffe K,Carrillo MC,Thies B,Morrison-Bogorad M,Wagster MV,Phelps CH.
Publish Date :2011 May
PMID :21514248

A phase II trial of huperzine A in mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.
Rafii MS,Walsh S,Little JT,Behan K,Reynolds B,Ward C,Jin S,Thomas R,Aisen PS,Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study.
Publish Date :2011 Apr 19
PMID :21502597

Cognitive reserve and Alzheimer's disease biomarkers are independent determinants of cognition.
Vemuri P,Weigand SD,Przybelski SA,Knopman DS,Smith GE,Trojanowski JQ,Shaw LM,Decarli CS,Carmichael O,Bernstein MA,Aisen PS,Weiner M,Petersen RC,Jack CR Jr,Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.
Publish Date :2011 May
PMID :21478184

Requiring an amyloid-β1-42 biomarker for prodromal Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment does not lead to more efficient clinical trials.
Donohue MC,Gamst AC,Aisen PS.
Publish Date :2011 Mar
PMID :21414558