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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease

Call for Abstracts

Thank you for your interest. We are no longer accepting abstracts for the 30th Annual Alzheimer Day on May 3, 2024. Please email Bobby Bobbitt if you have any questions.

The Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease invites Northwestern University faculty and staff members conducting research in aging, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, as well as related neurosciences, to participate in the 30th Annual Alzheimer Day, which will be hosted in person on Friday, May 3, 2024 in the Feinberg Pavilion Conference Center.

Categories for poster submission include:

  • Cell & Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Best Practices
  • Clinicopathologic Studies
  • Community Engagement
  • Health Services
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
  • Recruitment Science
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences

Please note that Alzheimer Day is hosted for the broader community including research participants, individuals living with dementia and their families, as well as the scientific community. Abstract submitters will be invited to present a poster during the event on Friday, May 3, 2024 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM.

All poster presenters will need to register for the in person event. Registration opens on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 and an email will be sent when it has opened. 

Submission Requirements:

  1. Abstract text should detail purpose, methodology, and findings. Click here to view a sample template. All submissions should include the following information: Abstract Title, Authors, Author Affiliations, Abstract Content, and Lay Language Summary.
  2. Please submit your abstract as a Microsoft Word document and save your file with the following naming convention: "Last Name_Abstract_Date.docx." PDFs will not be accepted.
  3. All abstracts must be received by Friday, March 8, 2024.

The Marie and Carl Duncan Prize for research will be presented to the investigator with the most meritorious contribution. The winner will receive a certificate of award and $250.

Helpful Tips for Submitting Your Lay Language Summary

Consider these tips as you are preparing your submission for Alzheimer Day.

  • Imagine you are speaking to someone about your research, just as you would at a poster presentation. How would you explain it to the lay audience? What is the impact of this research and why is it important? What are the implications?
  • Explain your work. Is there an analogy that makes it approachable and makes your technical work more relatable?
  • Framework to consider: Explain what is known, what is unknown, and what was learned.
  • Below are a few examples:
    • Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by pathology accumulating and spreading throughout the brain, leading to significant cognitive decline. Many persons living with AD also develop behavioral symptoms with apathy being the most common. Researchers often use mouse models of AD to study relationships between brain pathology and cognitive impairment in great detail; however, relatively fewer animal studies have focused on behavioral symptoms in AD. We investigated apathy in a mouse model of AD in this study and found that apathetic behaviors emerged at an early age, worsened with disease progression, and correlated with more severe brain pathology. Our results suggest that apathy may be an early indicator of underlying AD and likely worsens with the progression of the disease in the brain. Further, mouse models are useful for studying behavioral symptoms in AD, and future studies with this focus have the potential to identify early targets for intervention.
    • Primary progressive aphasia is a neurodegenerative disease in which patients slowly and gradually lose their language functions (like speaking, understanding and writing). The cause for primary progressive aphasia is not known yet. In this study we used DNA data to identify potential causes for this disease. We were able to find that genes that caused differences between the left and right sides of the brain might be playing a role in the progression of this disease. Our finding will help understand the underpinning mechanisms of this disease and shed the light on genetic and molecular pathways that can be targeted to find treatments.
    • Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a syndrome of progressive language impairment caused by neurodegenerative disease. There has not been many studies investigating the role of deeper brain structures known as basal ganglia in PPA. In this study we investigate whether connection between basal ganglia and brain language region are increased and whether this pattern is different in different causes of PPA.
  • Other University Resources for translating your research for the lay audience:

Please reach out via email to the Bobby Bobbitt with questions.

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