SUMMARY
Dennis W. Dickson, M.D., provides neuropathological diagnostic services for aging and neurodegenerative disorders to the Mayo Clinic brain bank in Jacksonville, Florida. The brain bank is one of the largest such services in the United States. For most specimens, both formalin-fixed and frozen tissues are saved. Dr. Dickson performs detailed neuropathological studies on the fixed tissue and his team gives frozen tissue samples to qualified researchers in the United States and abroad.
The primary research focus of Dr. Dickson is the neuropathological features of brains of individuals involved in future and longitudinal research studies sponsored by the National Institute on Aging. He also works with individuals involved in studies on Parkinson's disease and unusual parkinsonian disorders, such as Lewy body dementia and progressive supranuclear palsy.
The major sources of brain bank specimens are the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, the Einstein Aging Study at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the state of Florida Alzheimer's Disease Initiative. Through cooperation with nonprofit organizations, such as the Brain Support Network, samples are obtained from affected individuals throughout the United States. These studies, which differ in participant features, include diverse subjects from an inner-city cohort, the Bronx Aging Study, as well as older adult community volunteers and those enrolled in population-based studies such as the Mayo Clinic Study on Aging.
Dr. Dickson's research team obtains fixed and frozen brain samples at autopsy. Frozen tissue is shared with research scientists, including those studying the genetics or biochemistry of neurological disorders. The neuropathology team uses the brain samples for diagnostic evaluations and research using a variety of methods including histology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, image analysis and immunoassays.
Dr. Dickson is part of a team of internationally recognized researchers and clinicians with specialty training in Parkinson's disease and movement disorders. He leads an American Parkinson Disease Association Center for Advanced Research at Mayo Clinic.
Focus areas
- Genetic studies. Genetic studies are increasingly important parts of neuropathological research as new genes and genetic risk factors are discovered for Alzheimer's disease and other major neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Dickson supplies well-characterized brain samples for genetic studies in collaboration with investigators at other institutions and researchers at Mayo Clinic, including: Owen A. Ross, Ph.D., Nilufer Ertekin-Taner, M.D., Ph.D. and Marka M. Van Blitterswijk, M.D., Ph.D.
- Other degenerative diseases. Dr. Dickson focuses on non-Alzheimer's degenerative diseases, including Lewy body dementia. His research on Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia is supported by the Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation. He also studies neuropathology in transgenic mice that model Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders to better understand these disorders and to develop new treatments.
- Disorders with tau pathology. Dr. Dickson has studied disorders with tau pathology for more than two decades. He focuses on corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, Pick's disease and frontotemporal dementia linked to tau mutations. He obtains many samples for these studies through the CurePSP Brain Bank at Mayo Clinic, which he oversees.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal degeneration with TDP-43 pathology. More recently, Dr. Dickson's neuropathological research has included amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig's disease, and frontotemporal degeneration with TDP-43 pathology.
Significance to patient care
Providing a final neuropathological diagnosis for patients whose brains are donated to the brain bank gives closure to families and provides feedback to the healthcare professionals who provided care. Additionally, Dr. Dickson's studies aim to understand the molecular underpinnings of neurodegenerative disorders that can lead to better diagnosis, treatment and eventual prevention of these devastating disorders.
Professional highlights
- Robert E. Jacoby Professor for Alzheimer's Research, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, 2010.
- American Association of Neuropathologists:
- Award for Meritorious Service, 2016.
- President, 2001-2002.
- Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick's, Alzheimer's and Related Diseases, American Academy of Neurology, 2011.
- Award for Medical Research, Metropolitan Life, 2001.