By Kat Procyk
Oscar Lopez, professor of neurology and of psychiatry, School of Medicine, and of clinical and translational sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, was recently sworn in by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to serve in the first-ever Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Related Disorders (ADRD) Office in the commonwealth.
The appointment of Lopez, Levidow-Pittsburgh Foundation Professor of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Disorders, chief of the cognitive and behavioral neurology division in the Department of Neurology and director of Pitt’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, follows his testimony in early 2024 supporting legislation proposed by Representative Maureen Madden. The initiative aimed to create full-time state positions dedicated to advancing dementia-related programs and services across Pennsylvania.
The bill gained bipartisan support, passing in both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and State Senate, and was signed into law by Governor Shapiro in October 2024. It establishes both the ADRD Office and an advisory committee within Pennsylvania's Department of Aging. Together, they will coordinate efforts across state agencies, shape policy and mobilize resources to address the complex needs of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, as well as the systems that support them.
“We’re striving to improve the quality of life for people in Pennsylvania living with cognitive disorders, as well as for their caregivers,” Lopez said. Most importantly, this initiative will create an environment where adult individuals with cognitive disorders can age with respect and dignity.”
“We’re striving to improve the quality of life for people in Pennsylvania living with cognitive disorders, as well as for their caregivers,” Lopez said. Most importantly, this initiative will create an environment where adult individuals with cognitive disorders can age with respect and dignity.”
According to a press release from the Department of Aging, more than 282,000 Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s disease as of 2024—a number that was expected to rise this year.
The establishment of the ADRD Office is part of the 10-year strategic plan to support and improve the services for the state’s older population.
Lopez’s work includes large-scale studies refining the clinical criteria for Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). He coauthored the 2017 American Academy of Neurology Practice Guidelines for MCI and has made strides in identifying factors that influence the progression of normal cognition to dementia. He has authored or coauthored more than 500 peer-reviewed articles and currently oversees or contributes to 15 National Institutes of Health-funded studies.