 | Morris Honored with Alzheimer’s Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award
St. Louis, July 22, 2004 — John C. Morris, M.D., has received one of the most prestigious honors in the field of Alzheimer’s research: the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alzheimer’s Association.
As principal investigator of Washington University’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) and the program project "Healthy Aging and Senile Dementia," Morris leads an interdisciplinary, investigative team comparing normal aging and mild Alzheimer's disease. The ADRC is widely regarded for its broad spectrum of research, including investigations of the molecular basis of the disease, clinical studies of dementia in comparison with healthy aging, investigating the effects of dementia on driving, and experimental trials of anti-dementia therapies.
“It’s often said that these individual honors really reflect the work of a large group of individuals, and in my case that couldn’t be more true,” says Morris, who also is the Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Distinguished Professor of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “I benefit from working with a remarkable group of colleagues who have made seminal contributions to the field, and I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the entire ADRC team.”
According to Morris, the honor is particularly memorable because his mentor and friend Leonard Berg, M.D., founder of the University’s ADRC, was similarly honored with this award in 2000.
Morris’ most recognized contributions to Alzheimer’s disease research include the area of early diagnosis. His team is known for developing and refining the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) system, now the standard clinical measure in the diagnosis and staging of dementia.
He has led several landmark studies identifying the earliest stages of the disease and the pathologic presence of Alzheimer’s before clinical symptoms arise. His research has shown that memory loss is not a sign of normal aging but rather is a distinguishing feature of dementia, and that many individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may actually be in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Recently, Morris established and now directs the University-wide Center for Aging. This new, multidisciplinary initiative aims to foster research, educational and policy initiatives on productive aging, helping the elderly remain active and engaged, and living longer, more satisfying lives.
In addition to his leadership roles at Washington University, Morris also holds several positions in national Alzheimer’s organizations. He is a member of the National Board of Directors of the Alzheimer's Association, chairs the Clinical Task Force of the Alzheimer Disease Centers programs, serves on external advisory boards for Alzheimer's Disease Centers at other institutions and is an ad hoc consultant to numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Morris also is editor-in-chief for the journal Alzheimer's Disease and Associated Disorders, and is on the editorial board for The Neurologist. He is the author of more than 180 peer-reviewed articles and also has contributed numerous review articles, book chapters and editorials, including serving as editor for the Handbook of Dementing Illnesses (1994).
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