KEITH VOSSEL
Director of the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Care
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Dr. Keith Vossel is known for his tireless and innovative work to improve recognition and care for patients experiencing dementia and early signs of Alzheimer’s, along with his efforts to improve access to clinical research studies for patients and their families across all demographics.
The geography of Los Angeles makes it challenging for people to receive necessary care and treatment for the early signs of dementia, including lower-income neighborhoods. One core priority for Dr. Vossel since joining the Easton Center in July 2020 has been to improve access to care by expanding UCLA’s outpatient dementia services to medical centers throughout the greater Los Angeles-area so that individuals don’t have to travel to just one campus, and they can be in closer proximity to treatment. The Easton Center has also hired faculty and research staff at other facilities, such as Olive View-UC-LA Medical Center, and provided broader services so that patients and families fully understand their current situation and the resources that may be available to them.
In addition, Dr. Vossel recently launched a new Music Therapy Program. Musical stimulation, in particular, has proven beneficial for behavior in dementia patients since it can activate parts of the brain that wouldn’t otherwise be accessible. This new UCLA Easton Center study, which is currently ongoing, will determine whether a one-hour stimulation with 40-Hz-enhanced music and light enhances the 40-Hz gamma rhythms in the brain in individuals diagnosed with dementia. The study includes all stages of dementia and cognitively normal people. Anyone is able to participate in the program.
