History of Medicine Lecture: The Evolution of Alzheimer’s Disease Assessments
Join us for our spring History of Medicine Lecture, hosted by the UT Health San Antonio Libraries.
Title: The Evolution of Alzheimer’s Disease Assessments: Insights from Longitudinal Epidemiologic Cohorts with Brain Autopsy Endpoints
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM CST
Location: Online via Zoom
Register: https://uthealthsa.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_nLz2puxeSfuOP0nD7HzTsw
About the Lecture
This presentation by Dr. Margaret (Maggie) Flanagan, MD, will explore the evolution of Alzheimer’s disease pathology assessments, tracing the journey from Alois Alzheimer’s first description in 1906 to modern biomarker-driven frameworks. Drawing on landmark longitudinal studies such as the Nun Study and the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study, it will highlight how brain autopsies, epidemiology, and advances in neuropathology have reshaped our understanding of dementia. This lecture will examine the role of co-existing brain lesions, the paradigm shift from clinic-based to population-based research, and how emerging tools like digital pathology and AI are transforming diagnosis and prevention strategies.
About the Speaker
Dr. Margaret (Maggie) Flanagan, MD, is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, where she holds the Baptist Health Foundation Endowed Chair in Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Disease Research. A physician-scientist and board-certified neuropathologist, she directs the Nun Study, the Biggs Institute Brain Bank, and the Neuropathology Core of the South Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Her research integrates brain banking, digital pathology, and biomarker development to better understand dementia and improve diagnosis and treatment.