Research Training Grant in Geriatrics and Gerontology - Faculty

Pierre N. Tariot, M.D.

Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine, Neurology, and Aging and Developmental Biology
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

His research program is deliberately designed to dovetail with clinical programs, through which he is pursuing four basic themes: natural history and descriptive studies of dementia, studies of brain and drug mechanisms, studies of symptomatic pharmacotherapy, and studies of antidementia therapy.  With respect the theme of “natural history and descriptive studies,” he has been involved in the development of behavior rating scales for psychopathology in dementia and depression in dementia.  He has also conducted descriptive studies of nursing home residents.  The theme of  “brain and drug mechanisms” has been pursued by work addressing the mechanism of action of psychotropics in dementia and the unexpected apparent neuroprotective properties of agents such as valproate and lithium.  The theme of “symptomatic pharmacotherapy” has been pursued by the study of anti-agitation agents, antidepressants, and antipsychotics in a variety of clinical populations.  Finally, the theme of “antidementia therapy” has been pursued by the study of cognitive enhancers in a variety of populations, including patients with minimal cognitive impairment and even normal controls.

Faculty Directory