Reduce diagnosis time from one year to just three months, to offer people with Alzheimer's disease and their families new intervention and care options. This is one of the main results achieved by the Integrated Center for Research and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease – Fondazione Roma of the Bio-Medical Campus, promoted by the Biomedical University Foundation, which in 2025 followed 200 patients.
Nine months gained in the diagnostic phase can in fact translate into the possibility of developing a treatment and care pathway earlier, evaluating access to emerging therapies, and involving the patient and their family when the disease is still in its early stages.
The Center was created with the aim of integrating translational research, clinical activity and social care support, connecting skills and technologies to promote early disease identification and transform research findings into solutions applicable in clinical practice.
The project allowed the installation of a 3 Tesla MRI and clinical neurophysiology laboratory at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, in addition to the creation of laboratories and facilities for preclinical research and validation at theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma.
The Centre thus aims to be a hub in which advanced research, care and clinical innovation converge to improve the quality of life of people with Alzheimer's and their families, through a person-centered model that combines scientific excellence, therapeutic innovation, and continuity of care.
"Alzheimer's disease affects not only those who receive the diagnosis, but also profoundly impacts the lives of families.", commented the President of the University and the Policlinico Foundation Carlo Tosti, who then added: This requires an approach that combines research and treatment, recognizing the dignity and identity of each individual at every stage of the disease. The Center puts into practice the vision that has guided Campus Bio-Medico for over thirty years: placing scientific and clinical expertise at the service of patients, with genuine attention to their needs and those of their families. The support of the Fondazione Roma and the collaboration between the various organizations involved allow us to bring together diverse professional skills and experiences, a crucial factor in addressing the complexity of the disease.
The Center's work is based on collaboration between different disciplines and the ability to connect research and clinical practice. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and, at the same time, a more timely and comprehensive diagnostic process.
"Our research focuses on the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease and aims to further define the evolution of Alzheimer's.", said the professor Marcello D'Amelio, Professor of Human Physiology and Head of the Molecular Neuroscience Unit of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma. This is possible thanks to an integrated approach in which neurology, neuropsychology, experimental neurophysiology, laboratory medicine, genetics, and diagnostic imaging can work in coordination, with a direct transfer of knowledge from the laboratory to the patient. Furthermore, the Center's advanced technologies enable more detailed insights more quickly. For patients and families, this means access to a more streamlined and timely diagnostic process. For research, it provides a context in which every clinical observation can generate new knowledge and every experimental discovery can be verified and implemented in healthcare practice.
The availability of advanced technologies and biomarkers also allows for the construction of increasingly personalized pathways, integrating various clinical and diagnostic information.
"In recent years, Alzheimer's research has made available tools that are profoundly changing the way we can diagnose the disease and intervene on the mechanisms underlying it.", explained the Director of the Complex Operating Unit of Neurology of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico and full professor Vincenzo Di Lazzaro, who then continued: The Center's innovation lies not only in the availability of biomarkers and advanced diagnostic technologies, but also in the ability to integrate them into a treatment plan tailored to each individual patient. From neurological and neuropsychological assessments to biological and imaging tests, each element contributes to more precisely delineating the disease profile, understanding its potential progression, and guiding clinical decisions.
Il Integrated Center for Research and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease – Fondazione Roma was promoted by the Biomedical University Foundation with the support of Rome Foundation, as part of a project that aims to integrate scientific innovation and assistance.
The President of the Rome Foundation, Franco Parasassi, he recalled how today in Italy "There are over 1,4 million people living with dementia, approximately 600.000 of whom suffer from Alzheimer's disease, a number expected to grow rapidly, also due to the aging population affecting our country."
Faced with a challenge of this magnitude – he explained Parastones Fondazione Roma has long chosen to make a concrete commitment. In our residential village, we have been providing a free, cutting-edge care model, unique in Italy, for people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.", commented the President of the Rome Foundation, who then continued: "The Integrated Research and Treatment Centre, promoted and implemented in close collaboration with theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma and the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, represents a true hub of excellence where advanced research meets healthcare to unravel the mechanisms of disease and develop increasingly precise and timely diagnostic models. For Fondazione Roma, research and care merge into a single, overarching goal: to transform scientific innovation into real solutions capable of positively impacting the lives of patients and their families, restoring their hope for a dignified and peaceful future.
"This center represents a source of particular pride for us: it is the concrete result of the ability to connect skills, resources and visions, which is at the heart of the mission of the Biomedical University Foundation.", noted the president of the Biomedical University Foundation Alessandro Pernigo. "Thanks to the support of Fondazione Roma and the scientific excellence of the University and the Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital, an innovative project has now become a reality for research and care, serving individuals and their families."
The activities and results of the Centre were presented on September 21th, At the World Alzheimer's Day, during a meeting at theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma.
The day involved representatives from the world of research and institutions, healthcare professionals and third sector entities, with an in-depth analysis also dedicated to the role of daytime center in the care and assistance pathways of people with Alzheimer's disease.
The President of the Advisory Board of the Biomedical University Foundation also took part in the initiative. Paolo Arullani and the director of the International Relations Office of the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) Armando Magrelli.
During the morning, a round table dedicated to the role of day centres was also held, organised by Alberto Sordi Foundation, an entity of the Campus Bio-Medico System committed to supporting the elderly, frail, and non-self-sufficient.
The Integrated Center for Research and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease – Fondazione Roma will continue its work integrating research, diagnosis, and care in the coming years, with the goal of making the care pathway for people with Alzheimer's and their families increasingly timely and personalized.
