Dr. Charles DeCarli, M.D.

Charles DeCarli portrait

Position Title
Chief Investigator

Bio

Charles DeCarli, MD, is Distinguished Professor of Neurology at the University of California in Davis, California and recipient of the Victor and Genevieve Orsi Chair in Alzheimer’s Research. He is the Director of the UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center, a United States National Institutes of Health funded Alzheimer’s research center. He is also Director of the Imaging of Dementia and Aging (IDeA) laboratory. His research focuses on using advanced structural and functional brain imaging to study normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, dementia and the role of genetics, diversity, cerebrovascular and Alzheimer’s disease on these processes. He is a recipient of the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine—Imaging of the Aging Brain in recognition of his work. Dr. DeCarli is currently funded as principal, or co-principal investigator on 8 National Institute of Aging or National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke grants and is the principal investigator of the Neuroscience of Cognitive Aging T32 training grant.

Education and Degree(s)
  • Undergraduate School: B.S., UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara CA 1978
  • Medical School: M.D., George Washington University, Washington DC 1982
  • Residency: George Washington University Medical Center, Washington DC 1982-1984
  • Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester NY 1984-1987
  • Fellowship: National Institute on Aging, Bethesda MD 1987-1989
Honors and Awards
  • UC Davis School of Medicine Research Award, 2018
  • A Sacramento Best Doctor, 2015
  • Resident Education Teaching Award, “Excellence in Inpatient Teaching”, UC Davis Department of Neurology, 2014
  • Victor and Genevieve Orsi Chair in Alzheimer’s Research, 2012
  • Mayo Clinic Visiting Professor, 2012
Research Interests & Expertise
  • His clinical care focuses on the diagnosis and initial management of individuals with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
  • Dr. DeCarli's research focuses on using advanced structural and functional brain imaging to study normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia, and the role of genetics, cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease on these processes.
  • Dr. DeCarli is one of the champions of the Healthy Brain Aging Initiative, which seeks to advance novel approaches to optimize brain health from birth.
Membership and Service
  • Center for Neuroscience, UC Davis Medical Center, UC Davis Health
  • Co-director of the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
  • Distinguished Professor, Department of Neurology