Celebrating 40 years of the University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

Four decades of the National Institute on Aging's sponsored research into Alzheimer's disease (AD) have resulted in symptomatic and mechanistic therapies, lifestyle interventions, increased understanding of genetic factors and protein misfolding, and descriptions of non-AD neuropathological entities that mimic AD clinical symptoms. This is an overview of contributions from one of the original ten Alzheimer Disease Research Centers (ADRCs), the University of Kentucky ADRC. We celebrate 40 years of helping the field to define early pathogenetic mechanisms underlying transitions from normal cognitive aging to impairment in our elderly community-based cohort, increased appreciation of the heterogeneity and multiple pathologies that characterize late-life dementia, strategies for therapeutic intervention, and novel statistical approaches. We also highlight our educational efforts to train the workforce of the future and our long-standing community outreach and partnerships. HIGHLIGHTS: The University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (UK-ADRC) is an experienced and collaborative center celebrating its 40th year of National Institute on Aging funding in 2025. Our long-standing community-based cohort of motivated older adult volunteers and strong neuropathology program support the rationale for our overarching theme: "Transitions from Normal to Late-Life Multi-Etiology Dementia." The UK-ADRC's focus on normal aging and early cognitive transitions has been central to elucidating pathogenic mechanisms underlying transitions from normal cognitive aging to impairment and defining the heterogeneity and multiple pathologies that characterize late-life dementia. UK-ADRC infrastructure and resources support and create new opportunities for innovative and inclusive research, clinical programs across the cognitive continuum, educational and training opportunities, and community and national partnerships.