Please join us in congratulating Babak Ahmadi, a PhD candidate at the University of Florida, for being awarded the 2025 Leighton E. Cluff Award for Aging Research! Babak Ahmadi has been recognized for his significant contributions to neurodegenerative disease research, particularly using AI and brain imaging to study how Alzheimer’s (AD) and Lewy Body (LB) pathologies interact, earning him the 2025 Leighton E. Cluff Award for Aging Research for his work on accelerated brain aging and cognitive decline.
Key Contributions:
Award Recognition: The Leighton E. Cluff Award for Aging Research celebrates his excellence in aging research, supporting his work on AD and LB.
Deep Learning for Brain Aging: He developed a deep learning model using MRI scans to estimate “brain age,” revealing that having both AD and LB pathology leads to the most significant deviations from normal aging.
Co-Pathology Impact: His research shows that combined AD and LB pathologies accelerate brain atrophy, especially in memory, attention, and visual processing areas, resulting in faster cognitive decline.
AI & Neuroimaging: Ahmadi integrates artificial intelligence with advanced neuroimaging (MRI, MEG) at the University of Florida’s Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases to understand these complex diseases.