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Sylvia Perez, PhD
Sylvia Perez, PhD, is a associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology at Barrow Neurological Institute.
Dr. Perez’s expertise includes comparative neuroanatomy, with a focus on the biochemistry and connectivity of the cholinergic basal forebrain systems as well as on β-amyloid and tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. She is a member of the Society for Neuroscience.
Dr. Perez received her PhD in neuroanatomy from the University of Santiago de Compostela. She completed postdoctoral fellowships in neuroanatomy at the University of A Coruña and at the Consellería de Educación e Ciencias da Xunta de Galicia and in neurobiology at Rush University Medical Center.
Dr. Perez’s research interests include the neurobiology of the prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. She also studies the role of tau in Down syndrome and dementia and the role of alpha-synuclein in the neurodegeneration of the cholinergic basal forebrain in Parkinson’s disease.
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Rush University Medical Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Neurobiology, 2002-2004
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Rush University Medical Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Neurobiology, 2000-2001
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of A Coruña, Neuroanatomy, 2000
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Consellería de Educación e Ciencias da Xunta de Galicia, Neuroanatomy, 2000
- PhD, University of Santiago de Compostela, Neuroanatomy, 1998
- Predoctoral Fellowship, University of Santiago de Compostela, Neuroanatomy, 1995-1996
- Licentiate in Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Fundamental Biology, 1992
- Society for Neuroscience
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium at Barrow Neurological Institute Award, “Cortical tau pathologic signature: A biomarker for Down syndrome with and without dementia,” 2018-2019
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium at Barrow Neurological Institute Award, “Epigenetic dysregulation in cholinergic neurons in PD dementia,” 2016-2017
- Brinson Foundation Award, 2014-2015
- Rush University Research Council Pilot Award, 2009-2010
- Rush Department of Neurological Sciences Pilot Award, “Beta-amyloid induces cholinergic striatal dysfunction in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.”
- Extraordinary Award for Doctoral Thesis, University of Santiago de Compostela, Biology Faculty, 1998
Expression profiling of precuneus layer III cathepsin D-immunopositive pyramidal neurons in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: Evidence for neuronal signaling vulnerability.
Date: 04/2020
Authors: Bin He, Sylvia E Perez, Sang H Lee, Stephen D Ginsberg, Michael Malek-Ahmadi, Elliott J. Mufson
Frontal cortex chitinase and pentraxin neuroinflammatory alterations during the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Date: 02/2020
Authors: Marta Moreno-Rodriguez, Sylvia E Perez, Muhammad Nadeem, Michael Malek-Ahmadi, Elliott J. Mufson
Braak Stage, Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, and Cognitive Decline in Early Alzheimer's Disease.
Date: 01/2020
Authors: Michael Malek-Ahmadi, Sylvia E Perez, Kewei Chen, Elliott J. Mufson
Hdac2 Dysregulation In The Nucleus Basalis Of Meynert During The Progression Of Alzheimer'S Disease
Date: 06/2019
Authors: L. Mahady, M. Nadeem, M. Malek-Ahmadi, K. Chen, S. E. Perez, E. J. Mufson, Elliott J. Mufson
Frontal Cortex And Striatal Cellular And Molecular Pathobiology In Individuals With Down Syndrome With And Without Dementia
Date: 03/2019
Authors: Sylvia E. Perez, Jennifer C. Miguel, Bin He, Michael Malek-Ahmadi, Eric E. Abrahamson, Milos D. Ikonomovic, Ira Lott, Eric Doran, Melissa J. Alldred, Stephen D. Ginsberg, Elliott J. Mufson


Sylvia Perez, PhD
Sylvia Perez, PhD, is a associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology at Barrow Neurological Institute.
Dr. Perez’s expertise includes comparative neuroanatomy, with a focus on the biochemistry and connectivity of the cholinergic basal forebrain systems as well as on β-amyloid and tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. She is a member of the Society for Neuroscience.
Dr. Perez received her PhD in neuroanatomy from the University of Santiago de Compostela. She completed postdoctoral fellowships in neuroanatomy at the University of A Coruña and at the Consellería de Educación e Ciencias da Xunta de Galicia and in neurobiology at Rush University Medical Center.
Dr. Perez’s research interests include the neurobiology of the prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. She also studies the role of tau in Down syndrome and dementia and the role of alpha-synuclein in the neurodegeneration of the cholinergic basal forebrain in Parkinson’s disease.

- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Rush University Medical Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Neurobiology, 2002-2004
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Rush University Medical Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Neurobiology, 2000-2001
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of A Coruña, Neuroanatomy, 2000
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Consellería de Educación e Ciencias da Xunta de Galicia, Neuroanatomy, 2000
- PhD, University of Santiago de Compostela, Neuroanatomy, 1998
- Predoctoral Fellowship, University of Santiago de Compostela, Neuroanatomy, 1995-1996
- Licentiate in Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Fundamental Biology, 1992
- Society for Neuroscience
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium at Barrow Neurological Institute Award, “Cortical tau pathologic signature: A biomarker for Down syndrome with and without dementia,” 2018-2019
- Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium at Barrow Neurological Institute Award, “Epigenetic dysregulation in cholinergic neurons in PD dementia,” 2016-2017
- Brinson Foundation Award, 2014-2015
- Rush University Research Council Pilot Award, 2009-2010
- Rush Department of Neurological Sciences Pilot Award, “Beta-amyloid induces cholinergic striatal dysfunction in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.”
- Extraordinary Award for Doctoral Thesis, University of Santiago de Compostela, Biology Faculty, 1998
Expression profiling of precuneus layer III cathepsin D-immunopositive pyramidal neurons in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: Evidence for neuronal signaling vulnerability.
Date: 04/2020
Authors: Bin He, Sylvia E Perez, Sang H Lee, Stephen D Ginsberg, Michael Malek-Ahmadi, Elliott J. Mufson
Frontal cortex chitinase and pentraxin neuroinflammatory alterations during the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Date: 02/2020
Authors: Marta Moreno-Rodriguez, Sylvia E Perez, Muhammad Nadeem, Michael Malek-Ahmadi, Elliott J. Mufson
Braak Stage, Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, and Cognitive Decline in Early Alzheimer's Disease.
Date: 01/2020
Authors: Michael Malek-Ahmadi, Sylvia E Perez, Kewei Chen, Elliott J. Mufson
Hdac2 Dysregulation In The Nucleus Basalis Of Meynert During The Progression Of Alzheimer'S Disease
Date: 06/2019
Authors: L. Mahady, M. Nadeem, M. Malek-Ahmadi, K. Chen, S. E. Perez, E. J. Mufson, Elliott J. Mufson
Frontal Cortex And Striatal Cellular And Molecular Pathobiology In Individuals With Down Syndrome With And Without Dementia
Date: 03/2019
Authors: Sylvia E. Perez, Jennifer C. Miguel, Bin He, Michael Malek-Ahmadi, Eric E. Abrahamson, Milos D. Ikonomovic, Ira Lott, Eric Doran, Melissa J. Alldred, Stephen D. Ginsberg, Elliott J. Mufson