SAN ANTONIO — Dr. Kevin Bieniek’s brain research helps families understand their loved ones’ neurological diseases. 

What You Need To Know

  • UT Health San Antonio has the only National Institute on Aging-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in Texas

  • The institute's research focuses on Mexican Americans, who are 50% more prone to dementia

  • The Texas Legislature has proposed funding of $3 billion over 10 years in dementia research

“The other part is to do research on that material,” Bieniek said. “To understand these different disorders and to try and get better diagnostics and even therapies we can help future patients with.” 

Bieniek is the co-director of the Biggs Institute Brain Bank at the University of Texas Health Center at San Antonio.

Among 35 nationwide, UT Health San Antonio’s Glenn Biggs Institute is Texas’ only National Institute on Aging-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

“We have a very comprehensive institute where we touch the patient, the families and the resources on so many levels,” Bieniek added.

Focusing on Mexican Americans, who are 50% more prone to dementia than non-Hispanic whites, UT Health San Antonio spearheads groundbreaking dementia research. 

Their program “caring for the caregivers” supports families caring for a loved with dementia. 

According to Dr. Sudha Seshadri, UT Health’s extensive dementia research is expensive. 

“Insurance won’t pay for it, patient’s families shouldn’t have to pay for it, so we do it as part of either funded research or through the generosity of philanthropists,” Seshadri said.

Seshadri, director of the Glenn Biggs Institute, recently testified before the Texas Senate Committee on Finance.

She spoke about proposed Senate Bill 5 and Senate Joint Resolution 3, which would establish a Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas with $3 billion in funding over 10 years. 

“Putting the clinical and research findings together can happen,” Seshadri said. “If the state invests in this in a big way, we are able to accept brains from all over Texas.” 

This funding, she believes, will allow Texas to become the nation’s leader in dementia research.

Bieniek agrees, adding that “funding a clinic gives us samples for us to do research. Funding the research gets the clinic new drug targets do try stuff.” 

Therefore, families facing dementia will have access to a wider range of options.

“That’s where we want to be with Alzheimers. It’s an illness that you live with, but not an illness you have to die from,” Seshadri said.