Melissa Armstrong 
M.D./Associate Professor | University of Florida
Gainesville, FL, UNITED STATES
Dr. Melissa Armstrong's research focuses on the lived experiences of individuals with Lewy body dementia and their caregivers.
Biography
Dr. Melissa Armstrong directs the Mangurian Clinical-Research Headquarters for Lewy Body Dementia at the University of Florida, one of 25 centers in the U.S. recognized as a Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence (2017 to current). She also serves on the Lewy Body Dementia Association Scientific Advisory Council. Dr. Armstrong’s Lewy body dementia research focuses on the lived experience of disease for individuals with Lewy body dementia and their families, ranging from patient and caregiver priorities for care to hospital outcomes to end-of-life experiences.
Areas of Expertise (6)
Dementia and End of Life
Corticobasal Syndrome
Parkinson Disease
Lewy Body Dementia
Atypical Parkinsonism
Dementia and Quality of Life
Media Appearances (3)
UF Lewy body dementia expert earns $3.2 million NIH grant
UF McKnight Brain Institute online
2020-09-14
A UF neurologist has earned a five-year, $3.2 million grant from the NIH’s National Institute on Aging to expand her research into dementia with Lewy bodies, or DLB. The grant will fund a study led by Melissa Armstrong, M.D., an associate professor of neurology, to improve end-of-life experiences for individuals with DLB and their families.
Tom Seaver, like Robin Williams, had Lewy body dementia, but what is this strange illness? A neurologist explains
The Conversation online
2020-09-04
Lewy body dementia was highlighted in the news twice this week with the death of Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver from Lewy body dementia complications and the release of “Robin’s Wish,” a documentary about Robin Williams’ final years, when the actor lived with Lewy body dementia. Seaver died Aug. 31, 2020 at age 75; Williams died at age 63 on Aug. 11, 2014.
Fixel Center earns Lewy body dementia designation
UF McKnight Brain Institute online
2018-04-03
The Fixel Center for Neurological Diseases at UF Health has garnered national recognition as a newly named Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence. The award, announced April 3, recognizes centers nationwide with distinguished experts in the diagnosis and management of Lewy body dementia, or LBD, and creates a network of research centers committed to the advancement of safer and more effective therapies for those living with the disease. The Fixel Center is among only 24 centers nationwide honored with the designation.
Articles (3)
Suicidal Ideation and Suicide-Attempt-Related Hospitalizations among People with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias in the United States during 2016–2018
Journal of Clinical MedicineGolnoosh Alipour-Haris, et al.
2022-01-14
People living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRDs) are at a higher risk of suicidal behaviors given intersecting risk factors. Previous studies generally only focused on AD, small clinical samples, or grouped all dementia subtypes together, limiting insights for other ADRD subtypes. The objective of this study was to generate evidence related to the relative burden of suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideation and suicide attempt) among people with AD and ADRDs. This retrospective cross-sectional study identified hospitalizations related to suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideation and suicide attempt) for patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias using ICD-10-CM codes from the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD).
Outcome Measures for Dementia With Lewy Body Clinical Trials
Alzheimer Disease & Associated DisordersBhavana Patel, et al.
2022-01-01
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is one of the most common degenerative dementias. Clinical trials for individuals with DLB are increasing. We aimed to identify commonly used outcome measures for trials in DLB.
Informal caregiver experiences at the end-of-life of individuals living with dementia with Lewy bodies: An interview study
DementiaMelissa J. Armstrong, et al.
2021-08-02
Individuals with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) commonly die from dementia-related causes, but little is known regarding caregiver experiences during the end-of-life period in DLB. This reflects a critical knowledge gap given the high frequency of informal caregiving for individuals with dementia, high caregiver burden in DLB, and the fact that most individuals with DLB die from this disease. Investigators conducted telephone interviews with family members of individuals who died with DLB in the last 5 years. Investigators used a qualitative descriptive approach to analyze interview transcripts.
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