Our WRAP team sends our sincere congratulations to Rebecca Langhough, PhD, on her recent retirement. Dr. Langhough worked as a scientist for WRAP since 2009, becoming WRAP associate director of research and a pioneering investigator into the way we understand Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive aging, and author of more than 150 publications. One particularly ground-breaking discovery by Dr. Langhough is her observation that serial amyloid PET imaging data could be used to estimate the age of amyloid onset. This insight laid the foundation for estimating amyloid onset from a single PET scan, a concept that has shaped global research on disease progression and clinical trials.
WRAP PI Sterling Johnson, PhD said: “Dr. Langhough’s impact has been extraordinary, both locally and across the broader field of research. Some of Dr. Langhough’s most important work has focused on methodologies to characterize cognitive decline—particularly in the challenging period between normal aging and mild impairment. She has led and coauthored numerous papers addressing the critical question: When is cognitive decline meaningful for an individual, and when is it not? Her contributions have provided a foundation for many of our collaborative efforts, including the centile-based progression curves and conditional progression norms widely used today in consensus conferences and research publications. While she often prefers to work behind the scenes, her collaborative spirit, scientific leadership, mentorship, and creativity have left a lasting mark on our program. And her willingness to roll up her sleeves and tackle challenges head-on has made an immeasurable impact on our work and community.”
Thank you, Becca! We appreciate your dedication to the field and your steadfast commitment to advancing Alzheimer’s disease research.