Announcement: Dr. Vladimir Hachinski honoured with 2022 Potamkin Prize
Dr. Vladimir Hachinski is the 2022 recipient of the Potamkin Prize.
Often described as the “Nobel Prize of Alzheimer’s Research,” the Potamkin Prize recognizes the achievements of scientific researchers who do innovative work, find ground-breaking discoveries and push forward the field of study in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s, and related brain degenerative diseases.
Dr. Hachinski is a Distinguished University Professor in Clinical Neurological Sciences and Epidemiology & Biostatistics.
Together with John Norris, he founded the world’s first successful acute stroke unit that has become the standard of care. And with David Cechetto, PhD, he discovered the key role of the insula of the brain in mediating sudden death.
He is recognized for discovering the brain region involved in sudden death following stroke, and helped develop the stroke-Alzheimer disease connection, paving the way for novel therapeutic approaches. He introduced the concepts of multi-infarct dementia, leukoaraiosis and vascular cognitive impairment and devised the Hachinski ischemic score that remains the standard for identifying the vascular (treatable) component of cognitive impairment.
Recently he and colleagues showed for the first time at a whole population level that decreased dementia incidence is associated with a successful stroke strategy.
Dr. Hachinski’s prolific and life-changing research has been recognized locally, nationally and internationally. A few of his honours include: The World Federation of Neurology Medal for Services to World Neurology; the Killam Prize in Health Sciences; and the McLaughlin Medal. He is a Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Laureate and a Member of the Order of Canada.
Dr. Hachinski was presented the Prize by Andi Potamkin in memory of her grandmother Luba Potamkin at the American Brain Foundation’s Commitment to the Cures gala in April 2022.
