Andrew John Liu | Scholars@Duke

Andrew John Liu
Assistant Professor of Neurology

While striving to provide excellent clinical care, I also have several research interests:

1. Investigate a neurodevelopmental disorder, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, which has the potential to provide insight into the pathophysiological mechanism of a neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's Disease.

2. In collaboration with Dr. Cathrine Hoyo, we are investigating an epigenetic mechanism to explain the racial disparities in the development of Alzheimer's disease between underrepresented minorities and European Americans.

3. I am interested in clinically characterizing the long-term cognitive and behavioral consequences in convalescent COVID-19 patients.

Current Research Interests

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is considered an infantile tauopathy due to mutations in TSC1 and TSC2. These mutations leads to hyperactivation of a centralized intracellular pathway called mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR). Our publication in 2022 described how TSC patients are accumulation an isotype of phosphorylated tau more commonly seen in Alzheimer's Disease. Further investigating TSC has the potential to lead to a pathophysiological mechanism of phosphorylated tau and novel treatments for both TSC and Alzheimer's Disease patients.

Dr. Cathrine Hoyo and I are investigating the relationship between prenatal stress and epigenetic changes. This relationship may explain why underrepresented minorities develop Alzheimer's Disease dementia at least twice as often when compared to European Americans.

Lastly, I have an interest in comprehensively characterizing convalescent COVID-19 patients to determine the cognitive, psychiatric and behavioral consequences of this disorder longitudinally.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Assistant Professor of Neurology, Neurology, Behavioral Neurology, Neurology 2021
Assistant Professor in Pathology, Pathology, Clinical Science Departments 2020

Contact Information

932 Morreene Rd, Room 258, Durham, NC 27705
932 Morreene Rd., Rm 258, Durham, NC 27705
(919) 660-3234
Spinal tap animation video

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Board Certification, United Council For Neurologic Subspecialties, , 2020 - 2030
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Board Certification, Neurology/Abpn, , 2017 - 2027
- Clinical Behavioral Fellowship, Memory And Aging Center, University of California - San Francisco 2017 - 2019
- Neurology Residency, Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine 2014 - 2017
- M.D., Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School 2013
Medical Licensure
- 2019-01354. North Carolina. 2022
Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Assistant Professor of Neurology, Neurology, Behavioral Neurology, Neurology 2019 - 2020
Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke
- -Duke University SoM, Behavioral Neurology Training Program, Program Director, 2019
  -Duke University SoM, Department of Neurology, Director of Biomarker Discovery, 2021
  -Duke University SoM, Duke-UNC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Junior Associate Core leader, 2022
Academic Positions Outside Duke
- Duke Health Second Opinion, Duke Health. 2022 - 2025
- Peer reviewer, Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Journal. 2021 - 2025
- Scientific Review Board member, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. 2020 - 2025
- Research Associate, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). 2019 - 2021
Recognition
In the News
- JUL 1, 2020 Duke Medicine HealthNews
  
  The Apnea-Alzheimer's Connection
Awards & Honors
- Duke Neurology All-Star award. Lindsy Anthony. April 2022
- Duke Neurology All-Star award. Richard O'Brien and Deborah Rose. March 2021
- Leadership Development for Researchers (LEADERS) program. Duke University School of Medicine. January 2020
Expertise
Subject Headings
Global Scholarship
- Research
  - Singapore (Country)
Research
Selected Grants
- Synuclein-One Study awarded by CND Life Sciences 2020 - 2022
- Social adversities, epigenetics, and the obesity epidemic awarded by North Carolina State University 2017 - 2022
Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants
- Tuberous Sclerosis Complex as a novel Alzheimer's Disease-related Tauopathy awarded by Ruth K. Broad Biomedical Research Foundation 2023 - 2025
- Social adversities, epigeneitcs and the obesity epidemeic awarded by NIH 2019 - 2022
- Neuroinflammation and Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction awarded by NIH 2017 - 2022
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Liu, A. J., Lusk, J. B., Ervin, J., Burke, J., O’Brien, R., & Wang, S.-H. (2022). Tuberous sclerosis complex is a novel, amyloid-independent tauopathy associated with elevated phosphorylated 3R/4R tau aggregation. Acta Neuropathol Commun, 10(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-022-01330-x
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Wisely, C. E., Wang, D., Henao, R., Grewal, D. S., Thompson, A. C., Robbins, C. B., … Fekrat, S. (2022). Convolutional neural network to identify symptomatic Alzheimer's disease using multimodal retinal imaging. Br J Ophthalmol, 106(3), 388–395. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-317659
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Rose, D. K., & Liu, A. J. (2022). A case of fatal familial insomnia: diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Neurocase, 28(1), 131–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2021.2025249
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  - Nakamura, A., Farrer, T. J., & Liu, A. (2022). Long-Term Sequelae in Young Convalescent COVID-19 Patients. Case Rep Neurol Med, 2022, 9613600. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9613600
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Robbins, C. B., Grewal, D. S., Stinnett, S. S., Soundararajan, S., Yoon, S. P., Polascik, B. W., … Fekrat, S. (2021). Assessing the Retinal Microvasculature in Individuals With Early and Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina, 52(6), 336–344. https://doi.org/10.3928/23258160-20210528-06
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  - Robbins, C. B., Greawl, D. S., Thompson, A. C., Powers, J. H., Soundararajan, S., Koo, H. Y., … Fekrat, S. (2021). Reply to: "Comment on Choroidal Structural Analysis in Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Cognitively Healthy Controls". Am J Ophthalmol, 225, 208–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2021.01.003
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  - Robbins, C. B., Grewal, D. S., Thompson, A. C., Powers, J. H., Soundararajan, S., Koo, H. Y., … Fekrat, S. (2021). Choroidal Structural Analysis in Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Cognitively Healthy Controls. Am J Ophthalmol, 223, 359–367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2020.09.049
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Liu, L., Li, H., Iyer, H., Liu, A. J., Zeng, Y., & Ji, J. S. (2021). Apolipoprotein E Induced Cognitive Dysfunction: Mediation Analysis of Lipids and Glucose Biomarkers in an Elderly Cohort Study. Front Aging Neurosci, 13, 727289. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.727289
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Rifai, O. M., McGrory, S., Robbins, C. B., Grewal, D. S., Liu, A., Fekrat, S., & MacGillivray, T. J. (2021). The application of optical coherence tomography angiography in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review. Alzheimers Dement (Amst), 13(1), e12149. https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12149
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Liu, A. J., Chang, J. E., Naasan, G., Boxer, A. L., Miller, B. L., & Spina, S. (2020). Progressive supranuclear palsy and primary lateral sclerosis secondary to globular glial tauopathy: a case report and a practical theoretical framework for the clinical prediction of this rare pathological entity. Neurocase, 26(2), 91–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2020.1732427
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Liu, A. J., Staffaroni, A. M., Rojas-Martinez, J. C., Olney, N. T., Alquezar-Burillo, C., Ljubenkov, P. A., … Kao, A. W. (2020). Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Features Between Adults With Tuberous Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Jama Neurol, 77(3), 358–366. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.4284
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Lackey, E., Shah-Zamora, D. P., Hawes, J., & Liu, A. J. (2020). Negative Diffusion Weighted Imaging on Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain in Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Case Rep Neurol Med, 2020, 8857037. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8857037
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  - Liu, A., Suozzi, K., Hwang, D. Y., Moeller, J. J., Lazova, R., & DiCapua, D. (2016). Dermatoneuro syndrome: A full recovery after a second episode. Neurol Clin Pract, 6(3), e27–e29. https://doi.org/10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000221
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
- Conference Papers
  - Akrobetu, D., Robbins, C., Stinnett, S. S., Soundararajan, S., Liu, A., Johnson, K., … Fekrat, S. (2021). Assessment of retinal microvascular alterations in individuals with amnestic and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment using optical coherence tomography angiography. In Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Vol. 62).
    Link to Item
  - Polascik, B., Browndyke, J., Davis, S., & Liu, A. (2021). COGNITIVE CONSEQUENCES OF COVID-19 IN OLDER ADULTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT. In American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (Vol. 29, pp. S75–S76).
    Link to Item
Artistic Works & Non-Print Media
- Digital Media
  - Spinal Tap procedure. Narrator. 2022
Teaching & Mentoring
Advising & Mentoring
- Dr. Deborah Rose is a current neurology resident here at Duke. Dr. Rose expressed interest in clinical research related to Alzheimer's Disease shortly after arriving at Duke. She was awarded the NIA-funded Research Residency Pathway R38 award where she aims to investigate causes of racial disparities in the development of Alzheimer's disease dementia during her intern year. As a PGY2 she was awarded the NICTEE fellowship from the AAN and was inducted into the Duke University Lefkowitz society.
  
  I also serve on the dissertation committee for the graduate student Sebnem Eren Cevik at North Carolina State University. Sebnem is a member of Dr. Cathrine Hoyo's laboratory group. She has developed an interest in investigating the relationship between epigenetics and the development of various chronic diseases which includes Alzheimer's disease dementia.
  
  Bryce Polascik, a medical student at Wake Forest University medical school and Sanya Shah, a current UNC Chapel Hill undergraduate student are interested in the clinical characterization of convalescent COVID-19 patients. They have published 2 manuscripts describing the neurological outcomes after contracting COVID-19.
  
  Charlotte Jones is currently a Duke undergraduate student. I serve as a faculty member for her independent neuroscience course 493-02. During the 2021-2022 academic year, we plan to determine if a novel neuropsychological screening test called the Visual-based Cognitive Assessment Test (VCAT) can be used to improve enrollment of underrepresented minorities into dementia related clinical trials.
Teaching Activities
- -Teach residents, fellows and Physician Assistants in various MD and PA programs at Duke about the capricous clinical phenotypes of neurodegenerative diseases
  -Behavioral Neurology introduction presentation to the neurology residents
  -Present and discuss the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease in a graduate level neuroscience course through the Department of Neurosciences directed by Dr. Simon Davis
Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
Presentations & Appearances
Outreach & Engaged Scholarship
- Mentoring and informing. Caregiver Support in the African American Community. Duke Dementia Caregiver Support group. November 16, 2021 2021
Service to the Profession
Academic & Administrative Activities
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology Training Program Director.
  
  Duke University School of medicine, Department of Neurology, Director of Biomarker Discover
  
  Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Scientific Review Board member.
  
  Editor for the journal "Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association."
  
  Editor for the journal "Neurocase."
Clinical Activities
- -Behavioral neurology clinic at Duke University's Morreene Rd
  -Lumbar puncture clinic at Duke University's Morreene Rd.
  -Consult attending at the Duke University Hospital

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Medical Licensure

Previous Appointments & Affiliations

Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke

Academic Positions Outside Duke

In the News

Awards & Honors

Subject Headings

Global Scholarship

Research

Selected Grants

Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Conference Papers

Artistic Works & Non-Print Media

Digital Media

Advising & Mentoring

Teaching Activities

Presentations & Appearances

Outreach & Engaged Scholarship

Service to the Profession

Academic & Administrative Activities

Clinical Activities