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James Robert Burke

Professor of Neurology
Neurology, Behavioral Neurology
Duke Box 3333, Room 201 B Bryan Research Bldg, Durham, NC 27710
932 Morreene Rd, Box 2900, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


My research focuses on the characterization of cognitive change with age.  I am specifically interested in delineating the change between normal and pathologic changes associated with aging and developing therapies to delay decline.  

My area of expertise is neurodegenerative diseases and dementia with an emphasis on Alzheimer's disease.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Neurology · 2012 - Present Neurology, Behavioral Neurology, Neurology
Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · 2021 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

In the News


Published May 7, 2015
War on Alzheimer's: Durham firms lead push in treatment R&D

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Recent Publications


Quality-of-life factors at home and in health care settings for people living with dementia.

Journal Article Gerontologist · October 22, 2025 BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Person-centered "home time" measures track time spent in health care versus home using claims data. These measures can indicate patient preferences, quality of care, or quality of life. However, for people living with dementia, t ... Full text Link to item Cite

Multi-ancestry genome-wide meta-analysis of 56,241 individuals identifies known and novel cross-population and ancestry-specific associations as novel risk loci for Alzheimer's disease.

Journal Article Genome Biol · July 17, 2025 BACKGROUND: Limited ancestral diversity has impaired our ability to detect risk variants more prevalent in ancestry groups of predominantly non-European ancestral background in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We construct and analyze a multi-ancest ... Full text Link to item Cite

Beta amyloid PET scans for dementia diagnoses: Practice and research implications from CARE-IDEAS.

Journal Article J Am Geriatr Soc · October 2024 Beta amyloid PET scans are a minimally invasive biomarker that may inform Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis. The Caregiver's Reactions and Experience (CARE) study, an IDEAS supplement, aimed to understand experiences of PET scan recipients and their care ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Education, Training & Certifications


State University of New York, Brooklyn · 1985 M.D.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville · 1981 Ph.D.