Debby Tsuang, MD, MSc
Personal Statement
Over the past 20 years, my research has focused on the genetics of schizophrenia and neurodegenerative disorders, particularly on the use of clinical phenotyping and innovative genomic technologies to elucidate the complex genetic architecture underlying schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). I served as the Director of the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the VA Puget Sound Health (VAPS) from 2011-2022, in order to focus on my research on Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders. My current research interests are two-pronged: 1) develop machine learning models in VA’s vast electronic health records in order to assign ADRD probability scores in older Black and White Veterans; and 2) use mobile health devices to promote early diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies. In In these capacities, I direct multidisciplinary efforts to better understand the biology, genetics, etiology, prevention, and treatment of these disorders, and I provide clinical expertise for the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders and treatment of behavioral disturbances in dementias.
Education
Additional certification in geriatric psychiatry
Department Affiliations
Centers/Programs
Training Programs
Other Affiliations
University of Washington Alzheimer’s Disease Center
Scholarly Expertise
Teaching Philosophy
| I am interested in helping trainees to discover the patients and their diseases that capture their passions and curiosities. As they seek that niche, I believe it is critical to develop a comprehensive, holistic treatment approach to their patients. To that end, I hope to help trainees develop foundational knowledge concerning the complex medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial challenges that affect patients. I also believe that it is important to view those intersections in the context of the individual. When we see our patients as people who are part of a family and a web of connections beyond the self—and not just a patient ID number or DSM diagnosis—we are better able to understand both our patients’ illnesses and the ways in which their experiences of those illnesses affect them and their families. |
Recent Publications
(2025 Jan-Dec)
Digit Health 11(): 20552076251330808
Brown K, Shutes-David A, Payne S, Jankowski A, Wilson K, Seto E, Tsuang DW
(2024 Dec 28)
Sci Rep 14(1): 31234
Levendowski DJ, Tsuang D, Chahine LM, Walsh CM, Berka C, Lee-Iannotti JK, Salat D, Fischer C, Mazeika G, Boeve BF, Strambi LF, Lewis SJG, Neylan TC, Louis EKS
(2025 Jan)
J Alzheimers Dis 103(1): 180-193
Merritt VC, Zhang R, Sherva R, Ly MT, Marra D, Panizzon MS, Tsuang DW, Hauger RL, MVP Cognitive Decline and Dementia During Aging Working Group, VA Million Veteran Program, Logue MW
(2024 Nov)
Alzheimers Dement 20(11): 7580-7594
Gunasekaran TI, Reyes-Dumeyer D, Faber KM, Goate A, Boeve B, Cruchaga C, Pericak-Vance M, Haines JL, Rosenberg R, Tsuang D, Mejia DR, Medrano M, Lantigua RA, Sweet RA, Bennett DA, Wilson RS, Alba C, Dalgard C, Foroud T, Vardarajan BN, Mayeux R
(2024 Aug 13)
Neurology 103(3): e209656
Coughlin DG, MacLeod KR, Middleton JS, Bozoki AC, Galvin JE, Irwin DJ, Lippa CF, Litvan I, Lopez OL, Berman S, Tsuang DW, Zabetian CP, Honig LS, Marder KS, Fleisher JE, Sabbagh M, Wint D, Taylor AS, Bekris L, Leverenz JB, Galasko D
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