Zachary Macchi, MD

Project Title: “Examining Aggression Towards Caregivers in Lewy Body Disorders”

Behavioral changes, including aggression, are common in patients with neurodegenerative disease, including Parkinson’s disease and other forms of Lewy body disease (LBD). Aggression in these patients may be caused by the challenges of coping with debilitating motor and non-motor symptoms, such as changes in cognition, and is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization and higher mortality. Caregivers also report impacts on their own wellbeing.

Dr. Macchi’s research will identify causes of aggression in patients with Parkinson’s disease and LBD as well as the ways that neurologists manage this aggression towards caregivers. The goal of this research is to develop training for caregivers to help manage aggression in patients.

Dr. Macchi is a postdoctoral fellow and instructor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

This research is funded by the Alzheimer’s Association, The Mary E. Groff Charitable Trust, and American Brain Foundation, in collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology.