Craig S. Atwood

Craig S. Atwood, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. He is also a Health Science Specialist in the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center at the William S. Middleton Veterans Administration Hospital. Dr. Atwood leads the Laboratory for Endocrinology, Aging and Disease (LEAD) and is widely acknowledged as an authority on the neuroendocrinology of aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Atwood's primary research interests focus on understanding the endocrinology of aging through the lens of the Reproductive Cell-Cycle Theory of Aging. His work examines how reproductive hormones regulate embryogenesis, maintain adult tissues, and influence age-related diseases. His laboratory investigates strategies to restore hormonal balance to prevent or halt Alzheimer's disease and restore cognitive functioning following traumatic brain injury. Key research areas include hormonal regulation of aging processes, the role of sex hormones in neurodegeneration, and the development of stem cell-based therapies for hormone restoration.

Dr. Atwood has published over 300 scientific articles, is an inventor on nine issued U.S. patents, serves on numerous review boards, and is an editor of more than 30 scientific journals. His recent work demonstrates significant trends in Alzheimer's disease genetics across diverse populations, hormone-based therapeutic approaches, and the role of neuroinflammation in age-related cognitive decline.

• Three-time Delegate to the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative
• Inventor on nine issued U.S. patents
• Editor of more than 30 scientific journals

Dr. Atwood has advised several students including Miguel Gallego, MS and Prashob Porayette, MS. His research has been supported by various grants focused on Alzheimer's disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. The Laboratory for Endocrinology, Aging and Disease (LEAD) conducts both basic and clinical investigations into hormonal therapies for age-related cognitive decline.