Providence, R.I. — Butler Hospital is honored to announce a generous $1 million anonymous gift from a grateful donor in support of its Memory and Aging Program (MAP). This meaningful investment will provide new resources to advance dementia research and expand care for individuals and families affected by memory disorders.
The Memory and Aging Program is internationally recognized for its groundbreaking clinical research and leadership in diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. This philanthropic investment will support studies on disease progression, advance potential treatments, and expand services for patients and caregivers.
“This gift will allow us to deepen our research efforts and strengthen the clinical support we provide to patients and families navigating these challenging diseases,” said Edward Huey, MD, Director, Memory and Aging Program, Butler Hospital. “The generosity of this donor will help accelerate discoveries and translate them into meaningful improvements in care.”
Stephen Salloway, MD, MS, the program’s founding director and a nationally recognized leader in Alzheimer’s research, said the gift comes at a pivotal moment in the field.
“We have opened a new era for Alzheimer’s disease, leading to early and accurate molecular diagnosis with treatments to slow the rate of cognitive decline,” Salloway explained. “This gift will help us test new approaches to promote brain health and new strategies for delivering drugs to the brain, leading to safer and more powerful treatments with the goal of treating early enough to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.”
Butler Hospital President and COO Mary Marran, MS OT, MBA, said the gift will have a lasting impact on patients and families coping with memory disorders.
“We are deeply thankful for this extraordinary act of generosity,” Marran said. “Programs like MAP provide hope and guidance to families confronting devastating illnesses. This investment will strengthen our ability to deliver compassionate care while advancing research that could change the future of dementia treatment.”
“Support from grateful patients plays a vital role in advancing the mission of Butler Hospital,” said Jeffrey Cabral, Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer at Care New England. “This gift, the second seven-figure contribution Butler Hospital has received this year from a grateful patient, reflects the growing commitment among our community to expanding care and advancing new approaches for individuals facing serious mental health challenges. Philanthropy like this helps ensure that patients and families across our region have access to leading-edge expertise and support.”
With rates of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias rising nationwide, Butler Hospital’s Memory and Aging Program provides specialized diagnosis, treatment, and access to clinical trials for patients and families throughout Rhode Island and southeastern New England.
About Butler Hospital
Butler Hospital, a member of Care New England, is the only private, nonprofit psychiatric and substance abuse hospital serving adults, seniors, and adolescents in Rhode Island and southeastern New England. Founded in 1844, it was the first hospital in Rhode Island and has earned a reputation as the leading provider of innovative psychiatric treatments in the region. The Major Affiliated Teaching Hospital for Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Butler is recognized worldwide as a pioneer in conducting cutting-edge research. For more information, visit butler.org.