Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence at Uf health
The Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health has garnered national recognition as a Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence. The award, announced April 3, 2018, recognizes centers nationwide who have distinguished experts in the diagnosis and management of Lewy body dementia (LBD) and creates a network of research centers committed to developing safe and effective treatment for people living with the disease.
About our center
The Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health has garnered national recognition as a Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence. The UF Health Research Center of Excellence is home to three Lewy body dementia (LBD) specialists. Led by Melissa Armstrong, MD, MSc, FAAN, this team provides specialized clinical care to our LBD patients, connects families with vital resources, and produces innovative research.
meet our team
Director, Mangurian Clinical-Research Headquarters for Lewy body Dementia Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Melissa Armstrong, MD, MSc, FAAN
Dr. Melissa Armstrong is the Director of the Mangurian Clinical-Research Headquarters for Lewy Body Dementia at the University of Florida and she leads the Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence at UF. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology and has an affiliate appointment in the Department of Health Outcomes and Policy. Her clinical work and research focus on improving care for persons with Lewy body dementia and their families, including increasing Lewy body dementia awareness, identifying priorities for care, and improving end-of-life experience.

Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology
Bhavana Patel, DO, MS
Dr. Bhavana Patel is currently an Assistant Professor in the Division of Movement Disorders and Behavioral Neurology at the University of Florida. She joined the UF Department of Neurology and the Fixel Institute in 2019. Dr. Patel completed medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013, followed by a preliminary internal medicine year and neurology residency at University of Kansas in 2017. Upon completion of her neurology training she pursued a two year fellowship in Movement Disorders at University of Florida from 2017-2019.

Assistant Professor, department of Neurology
Shannon Chiu, MD, MSc
Dr. Shannon Chiu received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Williams College, after which she studied at the University of Cambridge, U.K., where she obtained a M.Sc. degree in Experimental Psychology. She subsequently obtained her M.D. degree from New York University in 2014, where she also completed her Internal Medicine internship. She completed her Neurology residency at Mayo Clinic Rochester in 2018, and most recently her Movement Disorders Fellowship at the University of Florida in 2020. During fellowship, she was selected as a Smallwood Foundation fellow. Dr. Chiu’s research interests include Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, deep brain stimulation, and tremor.

Virtual LBD Caregiver Support Group
Please join our monthly virtual support group for caregivers of people living with dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia receiving care at the University of Florida.
How to Join
Fill out this form to join our online support group.
Once completed, we will provide you with an invite and information on how to to connect.
Support Group Details
- Every fourth Friday of each month
- From 2-3 PM
For questions, contact (352) 733-2419 or dlb-support@neurology.ufl.edu.
Newsletters and Sign-Ups
In an effort to better support you, we have created a quarterly newsletter. We hope The LBD Digest provides you with some helpful resources as your navigate living with LBD or caring for a loved one who does.
LBD Digest Issue 1
LBD Digest Issue 2
LBD Digest Issue 3
LBD Digest Issue 4
Research and Resources
Research
- Communication of Dementia Diagnoses: Patient and Family Experiences and Developing Best Practices
- Life Story Lab: Living with Dementia
- Implicit and Explicit Memory Differences in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Mild Dementia
Contact us to learn more about our current research
Resources
Articles Related to Lewy Body Dementia Written by Our Team
- Knowing the signs of Lewy body dementia may help speed diagnosis
- My doctor says there’s a guideline for my treatment – but is it right for me?
- The most important thing you’re not discussing with your doctor
- Lewy Body Dementia Is Often Unknown and Unrecognized