Rudolph Tanzi
Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard University, and Co-Author, “Super Brain”
Dr. Rudolph Tanzi is the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard University, and Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Tanzi has been investigating the molecular and genetic basis of neurological disease since 1980 when he participated in the pioneering study that led to the location of the Huntington’s disease gene, the first disease gene to be found by genetic linkage analysis.
Since 1982, Dr. Tanzi has investigated the genetic causes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). He co-discovered all three genes that cause early-onset familial AD, including the first familial AD gene, known as the amyloid β-protein (A4) precursor (APP), and the presenilin genes. In 1993, Dr. Tanzi discovered the gene responsible for the neurological disorder known as Wilson’s disease, and over the past 25 years, he has collaborated on studies identifying several other disease genes, including those causing neurofibromatosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and autism.
Tanzi is the co-author of international bestsellers, Super Brain, Super Genes, and The Healing Self, with Dr. Deepak Chopra.