Biosketch
Thomas Fritsch, Ph.D. joined the Center for Vital Longevity (CVL) on April 18th, 2016. He is a new resident to Dallas, coming from Milwaukee, WI in August of 2015 when his spouse won the position of principal bassoon in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
In his job search in Dallas, Fritsch was very excited to learn about the CVL and Dr. Denise Park’s role in building this esteemed research center. “I have been reading Dr. Park’s books and articles for most of my career. When I learned that Dr. Park lived and worked in Dallas, I was thrilled! I couldn’t wait to meet her and her excellent team,” Fritsch said.
Dr. Fritsch has spent nearly 20 years studying neuro-degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD). He was a summa cum laude graduate, majoring in psychology, at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2000, he completed his doctoral work in the area of cognitive psychology at Miami University of Ohio. Owing to his work in cognitive aging, Dr. Fritsch has also been described as a “lifespan epidemiologist” and “cognitive gerontologist.”
Dr. Fritsch is a part-time classical pianist, film buff, and enjoys visits to Germany, where his family lives. Fritsch said, “There are many ways to think about and study the human experience: art, literature, music, and science—but I love science the most.” Fritsch also enjoys playing with his rambunctious cats, Max and Pinkerton.
Research Interests
Dr. Fritsch’s research interests include cognitive changes that come with aging, risk and protective factors for PD/AD; and non-pharmacological treatments designed to improve the quality of life for those who have currently have AD and PD-dementia. He is also interested in how communities with disenfranchised populations (primarily African-American communities) can be better served to address the problems of AD/PD in those minority communities.
While in Cleveland, Fritsch initiated his own longitudinal study of preserved and changing cognitive capacities in 670 persons, all of whom graduated from the same high school in the mid-1940s. Then, through their Alumni Association, he was able to locate most of these graduates and ask them for their teen IQs. Low cognitive abilities at age 15 predicted poor cognitive functioning at age 75.