Reynolds Wins Pardes Prize from Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

Charles F. Reynolds III received a 2016 Pardes Humanitarian Prize in Mental Health from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation in New York City. The prize, which bestows an honorarium of $300,000, was presented to Reynolds—a UPMC Endowed Professor of Geriatric Psychiatry—on Oct. 28 for "pioneering work in geriatric psychiatry and the prevention and treatment of late-life depression." At Pitt, Reynolds is also a Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, and Clinical and Translational Science. He cofounded the Global Consortium for Depression Prevention and edits the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

In its award statement, the foundation noted that Reynolds helped to define depression prevention in older adults as a new global health priority and, with his colleagues, demonstrated that depression treatment reduces suicidal risk as well as cancer-related mortality risk in elderly patients. "His work has informed long-term treatment strategies to prevent recurrence and to delay dementia in those with depression and mild cognitive impairment," said the foundation's statement.

In response to winning the prize, Reynolds commented, "In our youth-focused culture, the elderly and their struggles with mental illness are often overlooked and neglected. Late-life depression is a global health priority that has immense impact on older individuals and their families. It is my sincere hope that as a society we can work to restore the joy of living to older adults affected by mental illness."