Alzheimer's Disease Is The Focus Of TBSI Annual Neuroscience Symposium

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Conferences
Article Date: 04 Aug 2009 - 0:00 PDT


Brazos Valley residents, neuroscience researchers, and interested clinicians will each have opportunities to hear from internationally recognized researchers on the topic of aging and Alzheimer's Disease during the Texas Brain and Spine Institute's Third Annual Neuroscience Symposium on September 3 and 4. This year's symposium will consist of an evening of public presentations aimed at helping local residents, Alzheimer's patients, and their family members better understand early signs of the disease and ways to reduce your risk. The Friday afternoon session will feature a clinical presentation for health providers and researchers.

The keynote speakers, Bradley Hyman, M.D., Ph.D. and David Snowdon, Ph.D., are specialists on aging and Alzheimer's disease who have conducted extensive research. Dr. Hyman is the John B. Penney Jr. Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and is the Director of the Massachusetts Alzheimer Disease Research Center. Dr. Snowdon is the author of the award-winning book "Aging with Grace" and recently retired as a Professor in the Department of Neurology and the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at the University of Kentucky.

The public session is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Annenberg Presidential Center at the Bush Presidential Conference Center. Dr. Snowdon will speak at 5 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. by a variety of local specialists speaking about "Prevention and Risk factors of Alzheimer's", "Care for the Caregivers" and "Signs and Symptoms of Dementia".

"We are excited about the addition of the Thursday evening public session," said L. Gerard Toussaint III, M.D., chair of this year's symposium. "By moving the session to the evening and having several short sessions on Alzheimer's topics, we believe more residents will make a point to attend - and we really have some exceptional presentations on Alzheimer's awareness, prevention and caregiver support."

The purpose of the TBSI Neuroscience Symposium is to showcase current research and to promote understanding of a variety of nervous system disorders. TBSI was founded under the concept of bringing together top-level clinical care with current neuroscience research to provide the best possible treatment to patients with neurological disorders or injuries. "The symposium is an ideal way to share some of the latest information on Alzheimer's Disease research with the public as well as provide continuing education for clinical staff," said Dr. Toussaint.

Dr. Hyman is an internationally-recognized researcher in Alzheimer's disease who has published more than 450 papers and chapters during his career. He serves as the John B. Penney Jr. Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and is the Director of the Massachusetts Alzheimer Disease Research Center. Dr. Hyman directs the Alzheimer's unit at MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, with the goal of understanding the neuropathophysiologic and genetic factors that underlie dementia. He received both his Ph.D. in biochemistry and M.D. from the University of Iowa.

Dr. Snowdon is best known for his key role as director of the Nun Study, a longitudinal study of aging and Alzheimer's Disease which is following 678 members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame aged over 75 years. Based on that study, Dr. Snowdon authored the award-winning book "Aging with Grace" in 2002.

Texas Brain and Spine Institute:

In coalition with St. Joseph Regional Health Center and The Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, the Texas Brain and Spine Institute encompasses both a clinical neuroscience center of excellence and a group of expert research neuroscientists. The clinical offices of the institute offer a full range of services for patients with neurological disorders. The institute staff - over 29 specialists ranging from Radiation Oncologists to research neuropharmacologists place TBSI at the forefront of clinical neuroscience practice. With offices in seven locations, the Texas Brain and Spine Institute is easily accessible to anyone in need of its services.

Source: Texas Brain and Spine Institute

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