Alzheimers Association, OC and UCI MIND To Host 25th Annual Southern California Research Conference

Leading doctors and researchers present current Alzheimers findings

Online PR News – 20-August-2014 – Alzheimers Association, Orange County (AAOC), one of Southern Californias premier nonprofit organizations for Alzheimers research and education, will partner with the University of California, Irvines Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) on Friday, Sept. 12, to host The Future of Alzheimers, the 25th Annual Southern California Research Conference, at the Hilton Orange County in Costa Mesa.

Aimed at professionals in the medical field, along with caregivers, family members and individuals diagnosed with Alzheimers or a related form of dementia, the full-day event will provide attendees with the latest research shared by nationally recognized dementia experts from leading academic institutions across the nation, such as Georgetown University, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at University of Kentucky, Harvard Medical School, UC Irvine and UCLA.

Despite intensive research over the past quarter century, scientists still have not uncovered effective prevention nor a cure for Alzheimers disease. The research community currently has shifted much of its focus to the importance of early detection and clarifying the risk factors for the disease.

A special portion of the program will be a panel discussion with individuals diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or early dementia. Panelists will share their experiences and provide insights into living with the disease.

The incidence of Alzheimers is growing to epidemic proportions, said Jim McAleer, president and CEO of AAOC. Along with this growing incidence, our conference becomes increasingly important each year, providing the Southern California region with the very latest data to help guide our efforts in the areas of prevention, diagnosis and treatments.

The event will begin with messages from Frank LaFerla, Ph.D. and Andrea Tenner, Ph.D. of UCI MIND, and AAOCs McAleer, followed by researchers presenting current developments, focusing on new findings that could lead to the next generation of research. The afternoon session will feature two tracks, one aimed at clinicians and one focused on research.

A sampling of topics include:
predicting future cognitive impairment
diseases that mimic Alzheimers
genetics and rare-variant studies
imaging for diagnosis
imaging as a research tool

The 25th Annual Research Conference will be held from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration for professionals seeking continuing education units is $225; caregivers, family and Alzheimers patients are offered a reduced rate of $110. Conference fee includes breakfast, lunch, parking and written materials. For more information, or to register, visit http://act.alz.org/25thAnnualResearchConference or contact Marcelo Soares at (949) 824-9896.

About Alzheimers Association, Orange County
The Alzheimer’s Association is the worlds leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimers care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimers through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Since 1982,
Alzheimers Association, Orange County Chapter has been providing programs and services, free of charge, to Orange County residents with Alzheimers and related disorders, their families, caregivers, and the community. Alzheimers is a neurodegenerative illness that weakens the memory and other cognitive and emotional functions. For more information, call the 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900, or visit www.alz.org/oc. Find AAOC on Facebook and Twitter.

About UCI MIND
Dedicated to the mission of researching ways to make memories last a lifetime, the University of California, Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) is engaged in cutting edge interdisciplinary research to uncover the basic mechanisms of brain aging, characterize the transition from normal aging to Alzheimers disease, develop new treatments, and identify strategies to maintain brain health. Internationally recognized, UCI MIND is one of 15 prestigious Alzheimers Disease Research Centers (ADRC) funded by the National Institute on Aging, one of the 10 California Alzheimers Disease Centers, and a leading national site for clinical trials. UCI MIND is Orange Countys only federally and state-designated Alzheimers disease research and clinical center. For more information, call (949) 824-2382 or visit www.mind.uci.edu