NEWS

Leaders in Alzheimer's research to report on status of disease

Indiana to gain with proceeds of charity event featuring former President

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    

October 28, 2009

CONTACT:    Dollyne Pettingill Sherman (dollyne@aol.com or 317-414-9106)

INDIANAPOLIS-Indiana is gaining attention during November, a month officially declared as "Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month," when three leading experts in Alzheimer's research appear at a November 19 event benefiting Alzheimer's research.

The panel of experts will present a report on the status of Alzheimer's research in America.  Panelists include:

Dr. Jeffrey L. Cummings, Director and Founder, UCLA Alzheimer's Disease Center and the Deane F. Johnson Center for Neurotherapeutics. Dr. Cummings is considered one of the top researchers in the world in this field.

 Mr. Harry Johns, President and CEO of the national Alzheimer's Association.

 Dr. Bernardino Ghetti, Director of the Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Center at the IU School of Medicine.

Former President George H. W. Bush will be the keynote speaker at the event to be held at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis. 

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and their missions to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research while providing the necessary care and support for all affected.  

Alzheimer's disease, which affects 5.3 million Americans and is predicted to strike one in eight baby boomers, is the seventh-leading cause of death in the country.  While scientists and researchers try to fight the disease in laboratories, families and caregivers like the Indiana Alzheimer's Association, fight on the front lines, supporting those afflicted with Alzheimer's.

The event will also benefit the Deane F. Johnson Center Foundation located in the Center for Neurotherapeutics at UCLA, a clinical trial center devoted to advancing treatment of neurological diseases.  JCNT provides advanced academic expertise and resources, education programs, and clinical trials support to companies like Eli Lilly and Company.

The charity event, sponsored in part by Ambassador Healthcare with assistance from the Central Indiana Community Foundation, is open to the public.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 317-577-2827.

The Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center will present the HBO Alzheimer's Project Screenings. Our faculty experts will be available to answer questions.  The screenings will be at the Riley Outpatient Center Auditorium, located at 601 West Drive, Indianapolis, IN  46202 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on the following day:

•  Thursday, November 12, 2009

Caregivers

This program is free of charge and open to the public but registration is required as space is limited.

Please RSVP to 317-274-4939 or mailto:rcludy@iupui.edu

The Association for Frontotemporal Dementias(AFTD) is a nationwide non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and fund research into finding the cause and cure for the frontotemporal dementias; to provide information, education, and support to persons diagnosed with frontotemporal dementias (FTD) and their families and caregivers; and to educate physicians and allied health professionals about FTD.   For more information on FTD please visit the following website:  www.ftd-picks.org

The 7th International Conference on Frontotemporal Dementias will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 6-8, 2010.  For more information regarding the conference please visit the following website:  www.ftd2010.org