Forum in Shreveport to Focus on Lateset Research on Alzheimer's Disease - 11.30.2010

BATON ROUGE, LA - The Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s (PBRC) Institute for Dementia Research and Prevention is asking individuals interested in attending the upcoming free forum on dementia and Alzheimer's disease to preregister. Call 1-877-276-8306 to register for the free forum.

The event will be held on Tuesday, December 7, at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport at 5:30 p.m.

“We are receiving great interest in the forum, but seating is limited,” said Jeffrey Keller, Ph.D., director of the IDRP at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The forum is designed for individuals who want to get the latest insights in clinical research findings and advances in the field of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. “Our work is centered on the prevention of the disease,” said Dr. Keller, who notes that currently there are 100,000 individuals in Louisiana with Alzheimer’s disease.  

Guests are encouraged to register by calling toll free to 1-877-276-8306 or online at http://idrp.pbrc.edu  The program will feature leading dementia experts, including Dr. Keller, Russ Swerdlow, M.D., Ph.D, University of Kansas; David Henry, MD, ABFM, Willis-Knighton Health System;  and James Patterson, M.D., Ph.D. LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport.

In 2009, the IDRP's first annual conference attracted more than 500 individuals, caretakers, and medical professionals to the PBRC campus in Baton Rouge. Because of the program’s ongoing success, the conference series has expanded to include the Shreveport community. There is a great need for timely information on this topic," said Dr. Keller.

The IDRP was established to improve the quality of life for individuals in Louisiana through research programs focused on dementia prevention and to provide vital educational opportunities. IDRP is focused on creating the clinical research infrastructure, new clinical trials and conducting conferences to promote the latest in dementia research and prevention.

"Because of the overwhelming response from the community, IDRP has recruited more than 1,000 Louisiana residents who are now participating in a longitudinal study to identify the basis for age-related dementia," said Dr. Keller. It is the 12th largest study of its kind in the nation. The study aims to develop tools for early detection and to develop therapeutic avenues for treatment.

The public forum will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in an open format with the opportunity to ask questions of the dementia experts. Seating and exhibits will be available at 5:00 p.m. The forum will be held at Summer Grove Baptist Church, 8924 Jewella Road, Shreveport.

The forum is underwritten by Patron Sponsor, Willis-Knighton Health System.

Call 1-877-276-8306 for registration for the free forum.

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The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of the Louisiana State University System and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The research enterprise at the Center includes 85 faculty and more than 30 post-doctoral fellows who comprise a network of 53 laboratories supported by lab technicians, nurses, dieticians, and support personnel, and 19 highly specialized core service facilities.  The Center's nearly 600 employees occupy several buildings on the 234-acre campus.

For More Information Contact:
Angela deGravelles
225-202-5073

Jessica Alleyne
jessica.alleyne@pbrf.org