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Symposium: Wellness for Persons with Dementia
The 2005 Boston Alzheimer’s Symposium,
“Wellness for Persons with Dementia,” was
held this past October in Marlborough, MA, sponsored
by Rogerson House/Communities and Carleton-
Willard Homes, Inc. Over 200 participants
attended sessions on nutrition, exercise, cognitive
stimulation and other practice innovations. Distinguished
faculty from around the world, including
Dr. Bruno Vellas from France and Dr. Akira Ueki
from Japan, presented their latest research findings.
The BU ADC co-sponsored the event, led by Dr.
Nancy Emerson Lombardo, Faculty Coordinator
for the symposium. Dr. Emerson Lombardo presented
evidence in support of her Memory Preservation
Diet, designed to reduce risk and slow progression
of AD. This diet will be the subject of an upcoming
book chapter in the Research and Practice in
Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline series.
Dr. Emerson Lombardo also presented on her study
of the use of acupuncture to promote quality of life
for people with AD. BU ADC Clinical Core Director
Dr. Robert C. Green, Course Director for the
symposium, delivered one of eight “mini-keynote”
addresses, discussing how epidemiology and genetics
research have provided a better understanding
of risk factors for AD. Education Core Co-Director
Dr. Kathy Horvath presented a breakout session
focused on home and community safety issues.
Prior to the symposium, an Expert Consensus
Summit on Wellness for Persons with Dementia
was held at Massachusetts General Hospital. The
summit brought together national and international
experts in the fi eld to exchange ideas and frame
future directions for research and policy. Attendees
included government leaders and policy-makers
(including representatives from the national Centers
for Disease Control), as well as local community
organization leaders. Dr. Emerson Lombardo
organized the summit, focused on four domains
related to wellness in dementia:
- Nutrition and
Herbal Treatments;
- Physical Exercise;
- Cognitive
Training; and
- Other Non-Pharmacological Approaches
The summit
resulted in recommendations for research, policy,
and clinical practice which will be disseminated to
policy-makers nationwide, as well as agencies such
as Alzheimer’s Disease International.
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