(SALT LAKE CITY)—Dementia is a syndrome –including Alzheimer's disease – that leads to a decline in mental ability severely affecting memory, reasoning and other tasks needed in daily life. Dementias usually start out slowly and get progressively worse.
Ken Rockwood, M.D., FRCPC, FRCP has spent the vast majority of his career researching the clinical and epidemiological aspects of dementia, delirium, and frailty. The Kathryn Allen Weldon Professor of Alzheimer research at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Rockwood will join the University of Utah Center on Aging as the keynote speaker for its ninth annual research retreat on Friday, April 3, 2015, from 8 a.m. to noon.
A staff internist and geriatrician at the Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, for 24 years, Rockwood has focused his clinical and research investigations on the complexities of frailty. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific studies and seven books, including the seventh edition of the Brocklehurst's "Textbook of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology."
In his keynote, Rockwood will discuss frailty and age-related deficit accumulation and how to manage their consequences, according Mark Supiano, M.D., Center on Aging director. "We are thrilled to have Dr. Rockwood share his knowledge about the causes of frailty and its implications," Supiano says. "His encouragement to ‘embrace the complexity' inherent in geriatrics is highly relevant."
Following Rockwood's presentation, a series of symposia will highlight "Effective Management of Comorbidities in Adults" including: Quality of Life in Older Adults with Mechanical Circulatory Support, Cognitive Health and Diabetes Care, and Autophagy and Age-Related Comorbidities.
The retreat takes place in the James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology /USTAR Building on the University campus. It is free and open to students, faculty and the public and no registration is required. The retreat gets underway Thursday, April 2, 2015, with a poster session from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the main atrium. Friday's symposium includes the following activities:
7:30 - 7:50 am - Continental Breakfast
7:50 - 8:00 am - Welcome by Dr. Mark A. Supiano, Executive Director, Center on Aging
8:00 - 9:30 am – Keynote address with Q&A
9:30 - 12:00 PM - Symposia Presentations
For more information on the retreat schedule, parking or symposia event visit: aging.utah.edu/2015retreat.php