November 3, 2004

SIU Med School Co-Sponsors Alzheimer Educational Forum

Alzheimer's disease is the topic of a public educational forum to be presented this month by the Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders (CADRD) at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter. It will be held Saturday morning, November 20, in the Wedeberg Conference Center at Memorial Medical Center, First and Miller Streets in Springfield.

The program will provide general information about the disease as well as information on services available through SIU's center and the Alzheimer’s Association.

The sessions begin at 9 a.m. with "Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementing Illnesses" by Dr. Tom Ala, SIU associate professor of neurology. The remaining sessions are "Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Treatment Update" by Dr. Dennis Q. McManus, SIU associate professor of neurology and medical director of CADRD outreach, and "Communication: Overcoming the Barriers of Dementia" by James Dearing, program manager for the Alzheimer's Association.

The program will conclude with a question and answer session at 11:45 a.m., featuring each of the three presenters.

The forum is free to the public and refreshments will be served. Parking is available in the visitor lots located east and south of the hospital's main entrance. Reservations are requested and can be made by contacting Leslie Randolph, SIU Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, at 217-545-7181 weekdays.

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