Photo opportunity 6.30pm, Tuesday 12 March, lecture theatre 2, Medical School, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
The Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre at the University of Dundee will host an expert public lecture on Tuesday 12 March exploring the positive effects of participation in the arts for people with Alzheimer's disease.
As part of National Brain Awareness Week, the lecture will also provide an insight into the most recent discoveries in Alzheimer's research. Claire Small and Rachel Sayer, research students from the University of Dundee will explain the discovery that inflammation may play a role in the development of Alzheimer's. "Clinical studies suggest that anti-inflammatory agents may slow the rate of brain cell death and may delay the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease."
John Killick, research fellow from the University of Stirling will talk about the new artistic talents that people with dementia develop. The lecture entitled, "Holding a Rainbow in our Hands' will be illustrated by some examples of the wide range of art that people with dementia take part in including painting, collage, mosaic work, photography, stained-glass, drama and music.
A project to develop a computer-based reminiscence system to prompt conversation between people with dementia and their relatives and carers will be presented by Dr Norman Alm of the applied computing department and Maggie Ellis from the School of Psychology at the University of St Andrews. The new technology uses computers to play music and show pictures of people and places that are familiar to the patient to prompt their memory. The computers use touch screens for the patients' added stimulation.
The Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre hosts a multidisciplinary research team including biomedical, social and clinical researchers. The group members are based in the Tayside area, and include researchers from the University of Dundee, the University of St. Andrews, the University of Stirling and local NHS trusts. The main aim of the group is to increase collaboration among researchers in the field of Alzheimer's Disease.
The lecture will take place in lecture theatre two at the Medical School in Ninewells Hospital on Tuesday 12 March at 6.45pm. The lecture is free and is open to the public./ENDS
Contact Susan Simpson 01382 496589