Presented by: The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging
Sponsored by: The Molson Knowledge Exchange Fund and The Knowledge Transfer Office, Douglas Mental Health University Institute
The first set of lectures was centered on individuals with international reputations (Dr. Whitehouse, MD, PhD, Dr. Peterson, MD, PhD, Dr. Bateman, MD, Dr. Bennett, MD and Dr. Rowe, MD) who could do a state-of-the-art review of their respective fields of expertise:
- Ethical issues in the diagnosis and treatment of cognitive decline of the elderly person
- New diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s Disease and the US National Plan Against Dementia
- Treatment of early-onset familial Alzheimer’s Disease (DIAN-TU)
- Molecular brain imaging from the Australian longitudinal study (AIBL)
- Autopsy studies leading to new knowledge about dementia
The second set of lectures were symposia with three speakers each addressing major topics
- Frontotemporal dementias, with emphasis on progressive aphasias
- Suicidality in the elderly with cognitive impairment
- Use of biomarkers in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, with emphasis on amyloid PET imaging
These lectures facilitated partnerships with other research units at the Douglas Mental Health Research Institute, for example, the suicidality symposium was planned with the Suicide Research Unit led by Dr. Turecki and Dr. Richard-Devantoy. Research groups outside the Douglas were also involved, such as the Institut de Gériatrie de Montréal co-sponsoring the lecture by Dr. Bennett, and the Université Laval as well as Réseau des cliniques mémoire du Québec co-sponsoring the symposium on the use of biomarkers in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Deliverables from these lecturers include:
- International recognition of the Douglas Mental Health Research Institute and the McGill Center for Studies in Aging among world opinion leaders in the field of Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders
- Publications directly derived from two of the symposia (suicidality and biomarkers)
- Students and fellows meeting role models, particularly the rare breed of clinician scientists
Lecture details of the 2016 edition are as follows.
- “From Concussion to Dementia: Targeting Dysregulated Brain Inflammation” – by Dr. Linda J. Van Eldik, Ph.D.
- “Imaging of Neuroinflammation in AD” – by Dr. Paul Edison, Ph.D.