New Alzheimer’s Prevention Efforts, and Non-Drug Treatments, Featured at 25th Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International

LONDON, March 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Beneficial Alzheimer’s therapies
that don’t use drugs, and an update on prevention efforts, are the focus of
the second day’s plenary sessions at the 25th International Conference of
Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), March 12, 2010 at the Grand Hotel
Palace, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Prof. Robert Woods of Bangor University, Gwynedd, United Kingdom, says,
“Psychological therapies have been used with people with dementia for at
least 50 years, aiming to improve or maintain cognition, functional
abilities, and quality of life, and reduce distress, anxiety, depression and
behavioral difficulties.”

In his presentation at the conference, titled “Psychological
Interventions with People with Dementia,” Woods will share encouraging
findings from recent research, including cognitive stimulation and behavioral
approaches. Effect sizes comparable to drug therapies have been reported,
with fewer side effects, according to Woods.

Prof. Esme Moniz-Cook of the Institute of Rehabilitation, Hull York
Medical School, United Kingdom, will define psychosocial intervention in
dementia care and review some of the interventions that are known to help.
She will discuss recent research conducted in the UK. Mary Mittleman, D.P.H.
of the New York University, Langone Medical Center, USA will talk about her
experience “Translating the NYU Caregiver Intervention from Research to
Practice Settings.”

The day’s second plenary session will address the topic of “Can We
Prevent Alzheimer’s.” Scheduled topics/presenters are:

    - The Prevention Working Group of ADI. Barry Reisberg, M.D., New York
      University School of Medicine, USA.

    - Can Physical and Mental Exercise Prevent Cognitive Decline? Michael
      Valenzuela, Ph.D., University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

    - Helicobacter Pylori & Neurodegenerative Diseases. Kountouras Jannis,
      M.D., Ph.D., Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.

    - Brain Donation by People with Dementia and Carers. Prof. Paul Francis,
      King's College London, England.

For more information on the 25th Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease
International, please visit http://www.adi2010.org/

ADI is working closely with the Greek Association of Alzheimer’s Disease
and Related Disorders in organizing this conference.

Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) is an international federation of
71 Alzheimer associations around the world, in official relations with the
World Health Organization. ADI’s mission is to improve the quality of life of
people with dementia and their families throughout the world. Please visit
http://www.alz.co.uk/adi/.

Contacts:

Niles Frantz, Alzheimer’s Association (Chicago), +1-312-335-5777,
niles.frantz@alz.org

Marc Wortmann, Alzheimer’s Disease International (London),
+44-20-7981-0880, m.wortmann@alz.co.uk

SOURCE Alzheimer’s Disease International