UNM’s Brain & Behavioral Health Institute and the New Mexico Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association collaborated on a conference titled “Dementia Capable Providers: Person-Centered Solutions” that is currently running though Thursday morning.
The conference, which will end at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, aims to share the latest research in the field with public health policy makers and health care providers.
On Wednesday, the speakers and participants discussed how the collaboration between public health policy makers, health care providers, community members and academicians could benefit people affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Matthew Baumgart, senior director of Public Policy for the National Alzheimer’s Association, highlighted cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease as two issues that are continuously being explored.
“(That includes) an interpretation of what current research is reflecting with regard to risk reduction,” he said.
He said that there was a dire need for increased resources, governmental education and awareness in order to improve research in the field.
Janice Knoefel, professor of internal medicine and neurology at the UNM Health Sciences Center, presented an overview of the effects of alcohol on the nervous system. She also discussed possible treatment options of cognitive decline due to alcohol.
Chris Chaffin, media coordinator for the state chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association said that the event entails at least 10 UNM doctors or researchers making appearances, eight quick-fire presentations similar to TED Talks and a Q&A session about UNM’s new Memory and Aging Center.
He said conference topics include an update on prevention and nutritional recommendations, care techniques and options, advancement in research and treatment and early detection, all provided by respected experts in their fields.
Knoefel, who also serves as an event moderator for the conference, said that Alzheimer’s is just one of many causes of dementia, generally defined as a decline in cognitive abilities such as memory and language.
“[This] is the only state-wide conference dealing with the topic of dementia and aging,” she said.
She said that she feels it is important to understand the health of residents of New Mexico, meet local professionals and grow familiar with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease resources.
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There are an estimated 36,000 people in New Mexico with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Knoefel said. That number is expected to reach 53,000 by the year 2025.
“It is calculated that 106,000 New Mexicans are caregivers for persons with dementia. Almost everyone personally knows someone who has or had suffered from dementia,” she said.
Knoefel said that she hoped attendees will walk away from the conference knowing “we have a fantastic, knowledgeable and welcoming Alzheimer’s disease community in the state.”
Hannah Chapel, a senior political science and biology major, has had this week marked on her calendar. She said that she hopes the conference will help her expand her knowledge of dementia.
Chapel said she is interested in learning about the latest research on dementia, its impacts on the individual and their loved ones and how care providers can better manage the illness.
“Our country will be sustaining a massive amount of elderly in the near future, with the majority of them having some sort of dementia. It will affect every person in some way (if it doesn’t already), and it is important for those of us entering the medical field as well as everyone else to be prepared with tools, not only to fight dementia, but to be better able to care for those with dementia,” Chapel said.
Elizabeth Sanchez is a staff reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Beth_A_Sanchez.
