4th International Conference on Vascular Dementia June 30 - July 02, 2016 Valencia, Spain

Biography:

David Truswell has worked in community based mental health services in the UK for over thirty years developing services for people with complex care needs and enduringrnmental health problems in a career spanning the voluntary sector, local authority services and the NHS. From 2009 – 2011, he was the Dementia Implementation Lead forrnCommissioning Support for London, working with commissioners across London to improve dementia services. He is an independent writer and researcher on dementia support and services for Black and minority ethnic communities, working with a number of projects and initiatives.

Abstract:

London, the UK capital is home to 58% of all those who identified themselves as African-Caribbean in the UK 2011 National Census.

It is demographically the oldest of the Black populations in the Census categories and proportionally has a higher rate of dementia than the White UK majority. With research indicating that vascular dementia and early onset dementia are a growing issuesrnfor Caribbean men under the age of 65 strong cultural beliefs lead many of those most at risk to dismiss any mainstream efforts atrnpreventative health education. Denial of problems and refusal to seek help or diagnosis can often lead to a major crisis before therernis any engagement with professional support services and frustrate efforts to develop ongoing links with services. Culture Dementia UK a voluntary organization has been working on awareness raising and providing support in the African-Caribbean community inrnLondon. The presentation explores how the African-Caribbean cultural narrative of independence and resilience mitigates againstrnhelp-seeking in dementia and some of the approaches adopted by Culture Dementia UK to raise awareness and encourage people to look for support.

Biography:

Howard J Federoff over sees the clinical, medical educational, and research missions, as a Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and CEO of UC Irvine Health. He investigatesrngene therapy and neurodegenerative diseases. He has published greater than 250 articles and serves on the editorial boards of five journals. He Chaired the NIHrnRecombinant DNA Advisory Committee and currently Chairs the Gene Therapy Resource Program for NHLBI. He is President of the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics. He received MS, PhD, and MD degrees from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, did his internship, residency, and clinical and research fellowshipsrnat Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He is a Fellow of the AAAS and National Academy of Inventors.

Abstract:

Our group has studied a longitudinal cohort of seniors, >75 yrs, to discover and validate peripheral blood measures that canrnaccurately predict which cognitively normal subjects will progress to amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) or Alzheimer disease (AD) in a three year period. We initially reported on plasma metabolites which are now more accurate as a diagnostic. We havernextended this work on plasma metabolomics and have discovered and validated a panel of 24 analytes that predict phenoconversionrnto Alzheimer’s disease with accuracy of >96%.

Biography:

Jane Verity is the Founder of Spark of Life and CEO of Dementia Care Australia. She is a world leader and pioneer in the social and emotional care of people with dementia.rnOriginally from Denmark and now living in Melbourne, Australia, she is an Occupational and Family Therapist and a Master Practitioner in NLP. She has earned the highestrninternational accreditation as a professional speaker and is known for her life changing presentations. She has authored 2 internationally published books and contributedrnto others. She is also a regular contributor to journals and an international key note presenter

Abstract:

The Spark of Life Philosophy provides an internationally awarded whole systems approach to rehabilitation in dementia care. Initially developed in Australia this philosophy is now implemented in 9 countries and is gaining momentum and interest around the world. The award (from the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing) was giving in recognition for thernunique focus on building the strength and abilities of people with dementia and those who care for them. The philosophy has been well researched and is based on sound scientific foundations. Specific outcomes include: the activation of dormant abilities such asrnlanguage, memory, ability to socialize and interest in engaging in life. The author who is the Founder of Spark of Life and CEO of Dementia Care Australia will provide a leadership perspective of how this philosophy is implemented as a whole systems approachrnand how this rehabilitation mindset is both empowering and providing a financially sustainable model for dementia care across thernglobe. The presentation will be brought alive with documentary footage showing people with dementia involved in this program asrnwell as research findings and case studies.

Biography:

Panteleimon Giannakopoulos has completed his MD from the University of Athens and is board certified psychiatrist and psychotherapist from 1999. He completed his Postgraduaterntraining in London and Paris before taking the chair of old age psychiatry in Geneva. He has also a full training in cognitive neurosciences focusing on dementing conditions. He was the chairman of the Department of Psychiatry in Geneva from 2005 to 2015 before being appointed as medical director of the Forensic Psychiatry forrnthe Geneva country. He has published more than 220 peer-reviewed articles (H index: 42), and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member and reviewer of repute.

Abstract:

We investigated whether subtle cognitive deterioration in healthy elderly individuals could be predicted by ASL imaging andrnEEG markers. A longitudinal study included 75 stable controls (sCON) and 73 deteriorated controls (d-CON) at 18-monthrnclinical follow-up and 65 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Continuous EEG was recorded during a n-back workingrnmemory task and two-dimensional pulsed ASL was performed at the baseline visit. Reduced ASL in the posterior cingulate cortexrnwas associated with the development of subtle neuropsychological deficits. Three EEG indices distinguished the two control groups:rnalpha and beta even related desynchronization (dCON > sCON) and beta inter-trial coherence (dCON < sCON). These results willrnbe discussed as a paradigm of predictive biomarkers in preclinical forms of dementia.

Biography:

Susan Scanland is a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner for 34 years and also a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP). She is one of two nurse practitioners worldwidernholding the credential of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) from the National Speakers Association. She has presented at over 600 meetings in 42 states, Canada andrnthe Caribbean through her business Dementia Connection®. She is a Faculty Specialist at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. Her clinical practice has been limitedrnto dementia, depression and delirium management for the past 12 years in long-term care and telehealth.

Abstract:

Research trials on cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine and antidepressants for behavioral and psychological symptoms inrnvascular/mixed dementia in long-term care settings are nearly non-existent. The absence of approved medications for vascularrndementia offers practicing clinicians few treatment options. Off-label use of Alzheimer’s approved drugs and antidepressants are morernpractical than risking pneumonia, hip fracture, cerebrovascular accidents and dysphagia from anti-psychotic use for vascular/mixed dementia behaviors. Long-term care admissions for vascular dementia will rapidly increase with Baby Boomers diagnosed withrnType II diabetes, obesity and cardiac or cerebrovascular risk factors. Behaviors of vascular and mixed dementia; often compoundedrnby vascular depression, significantly impact quality of life of long-term care residents, cohabitant residents, family members andrnnursing staff. A gerontological nurse practitioner/dementia consultant will review behavioral and mood responses to cholinesteraserninhibitors, memantine and anti-depressants in nursing home residents diagnosed with vascular and mixed dementia. Case studiesrnand informal surveys summarizing four years of long-term care dementia management will be presented.