Do we have any control over our brain health as we age?

“If the answer is yes,” as Professor Yoram Barak contends, “then what can we do to forestall the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?” This is the question that will be discussed at the upcoming free Alzheimers Canterbury public seminar: “Maintaining Brain Health” at the Rangiora Town Hall on June 15th from 5pm to 7pm.

The MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging suggests that genetics may account for only a third of Alzheimer’s disease risk, with the rest dependent on factors in part under personal control. This suggests a major role for lifestyle modification in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. It also emphasises the personal responsibility for maintaining brain health.

Professor Yoram Barak will spend the remainder of his talk reviewing the lifestyle factors thought to influence brain health and aging: (1) physical conditioning; (2) mental stimulation; (3) stress management; (4) nutrition and possibly most important (5) loneliness and purpose in life.

Alzheimers Canterbury is excited to work with Professor Yoram Barak for a series of educational sessions and workshops that focus on brain health. The Rangiora seminar will be the final session offered in these series. The seminar is free to attend, however, a small donation to Alzheimers Canterbury would be welcomed.

Dr Yoram Barak is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, and Director of a Psychogeriatric Department. He has published extensively and is author or co-author of over 150 peer-reviewed journal articles. His book "Preventing Alzheimer's Disease" has recently been published in the United States.