UK HealthCare

Mind Matters Health Fair Will Focus on Brain Health

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 18, 2015) — We often hear about the things we need to do to maintain heart health.  But did you know you should also be thinking about brain health?

In addition to the human suffering caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related dementias, there is an enormous financial strain on the health care system and families, consuming about $20 billion in direct costs alone.  As the baby boomer generation continues to age, that figure is expected to rise exponentially.  Finding a cure for Alzheimer's is our ultimate goal, but finding ways to help people stave off dementia by just five years  — whether through medicines or lifestyle changes  would make an enormous impact on the cost of patient care and the emotional stress experienced by the families of a loved one stricken by dementia.

The UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging (SBCoA), one of the world's leading research centers on age-related diseases, is dedicated to finding ways to slow down and/or cure Alzheimer's disease.  We are always eager to share our knowledge with the world, but care especially for Kentuckians — the people in our own backyard.

To that end, we will be holding our seventh annual "Mind Matters" health fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, May 18, at the Fayette County Extension Office, 1140 Red Mile Place, Lexington. The event is free of charge and anyone who is interested in learning about aging brain health for themselves or a loved one is welcome.

The focus of this year's event is proper nutrition for a healthy brain, providing information on how diet can help promote healthy brain aging and prevent age-related brain disease. There will be free 'brain healthy' food provided by chef Ouita Michel as well as live cooking demonstrations.

The event will also feature interactive exhibits, health and memory screenings, and presentations about healthy brain aging, Alzheimer's and music therapy.

The best health outcomes happen when patients, families, and physicians work together.  The Mind Matters Health Fair is an opportunity for you to arm yourself with the latest information on brain health for your own benefit and for that of others.

Dr. Greg Jicha is an aging and Alzheimer's disease specialist at the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.