Community health foundation launches public education series
First session will cover diagnosis, treatment, prevention of dementia
The overwhelming impact of dementia on patients and families will be the first topic of a free public education speaker series presented by the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association.
GAMA has created a foundation designed to help inform the public about pressing health care issues. Among the new GAMA Foundation’s projects is the launch in November of the speaker series.
The first presentation, Unraveling New Mexico’s Cognitive Decline, is scheduled for 7-8 p.m. Nov. 6 in Sandia Preparatory School’s auditorium, 532 Osuna Road NE.
About 41,000 New Mexico residents live with Alzheimer’s and are cared for by 107,000 unpaid caregivers, many of whom are relatives.
The speaker lineup consists of Dr. Janice Knoefel, a local neurologist specializing in dementia; Anderson Riddle, a study coordinator for Albuquerque Neuroscience, Inc., focusing on dementia research; and Tim Sheehan, executive director for the Alzheimer’s Association of New Mexico, which provides services and support to dementia patients and their families.
Their talks will help the audience understand the definition of dementia, learn how to recognize symptoms, understand methods of diagnosis and treatment options, explore possible causes as well as the links between aging and health, and discuss action you can take to help prevent the disease.
The GAMA Foundation was created to support the continual improvement of community health, said its president, Dr. Mihaela Bujoi. It was spurred by the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association Board’s commitment to providing the public with access to accurate health care information.
Registration is available through Nov. 4 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unraveling-new-mexicos-cognitive-decline-tickets-71720320409.