Neurological Foundation of New Zealand

10.30am - Associate Professor John Reynolds - Harnessing learning mechanisms to treat neurological disease. Ongoing, collaborative research at the University of Otago is providing exciting new insights into normal brain learning mechanisms and how these can be applied to the treatment of neurological disease. Dr John Reynolds will review highlights of recent work including research into the mechanisms of stroke and Parkinson’s disease and some potential new avenues of treatment that are in development at Otago. Dr Reynolds is a former Chapman Fellow of the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand and is currently the Chairman of the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

11.45am - Stroke Foundation of New Zealand - Is it a stroke? Act FAST! How can you tell if someone is having a stroke? This seminar will teach you the signs and symptoms of stroke that usually come on very suddenly. By learning to recognise the symptoms of stroke you could save a life! Learn the FAST check (Face, Arms, Speech, Time).

12.15pm - Associate Professor Bronwen Connor - Stem cells and the brain: discovery, myths and reality. Stem cell research is an exciting field that holds great promise for the future treatment of many diseases and injuries, including those of the brain. It is however a field that is surrounded by huge controversy, false promises and misinformation. Dr Bronwen Connor is a neuroscientist and an expert in stem cell research, and her presentation will demystify the issues surrounding this hot topic. Dr Connor will also update you about the exciting and groundbreaking research that has taken place in New Zealand, including her own breakthrough research with adult stem cells.

1.30pm - Alzheimer's Otago - Caring for the Carer. Caring for someone with dementia can be an intensive, challenging and rewarding experience all at once. It is important you do not try to manage alone - there are services available to help you from health professionals and social services. This seminar will take you through the support options available and provide some key tools to ensure the wellbeing of you, your family and the person you are caring for.

2.00pm - Dr Margaret Ryan - The effects of proteins in the Alzheimer's brain - insights for future treatments. Alzheimer's disease is an incurable, degenerative disease currently affecting over 35,000 New Zealanders. Because of our ageing population, it is projected that 10 per cent of the population will be affected by 2050. Extensive Alzheimer's research at the University of Otago and in other leading universities around the world has been focused on a protein in the brain known as amyloid-B as the possible cause due to its toxicity in brain cells. In conjunction with this critical work at Otago, a focus of Dr Margaret Ryan's research has been investigating another protein's involvement in the Alzheimer's disease process - this protein protects against damage to cells and supports memory processes. In this lecture, Dr Ryan will outline her most recent study of this intriguing protein, and talk about the potential it holds for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.