By Linda Hegstrand, MD, PhD
As program chairperson for
this conference, I encouraged the committee to choose Neurodegeneration as the
theme for this conference. In my first
life as a medical scientist, I did my graduate research on Multiple Sclerosis
and was awarded a Multiple Sclerosis Society postodoctoral fellowship to
continue my research. Grand Rapids is
the home of the renowned Van Andel Research Institute which has 2 primary areas
of research – one is Parkenson's Disease.
We have the privilege of hearing Dr. Patrik Brundin, head of Parkinson's
Research at the VARI, speak to us on the latest research on PD.
Neurological disorders are on
the rise. We all have patients, relatives,
and/or friends with a neurological disorder.
Neurological disorders span the entire age spectrum. Autism Spectrum Disorder was unusual in the
1960's. The incidence was 1 in
10,000. The current incidence is 1 in 42
boys and 1 in 189 girls. Multiple
Sclerosis is most frequently diagnosed in people 20 to 40 years old at the rate
of 10,000 per year in the US.
Parkinson's Disease is more common in people over 65, but 4% of people
with PD are under 50. There are 60,000
new diagnoses of PD per year in the US.
In terms of numbers, Alzheimer's Disease effects more people than all
the other neurological diseases combined.
There are currently 5 million people in the US diagnosed with AD or
another dementia and that number is predicted to grow to 16 million by
2050. AD is the the 6th
leading cause of death in the US. Since
2000, the rate of deaths from heart disease has decreased by 14% while the rate
of deaths from AD has increased by 89%.
Of the drugs that have been studied for treating AD, 99.6% have never
left the research lab. According to the
Alzheimer's Association: “ A genuinely new AD drug has not been approved since
2003 and the currently approved AD medications are ineffective in stopping or
slowing the course of the disease.”
We have assembled an
outstanding roster of speakers to bring us up to date on the latest in the
diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders with an emphasis on the Impact
of Environmental Insult on the Nervous System.
Our goal is to have you take away information that you can put to use in
your practices on Monday morning.
Grand Rapids has become a
vibrant, thriving, growing metropolitan area.
Michigan State Medical School relocated to GR a few years ago and
complements the Van Andel Reserch Institute.
Art Prize is the largest art collection of its type in the US and
probably in the world. Everywhere you
turn and every building you enter in downtown GR you will be treated to an
array of all types of art. The Gerald
Ford Presidential Museum is across the river from here and also is a location
for Art Prize. Meijer's Botanical and
Sculpture Gardens are world class and also is a sight for Art Prize. There is a shuttle to the Gardens which are
about 4 to 5 miles from downtown. There
is lot to enjoy in the place that has been my home for almost 25 years.
My thanks to all who have
made this conference on Neurodegeneration a reality. Special thanks to the program committee for
all the help they provided in obtaining speakers, to our exhibitors who provide
the support that enables us to have this conference, to Wendy for all the work
she does that is essential for this conference to occur, and for the attendees
who take from their valuable time and resources to be here.
Our goals are for you to
leave GR with knowledge that you can use in your clinical practices having had
an enjoyable time doing that and having made new professional acquaintances
that will become valued colleagues.
No comments:
Post a Comment