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On March 13th, Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BU ADC) faculty and staff joined members of the Carleton-Willard Village (CWV) staff in Bedford, MA to host “Pump Up Your Brain!” Perhaps the first Memory Fair of its kind in the New England area, this event attracted over 150 residents from CWV and the surrounding area who showed up to learn about brain health and methods for sustaining positive brain aging. The underlying theme of the Fair focused on dispelling memory loss and aging myths, and each information table that lined the Fair presented a myth along with information to debunk the myth. The topics included heart and brain health, driving safety, caregiving, intellectual stimulation, and nutrition. Attendees engaged in drumming demonstrations, blood pressure checks, and demonstrations of physical fitness equipment. Raffle prizes included items donated by the BU Bookstore, CWV, and Nintendo Corporation. Other participating organizations included the Alzheimer’s Association, the BU Vision and Cognition Lab, and the Center for Translational Cognitive Neuroscience at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, MA. The Memory Fair also included lectures from BU ADC faculty who addressed current topics in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research. Dr. Robert Stern, BU ADC Clinical Core Director, began the forum by speaking about the importance of distinguishing fact from myth when it comes to your brain health. Dr. Stern also spoke about a number of clinical research studies currently underway at the BU ADC that provide hope for finding answers about early detection and treatment of AD. Dr. Stern stated that “recent scientific advances provide incredible hope for patients, their caregivers, and the countless millions of individuals who may be at risk of developing AD in the future. As we become better able to diagnose AD at the very earliest stages, new treatments will likely delay the onset of symptoms or prevent the symptoms of dementia in the first place.” Attendees listened as BU ADC clinical researchers, Drs. Andrew Budson and Brandon Ally, presented findings based upon their ongoing studies at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital. Throughout the day the CWV clinic was busy with memory screenings overseen by BU ADC faculty member and licensed psychologist, Dr. Angela Jefferson. Dr. Jefferson stated, “we were overwhelmed by the large number of both local area and CWV residents who signed up to participate in the brief memory screen. Attendees came to the feedback sessions with numerous questions about brain health and methods for preventing abnormal memory loss.” The screening received such interest that a second screening will be scheduled later this spring to accommodate the volume. Event co-coordinators, Stephanie Smith, Director of Public Relations at CWV, and Stephanie Sikora, BU ADC Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator, were thrilled with the outcomes. Ms. Smith commented, “Carleton-Willard could not have been more pleased with the Memory Fair. In the days that followed the event, our residents were still talking about how wonderful it was, and residents from the surrounding towns who attended were clearly impressed and glad to receive so much positive information about practical steps for improving their memories.” The Memory Fair was so successful that similar events sponsored by the BU ADC are on the horizon in other communities and venues. For more information about the Memory Fair or to learn how to host a similar event in conjunction with the BU ADC, please contact Stephanie Sikora at 617-414-1078 or sasikora@bu.edu.
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