The Alzheimer's Association Education Conference is May 1, 2015, at the Indianapolis Marriott North, located at 3645 River Crossing from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Professionals and family members of those living with dementia will explore issues surrounding Alzheimer's disease.

Keynote presenter Peter Davies, Ph.D., Scientific Director of Litwin-Zucker Center for Research on Alzheimer's Disease at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Professor of Pathology and Neuroscience at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, will discuss the development of new treatments. His research has gained national recognition. On April 21, Davies received the 2015 Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick's, Alzheimer's and Related Diseases in Washington, D.C. at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting.

"The most important thing I can do is bring hope," said Davies. "My research has largely focused on the disease process and attempting to define points at which intervention is possible. A more detailed understanding of the process is essential to the development of drugs to slow, stop or even prevent it."

"The new findings on how Alzheimer's disease affects our community show that everyone is at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or another dementia in their lifetimes. It's time to do something about it - share the facts, assist the caregivers among us and be better educated about warning signs, how to address behaviors and care planning steps. Being prepared can help generate an earlier diagnosis, which we have found leads to best quality of life for the individual and his or her family," said Leah Shattuck. Ms. Shattuck is Communications Director of the Alzheimer Association's Greater Indiana Chapter.

"Diagnosis in the early stages of the disease allows one to plan for their care and have necessary conversations with their care partner," said AAGIC Executive Director Heather Hershberger. "An early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias is an important step in getting appropriate treatment, care and support services. We have many programs designed for those in the early stages and we offer the care and support families need throughout the disease," Ms. Hershberger added.

According to the Alzheimer Association's 2015 Facts and Figures report, an estimated 5.3 million American have the disease, including 110,000 individuals in Indiana. Projections say that the number of Americans with Alzheimer's will rise to 13.8 million by 2050. The full text of the report can be read at www.alz.org.

Conference registrants are invited to a special pre-conference screening of award-winning documentary film, Alive Inside, on April 30, 2015, 7 p.m. at Indianapolis Marriott North. Dan Cohen, MSW, founder of Music & Memory, Inc. and the subject of Alive Inside, will close the conference with his keynote presentation on therapeutic outcomes of personalized music for people with dementia. "Music that holds personal meaning serves as a backdoor to one's cognition, one's sense of self," said Cohen. "We may not be able to cure the disease, but we can often improve one's quality of life by helping to reduce or eliminate 'Sundowning,' while improving mood for the person with dementia as well as for the care partner."

For a free Alzheimer's Education Conference brochure or to register, visit www.alz.org/indiana/conference or call (800) 272-3900.