World Alzheimer’s Day Virtual Convention

Session: The Impact of Social Connection on the Brain

Dr. Mobley is Associate Dean of Neurosciences Initiatives, Distinguished Professor of Neurosciences, and Interim Director of the Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion at UC San Diego. He also serves as Executive Director of UCSD's Down Syndrome Center for Research and Treatment, and holds the Florence Riford Chair of Alzheimer’s Disease Research. Dr. Mobley’s research is focused on degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, especially Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He currently serves as Chair of the Science and Clinical Advisory Committee of the National Down Syndrome Society and is President-Elect of the Trisomy 21 Research Society.

Richard S. Isaacson, M.D. currently serves as Director of theAlzheimer’s Prevention Clinic, Weill Cornell Memory Disorders Program, and Director of the Neurology Residency Training Program at Weill Cornell Medical College/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Isaacson now specializes exclusively in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk reduction and treatment, mild cognitive impairment due to AD and pre-clinical AD. His AD research focuses on nutrition and the implementation and longitudinal assessment of dietary interventions for AD management. He is the author of two best-selling books geared for patients and caregivers, Alzheimer’s Treatment Alzheimer’s Prevention: A Patient & Family Guide (2012 Edition) and most recently, The Alzheimer’s Prevention & Treatment Diet. His recent efforts have focused on the development of Alzheimer's Universe (www.AlzU.org) a vast online educational portal on AD, with results published in the Journal of the Prevention of Alzheimer's disease. He is the author of numerous publications, his research in neurology and medical education has been presented at scientific meetings nationally and internationally, and was awarded the 2009 AAN A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award.

Session: Sensory Tastes and Memory Recall

Rhonna Shatz is the Medical Director of the Memory Disorders Center and the Bob and Sandy Heimann Chair in Research and Education of Alzheimer’s Disease. She is a UCNS-certified behavioral neurologist and has received numerous Alzheimer’s Association awards for service and innovation. She is dedicated to the expansion of Alzheimer’s Association expert services and support for everyone with a diagnosis of dementia. Dr.Shatz helped initiate a special memory clinic-Alzheimer’s Association collaborative in Detroit, and incorporates regular cognitive assessments and dementia risk factor control as part of routine primary care.

Dedicated to training and inspiring the next generation of students to grow up to become behavioral neurologists, Dr. Shatz teaches as a University of Cincinnati Professor and oversees the UCNS-certified Behavioral Neurology Fellowship.

Session: Live Brain-Healthy Cooking Class and 3 Brain-Healthy Recipes

Leslie Myers is not only a chef, but a proud member of the Betty Designs Racing team and has been involved in endurance sports since 2002. She is the chef-owner of Foodsense, Now; a company devoted to the education and production of healthy, whole food cuisine. A self-proclaimed “qualitarian” of food and graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, Leslie teaches cooking classes and corporate wellness in Southern California; advises athletically-minded people on “mindful not ‘militant’” approaches to their diets and caters events featuring healthy, vibrant food. She develops healthy, “real world” culinary classes, recipes and eating plans. Leslie strongly believes that a proper diet is a large part of the equation in optimizing long-term health. Leslie is an eight-time Hawaii Ironman triathlon qualifier and multiple Ironman Triathlon Age Group champion. When she is not cooking and racing triathlons, she can be found out and about in North County or at Dog Beach with her husband, Geoff and her dog, Tango.

Session: Interactive Mind Fit Series plus discussion of Home Care Assistance’s Balanced Care Method and dementia care strategies for caregivers

Michelle Wile has worked in the senior care world for over ten years and is passionate about helping people age well. After completing her Master’s degree in Social Work with a focus on Mental Health and Geriatrics, Michelle worked in the Greater Boston area to support families caring for a loved one with neurodegenerative health issues as they navigated the healthcare system and changing family dynamics. Michelle began working at Home Care Assistance of La Jolla as an Interventionist in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method program, moving into a position developing enrichment content and training other facilitators across the country. In her current role as Client Care Manager and Mind Fit Facilitator, Michelle is driven by a belief that each person’s life history provides a roadmap to care planning and loves working with our clients to build from their unique experiences to enhance wellbeing in mind, body and spirit.