World Expert to Open Local Health Seminars

March 17th, 2008 - Media Statement

A world-renowned expert in one of the most common forms of dementia facing our aging community will kick-off the WA Centre for Health and Ageing's 2008 seminar series this month.

Swedish Professor Ingmar Skoog, who has won a number of prestigious awards and spoken at more than 100 scientific meetings, will share his groundbreaking research findings on vascular disease and dementia.

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease and is caused by problems in the supply of blood in the brain, known as strokes, and the parts of the brain affected can include concentration, memory, behaviour and mood.

The Centre's Director Professor Leon Flicker said it was an honour to have an expert of Professor Skoog's calibre open the 'Ageing not all doom and gloom: Healthy and Successful Ageing' seminar series.

"Professor Skoog is a recognised leader in the field of dementia and mental disorders among the elderly and was the first person to report on the relationship between vascular disease and dementia," he said.

"His presentation to the State's health professionals and academics will offer us a unique opportunity to further our understanding of this common condition and add great value to our own research projects."

"Professor Skoog has pioneered key findings in vascular dementia and remains at the forefront of the field, so I can think of no better way to begin our 2008 seminar series than to have him share his extensive knowledge of this field."

Professor Skoog has been awarded the Zenith Fellows Award from the Alzheimer's Association and the Danish Stromgren prize in psychiatry, and has provided expert opinion to organisations such as WHO, European Union, British Medical Research Council and the Harvard School of Public Health.

Professor Skoog's will present 'Understanding the Role of Vascular Disease and its Impact on Risk Factors Associated with Dementia' to WA health professionals and academics at Royal Perth Hospital on Friday March 28.

The presentation is recommended for health and medical professionals as well as academics in the field. For reservations, please contact the Centre via email wacha@uwa.edu.au or call (08) 9224 2993.

For more information please contact:
Sarah Hayward
Media Consultant for the WA Institute for Medical Research
Mobile: 0411 404 415
Office: (08) 9388 9280