Brain Health Matters
Date and time
Brain Health Matters will showcase seven amazing research projects. Come along to find out more about why your Brain Health Matters.
About this event
The New Zealand Brain Research Institute is undertaking ground-breaking research in Canterbury, into the effects and treatments for New Zealand’s most common brain disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and multiple sclerosis. They offer research opportunities to both emerging and established researchers from all over the world and are educating the wider community about brain-health and research outcomes.
Evolving concepts in young onset dementia
Dr Campbell Le Heron will discuss dementia, focusing on challenges associated with Young Onset Dementia and our evolving understanding of what causes these brain disorders.
Assessing Parkinson's through an artificial lens
PhD Candidate Ethan Marshall will discuss the current gold standard for Parkinson's assessment, and how we can build upon it using new artificial intelligence motion capture techniques.
Parkinson's by numbers
Dr Toni Pitcher will discuss what we know about Parkinson's epidemiology in New Zealand and introduce our project aimed at establishing the causes of Parkinson's in New Zealand.
Swallowing - something to chew on
Dr Sarah Perry will talk about how swallowing changes with ageing as well as following brain disease, and why coughing is not always a bad thing.
Functional Brain Imaging
Dr Reza Shoorangiz will discuss what we can obtain from functional brain imaging and how this is used at the New Zealand Brain Research Institute to investigate Parkinson’s disease.
Multiple sclerosis – How do we measure success
Dr Deborah Mason will speak about epidemiological studies done recently in NZ and how they allow us to measure health outcomes for people with MS.
Can we prevent Alzheimer's dementia?
Professor Tim Anderson will outline a new world-wide drug trial available to people in Canterbury aged 60 to 80 years of age with normal memory and thinking but at risk of future Alzheimer's dementia.