The Institute on Aging Hosted the 8th Annual World Alzheimer’s Day
Featuring Keynote Speaker Carla Perissinotto, M.D., M.H.S.
The UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging held the 8th Annual World Alzheimer’s Day event on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. The annual event raises awareness about brain health and caring for individuals diagnosed with dementia. The virtual audience was welcomed by Rafael Samper-Ternent MD, PhD, Clinical Research and Innovations Core Director at UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging & Associate Professor Department of Management, Policy & Community Health.
Dr. Samper-Ternent discussed the significance of World Alzheimer’s Day and introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Carla Perissinotto, a Professor in the Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco who is board certified in internal medicine, geriatrics, and palliative medicine and has gained national and international recognition for her research on the effects of loneliness on the health of older adults. The program entitled, “Loneliness and Cognitive Health” featured a discussion by Dr. Perissinotto about her research and advocacy on the integration of loneliness assessments in health care, and evaluation and implementation of community-based programs focused on decreasing the degree of loneliness and isolation in adults.
The discussion included a question-and-answer session facilitated by Dr. Jason Burnett, UTHealth Associate Professor and Director of The Texas Elder Abuse & Mistreatment Institute. Dr. Burnett currently collaborates with Dr. Perissinotto on research and community facing programs aimed at addressing social isolation and loneliness in older adults.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Aanand Naik, UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging Executive Director who discussed the mission and goals of the organization and his vision for the future.