Alzheimer's, osteoporosis focus of workshop

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
May 21, 2002
Information on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease will be available Wednesday in a workshop, "Healthy Mind, Healthy Bones."
The workshop is scheduled from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus.
Osteoporosis is a bone thinning disease that makes men and women more susceptible to fractures. Alzheimer's disease attacks the nerve cells in the brain, leading to dementia.
The cost of attending the workshop is $15. All proceeds will go to the local branch of the Alzheimer's Association.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, following an adequate intake of calcium, vitamin D and avoiding tobacco and alcohol abuse may not be enough to prevent the disease especially in post-menopausal women.
Hormone replacement therapy and estrogen replacement therapy are two methods that are potentially beneficial to post-menopausal women that can also prevent and treat osteoporosis.
Luther cautioned that people need to check with their health care providers about the therapy. There are other treatments for prevention and treatment available.
Barbara Dobrosky will participate in a panel discussion during the workshop. She is the community resource coordinator for Rush Senior Health Center in Meridian and is active in the local branch of the Alzheimer's Association.
She said the workshop would be beneficial to all health care providers as well as post menopausal women.
Featured speakers include Luther, an adult nurse practitioner at Rush Senior Health Center and an instructor at the University of Southern Mississippi.
She will speak on "Habits of Healthy Women: Staying Strong of Body and Mind."
Luther also holds certifications as a gerontological nurse practitioner and a clinical densitometrist. A doctoral student at the University of Alabama, her dissertation research is on health promotion related to osteoporosis.
Dr. Niti Goel is scheduled to speak on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. She is the regional medical director of Proctor &Gamble's Southwest Region, based in Texas, where she serves as the company's medical liaison on osteoporosis.
Dr. Joel Callahan Jr. will speak on cognitive impairment in the elderly. He is in private practice at the Internal Medicine Clinic in Meridian.
Continuing education credits have been approved for social workers and nurses who attend the workshop.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
The program schedule for the Healthy Mind, Healthy Bones workshop is as follows:
8 a.m.-8:30 a.m.: Registration.
8:30 a.m.-9:20 a.m.: Seven Habits for Healthy Women: Staying Strong of Body and Mind.
9:20 a.m.-10:10 a.m.: Osteoporosis
Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment.
10:10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: Break and Exhibits.
10:30 a.m.-11:20 a.m.: Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment.
Panel discussion: "Where Do We Go From Here?"
12:20 p.m.: A light lunch will be provided.