University of Kentucky officials and city leaders are recognizing a new home for the treatment and care of dementia patients, their families, and research volunteers. An official ribbon cutting was held for the Sanders-Brown Memory Clinic at Turland in Lexington Monday. Dr. Linda Van Eldik is the director of the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. While one area of research centers on stopping the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease, Van Eldik said slowing the onset remains key as well.
“You know there’s a lot of things we can do before we actually have a medication that is effective. We can reduce the risk of dementia by more healthy habits,” said Van Eldik.
In addition to diet, Dr. Van Eldik noted healthy habits include 75 minutes of moderate exercise a week. The new memory clinic will be able to accommodate 11 more clinical trials and an additional 600 people.
Eldik said there is much more space for patients, their families, and research volunteers. And that includes a clinical trial on a fairly new dementia ailment called “Late.”
“We’re doing the only clinical trial, the first one in the world, that is focused on late, and focused on trying to have interventions that, hopefully, will be beneficial,” said Van Eldik.
Van Eldik noted “Late” is similar to Alzheimer’s, but still different. She said it strikes people in their mid-80s. Dr. Van Eldik added work will begin on lab renovations down at the existing Center later this year.
