(Smart Towns) Injury or Aging: How Trauma to the Brain can Masquerade as Dementia

While phrases like 'senile' or 'demented' have been in our vocabularies for ages, and have since been updated to 'age-related cognitive decline,' it isn't necessarily clear what these terms actually mean, or what leads to this decline. As it turns out, not all cases of cognitive decline are simply due to age!

In this talk, Dr. Jessica Matyas, chair of the psychology department and associate professor of psychology at Rochester University will look at case studies where specific brain damage had all the appearances of diseases associated with old age, including Parkinsonism, Alzheimer's disease, and memory loss, and will conclude with some messages of hope regarding what we can do to prevent or delay these conditions.

Smart Towns is a lifelong learning program for everyone in the community led by Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital, Oakland University, Rochester University, Rochester-Avon Historical Society, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, and Rochester Hills Public Library. The Smart Towns is a unique series of programs that explore one theme or topic for one year. For more, visit smarttowns.rhpl.org. Programs take place at various locations.

This program is open to the public. Registration is required.