All event proceeds will support Alzheimer’s disease research
Irvine, Calif., (October 5, 2017) — UCI MIND, Orange County’s only state and federally-funded Alzheimer’s disease research center, has announced that Maria Shriver, internationally renowned Alzheimer’s disease advocate, founder of The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, and former First Lady of California, will be honored at its 8th annual A December to Remember Gala on Saturday, December 2, 2017.
“Maria Shriver is a champion for Alzheimer’s disease research, and is a voice of strength for many families and individuals who are suffering as a result of this disease,” says Dr. Joshua Grill, Co-Director of UCI MIND. “We are proud to partner with Ms. Shriver and honor her important work that continues to shine a light on Alzheimer’s disease.”
Shriver is the founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM), a global alliance of individuals, organizations, researchers and industry leaders who are committed to studying Alzheimer’s disease and why it disproportionately affects women.
“Every 66 seconds a new brain develops Alzheimer’s. Two-thirds of them belong to women, and no one knows why that is,” explains Shriver, who began her advocacy for the cause when her father was diagnosed with the disease in 2003. “This is a devastating disease that must be stopped. Through the support of local communities and research organizations such as UCI MIND, we will continue to work towards a cure.”
Shriver’s organization seeks to bolster scientific pursuits to understand why women are at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, and to help all people take steps to improve brain health. WAM also raises money to support gender-based research, and shares stories and resources for patients and loved ones battling Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Frank LaFerla, Dean of UCI’s School of Biological Sciences and Co-Director of UCI MIND, notes that Orange County is particularly susceptible to the pressures of Alzheimer’s disease.
“More than 84,000 people in Orange County are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is anticipated to increase 74% by the year 2030,” Dr. LaFerla explains. “The only way to avert this crisis is through research, which is precisely where the proceeds from this event will be applied.”
With support from the local community, UCI MIND funds projects that allow researchers to seek out scientific advances that will help identify ways to prevent or slow the onset of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s.
“Thanks to the tremendous generosity of our attendees, last year’s gala raised over $375,000 to support innovative research on new studies and clinical trials,” says Dr. LaFerla. “This year, we’ve extended an invitation for guests to attend an exclusive pre-event cocktail reception with Maria Shriver prior to the Gala, along with various unique sponsorship opportunities that we hope will continue to support our research efforts surrounding Alzheimer’s disease.”
UCI MIND is one of only 30 NIH-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers in the nation.
“The research being done at UCI MIND provides hope for millions of individuals who are affected by this heartbreaking disease,” LaFerla adds. “It’s through attending events like our annual gala or participating in clinical research trials that Orange County residents can, in fact, make a difference and help researchers get closer to a cure.”
For more information about the 8th annual A December to Remember Gala, or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please visit gala.mind.uci.edu or contact Danny Harper, Senior Director of Development at UCI MIND, at 949-824-3793.
About UCI MIND (UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders)
The UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) is internationally recognized for its research accomplishments in disorders of the brain, particularly those that are age-related.
UCI MIND is the University’s center for aging and dementia research, with its faculty seeking to understand the causes leading to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and Huntington’s disease.
For those suffering from age-related memory problems, its goal is to develop improved means for effective diagnosis and treatment and to provide help to families and caregivers.
UCI MIND is home to one of 30 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers funded by the National Institute on Aging, and is one of ten California Alzheimer’s Disease Centers funded by the California Department of Public Health. For more information, please visit mind.uci.edu.
It’s Halloween time at Legoland California and we thought for our Brick or Treat we would try something different so we tried the pizza and pasta buffet.
