Grantee in the News: Ozioma Okonkwo honored at Alzheimer’s International Conference
2013 Beeson Scholar Ozioma Okonkwo, Ph.D. was recently recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association for his contributions at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2014 (AAIC), held July 12-17, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ozioma Okonkwo, PhD, an investigator and co-leader of the center’s neuropsychology service, received the Alzheimer’s Imaging Consortium 2014 Best Oral Presentation Award for his oral presentation Physical activity modifies Alzheimer’s biomarkers in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease: Evidence from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention.
At the conference, Dr. Okonkwo presented research stating that participating in game play and other fun activities that require mental energy during middle age may help prevent structural brain and cognitive changes related to Alzheimer’s disease.
The 329 participant study found that those who engage in more frequent cognitive activities, such as game play, have higher brain volume then their less active peers.
Ozioma Okonkwo, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He specializes in the neuropsychological evaluation of geriatric cognitive disorders, especially those due to suspected Alzheimer's disease.
Learn more about his honor at the AAIC conference here: http://www.alz.org/aaic/
For a better understanding of the factors that put people at greatest risk for Alzheimer’s disease, check out some of these Alzheimer’s related resources available on our website:
Read Dr. Malaz Boustani’s “Ask the Expert” interview
Visit our InfoAging page on Alzheimer’s Disease page
Learn about geroscience’s approach to Aging & Alzheimer’s in our 2013 Annual Report
Or
Download our facts sheet on AFAR’s impact on the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease