According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's and by 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million. Further, in 2023, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the nation $345 billion. By 2050, these costs could rise to nearly $1 trillion.
Many of us in central Indiana, and beyond, have had experience with Alzheimer’s; either caring for or losing a loved one to the disease, and watching the impact this insidious disease has on the person, the caregiver and the family.
However, what do we truly understand about this disease? We hear something new every day about Alzheimer’s.
- It impacts black more than white people;
- Wine improves brain health and helps protect against Alzheimer’s, but it also has a negative impact on the brain’s communication pathways;
- Gingko Biloba and Coral Calcium have been marketed as preventing or curing Alzheimer’s Disease;
- Sleep is a big factor in determining risk for Alzheimer’s;
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia are the same thing;
- Alzheimer’s is congenital; if your parent has it, you will as well;
- Tinnitus is a pre-cursor to Alzheimer’s;
- Forgetfulness is a symptom of Alzheimer’s.
There’s so much information to navigate about Alzheimer’s. How do we understand what is factual and how do we consume and consider information as we care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s? What do we need to know to understand our own risk for Alzheimer’s?
On Thursday, November 2, Women & Hi Tech is tackling the topic of Alzheimer’s with our final Executive Women's Forum of 2023, “The Science Behind Alzheimer’s.”
This event will be hosted by Women & Hi Tech Beacon Sponsor, Roche Diagnostics, at their location on the northeast side of Indianapolis, 9115 Hague Road. More details below on parking and arrival.
We have assembled an incredibly knowledgeable and experienced panel to discuss the science of this disease: how it evolves, contributing factors, treatments and what’s on the horizon. We will tackle the myths, define terminologies, and help attendees understand how they can locate reputable resources for caring for their loved ones or themselves. Linda Calvin, Executive Women’s Forum (EWF) Director for Women & Hi Tech, will moderate a stellar panel:
Ann Marie Hake, MD, FAAN, Executive Director Digital Health R&D, Eli Lilly and Company
Ann Hake is a Neurologist with fellowship training in neurodegenerative diseases and postgraduate training in medical informatics. She currently serves as a research physician in Eli Lilly’s multidisciplinary Digital Health Research and Development group, which seeks to investigate, validate, and enable usage of digital applications and sensors in clinical trials and practice. Also at Lilly, Dr. Hake serves as the Vice Chair of the Bioethics Advisory Committee, and in previous roles has led late- and early-phase clinical trials and has provided medical leadership in Medical Affairs in Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegeneration, and migraine.
Before joining Lilly, she practiced full-time as an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Indiana University; she continues to hold a volunteer faculty position and sees Neurology outpatients twice monthly and continues to serve on the IU Institutional Review Board. Dr. Hake is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, Immediate Past President of the Indianapolis Medical Society, past president of the Indiana Neurological Society, and serves as the physician member of the Indiana Occupational Therapy licensing committee.
Dr. Maria-Magdalena Patru, Scientific Partner for Neurology in Medical and Scientific Affairs, Roche Diagnostics
Dr. Maria-Magdalena Patru is a physician-scientist with 15+ years in the field of Laboratory Medicine and in-vitro diagnostics. Currently Scientific Partner for neurology in Medical and Scientific Affairs at Roche Diagnostics US, she leads a cross-functional integrated medical team in developing and implementing medical strategies for neurology with a current focus on Alzheimer's disease.
Looking to bridge patient care, biomedical research, and biotechnology, Dr. Patru complemented her medical degree with a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, a two-year clinical laboratory fellowship and a position as Medical Liaison at a global clinical trials laboratory supporting drug development trials. Before joining Roche Diagnostics, Dr. Patru held the Director of Medical and Scientific Affairs position at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, an in-vitro diagnostics company for which she worked for more than eight years.
In her current and previous roles, she has accumulated expertise in the development and validation of clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics assays; data analysis; regulatory submissions; clinical development; evidence generation and education for product launch and implementation; and post-market customer support. During her professional life, Dr. Patru has collaborated with external clinical and laboratory experts and has been a member/company representative on multiple International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) committees.
Natalie Sutton, Chapter Executive for the Alzheimer’s Association of Indiana
Natalie Sutton joined the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter as Chapter Executive in June 2017. A native Hoosier, Natalie has experience working locally, regionally and nationally for voluntary health organizations.
Natalie is a 2003 graduate of DePauw University and earned a Master of Public Affairs in Nonprofit Management from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Indianapolis.
Natalie is proud to be a part of the Alzheimer’s Association and to lead the Chapter’s work, making a difference in the lives of 110,000 Hoosiers living with Alzheimer’s or dementia and their caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia – by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.
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Rupal Thanawala, CEO, Trident Systems LLC
Rupal is a community-minded business and digital strategy executive with deep expertise in solving critical challenges with innovative solutions. She has used her strategy consulting skills to identify and solve social issues. She is passionate about her community and champions programs related to mentoring youth and women, education, technology, entrepreneurship, education, diversity, equity and inclusion. Rupal holds an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and a BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Mumbai. She is very engaged with the Alzheimer’s Association of Indiana and has first-hand experience caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s.
Event Agenda:
- Registration, 3:00pm – 3:20pm
- Welcome and Opening Remarks, 3:20pm-3:30pm, President of Women & Hi Tech Joy Neely
- Science Behind Alzheimer’s Program, 3:30pm-5:00pm, Moderated by Linda Calvin, Women & Hi Tech Executive Women's Forum Director
- Happy Hour and Networking, 5:00pm-5:30pm
Parking and Arrival Information:
The Roche Diagnostics USA headquarters is at 9115 Hague Road.
Visitors should park in the visitor parking in the garage, which is the first floor. When you pull into the garage, you will see two entries with the visitor parking well-marked.
The event will be hosted in building J, right next to the garage. Visitors should proceed to the visitor entrance of building J to check in and receive direction to the event location.
All are welcome: men, women, caregivers, healthcare professionals! Event registration is free for Women & Hi Tech members and $25 for non-members, with all proceeds from registration to be donated to the Alzheimer's Association of Indiana.
Learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association of Indiana
Sign up for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s
November is National Family Caregivers Month, honoring the millions of family members and friends serving as Alzheimer’s caregivers. Learn more about this month and find resources at https://www.alz.org/events/nadam.
