The Markesbery Symposium is named in honor and memory of the late Dr. William R. Markesbery, founding director of the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Dr. Markesbery's legacy of groundbreaking research has formed the bedrock for our quest to understand and treat Alzheimer's disease and to improve the quality of life of older adults. In the sessions for both the scientific and community audience, attendees will have the opportunity to hear clinicians and researchers from the University of Kentucky and other institutions share current findings, trends, and latest updates on dementia and aging disorders, particularly as related to Alzheimer's disease.

The Sanders-Brown Center on Aging – like others during this time –made the needed adjustments to ensure the 10th annual symposium happens this year despite the ongoing pandemic. Both the community session and scientific session will be held virtually via Zoom. This move provides a unique opportunity for more people to attend who otherwise might have not been able to make it to the event in person.

Linda Van Eldik, director of the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, is enthusiastic about this year’s meeting. “Although we certainly had hoped to hold the symposium this year in person, I am excited that our team was able to organize a virtual conference so that we can still reach out to the community and share the latest information about Alzheimer’s and dementia research.”

Sanders-Brown is excited to welcome Maria Carrillo, the Chief Scientific Officer of the National Alzheimer’s Association, as the keynote speaker for the community session taking place on Oct. 31, 2020.

“Dr. Carrillo is a highly effective ambassador for promoting global research initiatives on Alzheimer’s and related dementias,” said Van Eldik, “We are excited and honored to have her as our keynote speaker.”

In addition to hearing from Carrillo, those attending the community session will also hear presentations from some Sanders-Brown researchers. The event will conclude with an “Ask the Experts” panel discussion. The community session is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. until 12:30 pm.

The scientific session will be held on Nov. 9, 2020 from 9:50 a.m. until 2 p.m. The keynote speakers for this session are Alison Goate, director of The Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in Rochester, Minnesota.

To register for the community session click here. To register for the scientific session click here.

For more information visit https://sbcoa.med.uky.edu/