Lectures & Events

2012 Brain Awareness Season
Big Issues and the Brain — The Brain and Society

Monday, February 20, 2012 

Alzheimer’s and the brain: What can we do? 

Gary Small, M.D.
Director, UCLA Center on Aging, Los Angeles 

Alzheimer’s disease affects five million people in the U.S. It’s true that we have no “cure” for the disease, but Dr. Small shows how genetics account for only part of the risk. Multiple, large-scale studies have found healthy lifestyle choices lower risk and may delay the onset of symptoms, sometimes for years. The only “cure” for Alzheimer’s is prevention, and the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program shows how to take control. 

An American is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s every 70 seconds. The Alzheimer’s prevention Program is an accessible guide for anyone who wants to start on the path to better brain health. Regardless of age, anyone can begin this revolutionary program and hopefully delay the effects of Alzheimer’s or never experience the symptoms of the disease.

Monday, February 27, 2012 

Law, ethics, humanity and the brain: How do they get along?

Henry Greely, J.D.
Director, Stanford Law School Center for Law & Bioscience, Stanford

Neuroscience increasingly allows us to explain, predict, and even control aspects of human behavior. The ethical issues that arise from these developments extend beyond the boundaries of conventional bioethics into philosophy of mind, psychology, theology, public policy and the law. In classrooms, courtrooms, offices and homes around the world, neuroscience is giving us powerful new tools for achieving our goals and prompting a new understanding of ourselves as social, moral and spiritual beings. 

Over the years, humans have been changing our world and ourselves, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. Biomedicine will be creating more and more products that can be used for cognitive enhancement; some will be used in ways that will improve human life and society. How can society successfully balance protecting citizens from crimes while still protecting those with debilitating mental disorders?

Monday, March 12, 2012

The brain on fire: Can inflammation cause diseases that destroy the brain?

Story Landis, Ph.D.
Director, National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda

Inflammation is part of the body’s natural immune response to tissue damage. However, chronic inflammation is associated with many diseases. Why does the brain “turn on itself?” What is neuroinflammation? In the brain, it’s thought to play a role in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. 

By linking so many illnesses to inflammation, researchers are now rethinking their assumptions about what makes us sick and looking for ways to treat inflammation—and perhaps avoid these outcomes. Much of the scientific work that is discovering the causes and potential treatments for such neuroinflammatory diseases is being done by The National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Monday, March 19, 2012

New understandings of the brain: Why do we need them and what do we do with them?

Alan Leshner, Ph.D.
Executive Director, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C.

Advances in neuroscience are raising medical hopes for millions of people. Once futuristic ideas are now becoming reality and improving the lives of soldiers, accident victims and others. But with these benefits come critical social and ethical issues. 

For example, military research has developed a “robo-rat” that can be controlled through electrodes in its brain. Could other creatures be used as living robots too? How about the use of human tissues or genes? With each development comes the re-examination of traditional boundaries forcing us to question social values and conventions.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012*

Creativity and the brain: What is it, who has it and how do we achieve it?

Jonah Lehrer
Author, Imagine – How Creativity Works and Proust Was a Neuroscientist, Los Angeles

Can we learn how to be more creative? As it turns out, we can, says Jonah Lehrer. Lehrer is the journalist whose writings on neuroscience—for Wired, The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine, among others—become immediate flashpoints for discussion. In his new book, Imagine: How Creativity Works, Lehrer, the bestselling author, most recently of How We Decide, shows us that creativity is not some near-mystical trait that some people seem to possess, and which others try desperately to capture. We can—all of us—take practical steps to become more creative in everything we do.

Thursday, April 26, 2012*

Addiction and the brain: What is the toll it can take on the brain and on society?

Nora Volkow, M.D.
Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda

Addiction is both subtle and profound. It sneaks up on individuals and ruins families. Through neuroscience, we know more about addiction today than ever before. One of the countries leading experts on addiction, Dr. Nora Volkow, will explore how addiction starts, what it is and what can be done about it. She will present the most current findings on addiction which could ultimately lead to breakthroughs in preventing it.