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2014 OHSU Healthy Aging Alliance Conference

The third OHSU Healthy Aging Alliance Workshop, "Harnessing Science and Communities for Healthy Brain Aging" was a great success!

The focus of this workshop was translating research to a public health message for Healthy Brain Aging, and to strengthen partnerships to truly transform the aging trajectory in Oregon.  There was a research presentation, a panel on effective community strategies for healthy aging facilitated by PSU's Institute on Aging, and a hosted poster session for sharing innovations.

Watch the presentation videos.

2013 OHSU Healthy Aging Alliance Conference

The second annual OHSU Healthy Aging Conference, “The Science and Art of Healthy Aging,” was held Oct. 10 at the Portland Art Museum in conjunction with “The Body Beautiful” exhibit of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures. 

The primary goals of the conference were to bring together scientists, health care professionals, artists and the community to share ideas, learn from each other and find better ways to integrate the arts into healthy aging. It was organized by the OHSU Healthy Aging Alliance, an OHSU research interest group or informal network of individual investigators working on a common research theme. 

Over 330 people attended the conference, including older adults, researchers, clinicians, arts organizations, artists, political advocates and community groups. Diverse groups participated such as the Indian Elders Support Group and a sixth-grade team of girls from around Portland whose Lego Robotics project celebrates seniors. 

“Participants were inspired by the science and art and left with many new ideas to reach for the stars in discovery, innovation, creativity and implementation of the best research evidence to insure that every single person in our community can age successfully,” said Elizabeth Eckstrom, M.D., conference organizer and associate professor of medicine. 

Highlights of the day included an opening keynote address by Dr. Walter Bortz, one of America’s most distinguished experts on aging and longevity, on “The Plasticity of Human Aging,” and a wrap-up keynote by Dr. Larry Sherman, senior scientist in the Division of Neuroscience at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, on “Music and the Healthy Aging Brain.” 

As Dr. Sherman said during his talk, “We all need to learn new things and engage our brains in creative endeavors. You don’t have to be a professional pianist; just sit down and learn to play something that is new for you – even if it is ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.’” 

2011 OHSU Healthy Aging Alliance Conference

The Healthy Aging Conference on Oct. 27, 2011, brought together OHSU faculty and researchers who are engaged in aging research and clinical care to formalize a network for collaboration. National speakers, including Marie Bernard, MD, Deputy Director, National Institute on Aging, provided insight for developing an OHSU plan for aging research over the next 10 years.

Two “Redefining Aging in Oregon” awards were given. Jeffrey Kaye, MD, Professor of Neurology and Biomedical Engineering, was recognized for his research and practice contributions. Dr. Kaye studies both the effects of normal aging in seniors of exceptional health, and on biomarkers, genetics and treatment of dementia. He is co-Director of the Oregon Center for Aging and Technology and Executive Director of the Layton Aging & Alzheimer’s Disease Center.

Sen. Ron Wyden also received an award. “Your forum today raises exactly the kind of questions we want to raise and also highlights some terrific opportunities,” said Sen. Wyden. “It’s time now for exactly what your program is dedicated to – creating more options for older people, particularly when there’s hard, verifiable data that you can do more to give people what they want, which is care at home.”