With Alzheimer’s awareness month approaching, it is worth remembering that Alzheimer’s disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and remains one of the most difficult and expensive diseases as the population continues to age.
At the same time, improved cancer survival has left a growing number of survivors coping with cognitive problems, nervous system pain, and other side effects that may overlap with the pathways involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Jim Ray, Ph.D., executive director of the Belfer Neurodegeneration Consortium and co-director of the Cancer Neuroscience Program at UT MD Anderson, works at the intersection of drug discovery, research science, and the developing field of cancer neuroscience. He can discuss:
- The latest progress in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research
- Warning signs and causes of Alzheimer’s and other brain and nervous system diseases
- How these conditions relate to cancer-related pathways
- Helpful insights on brain and nervous system health
- Practical steps people can take to protect their brain
- What UT MD Anderson is doing to support patients with brain and nervous system issues
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