News Release

October 19, 2006

Contact: Carolyn Pennington, 860-679-4864
e-mail: cpennington@uchc.edu

Celebrate Health Programs: November 2006

Celebrate Health at the University of Connecticut Health Center encompasses two free membership programs, Celebrate Women and Celebrate Aging, that provide valuable health and wellness information for targeted audiences in the community. A variety of educational programs are being offered in November.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. Sanjay Shah, M.D., UConn Center on Aging, will address risk factors, warning signs, prevention strategies, and new advances in the treatment of this disease. The talk is open to the public and will take place on Wednesday, November 1, from 1 to 2 p.m. at The Gables at Farmington, 20 Devonwood Drive.

The Talks at Covenant Village of Cromwell: Join us once a month for an informative talk at Covenant Village of Cromwell. This month Patrick Coll, M.D., UConn Center on Aging, will focus on the topic of congestive heart failure. The talk will be held on Thursday, November 2, from 9:30 to 10 a.m. at Covenant Village of Cromwell, Commons Building, 52 Missionary Road.

Memory Matters: Celebrate Aging is proud to sponsor “Memory Matters” a Discovery Series program that focuses entirely on memory disorders. Specialists from the James E.C. Walker, M.D., Memory Assessment Program will address a wide spectrum of issues associated with memory disorders including when should I worry, demystifying memory testing, the role of imaging in diagnosing a memory disorder, and caregiver issues. The talk will be held on Thursday, November 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Keller Auditorium at the UConn Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington.

The Wellness Lecture Series at Seabury: Join us at the Seabury Retirement Community for a “healthy” lecture intended to promote successful aging led by Patrick Coll, M.D., UConn Center on Aging. This month's lecture will explore the topic of memory loss. The lecture series is free and open to the public and will be held Friday, November 3, from 11 a.m. to noon at Seabury, 200 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield. To register or for further information, call the Seabury Retirement Community at 860-243-6071.

Creating Heaven on Earth Spirituality Group: Tap into your inner self, the source of guidance and advice on the things that matter most to us. Group sessions will be led by the Kathleen Kiley, an expert in spiritual healing and dream analysis, on the second Thursday of each month and will include discussion, reflection, dream interpretation, and guided meditations to unite your inner and outer self. The talk will be held on Thursday, November 9, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Medical Arts and Research Building, Room N4002, at the UConn Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington. The fee for the class is $10.

Update on Antidepressant Drug Therapy: Andrew Winokur. M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at the UConn Health Center, will discuss clinical features of depression that suggest the use of medication therapy. He will present evidence for the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs, as well as the safety and side effects of various antidepressants. The talk will be held Monday, November 13, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Henry Low Learning Center at the UConn Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington. It can also be viewed live via web cast at www.celebrate.uchc.edu/webcast.

Celebrating the Holidays with Diabetes: The holidays can be a stressful time for many people, especially when dealing with diabetes. There are so many things to think about such as food and beverage choices at parties, fitting in exercise, emotional stress, and overall self-care. Carolé Mensing, and Deborah Downes, of the UConn Health Center’s Diabetes Education Program, will discuss how a little preparation and some diabetes know-how under your belt, you'll be ready to face any holiday head-on. The talk will be held on Tuesday, November 14, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Riverfront Community Center, 300 Welles St., Glastonbury.

Women and Smoking – Health Risks, Benefits of Cessation, and Treatment Approaches: This presentation will cover the gender differences in the pharmacology of nicotine, and the risks of smoking, and the benefits of cessation, in women. Cheryl Oncken, assistant professor of medicine, will focus on practical treatment strategies–behavioral and pharmacological–that may be used in treating tobacco addiction in women. Other topics include identifying a quit date, exercise, environmental cues, and weight gain. Treatment of nicotine addiction in women with a history of depression, and in women who are pregnant, will also be addressed. The talk will be held Wednesday, November 15, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Henry Low Learning Center at the UConn Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington.

Natural Options for Healthy Menopause: As each woman is different, each experiences menopause in a unique way. Mitch Kennedy, a board-certified and licensed naturopathic physician, will discuss natural treatment options for menopause, as well as their risks and benefits compared to conventional hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Kennedy will lead the discussion on Wednesday, November 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Henry Low Learning Center at the UConn Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington.

Registration for these programs is required. The programs are free unless otherwise noted. Call 800-535-6232 or 860-679-7692. For more information, visit the Celebrate Health web site: www.celebrate.uchc.edu.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, John Dempsey Hospital, the UConn Medical Group and University Dentists. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. To learn more about the UConn Health Center, visit our website at www.uchc.edu.

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