What a stunning and informative talk from a world renowned scientist.
Yoram Barak is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Consultant Psychogeriatrician. He trained in medicine and psychiatry at the Sackler School of Medicine. In 1993 he became an Israel Medical Scientific Council Specialist in Psychiatry, and in 2004 was awarded a Masters in Health Administration from Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Yoram has written (or co-written) 187 research papers and is a world renowned scientist. He was born in Israel where he studies psychiatry specialising in old age. He pointed out that there are still 220,000 holocaust survivors in Israel suffering from the emotional experience of that horror. he has treated 5 to 7000 patients during his lifetime and is passing on his experiences to youngsters. His partner says he is getting like his patients - crazy.
He met a young Christchurch psychiatry woman overseas who said he was needed in Christchurch. He arrived and worked in the new Burwood hospital which he said was a wonderful facility rated as the 3rd best in the world. He was there for a year and after a visit to Dunedin his partner Sarit 'talked' him into coming to Dunedin. He was invited to Otago University where he was so 'captured' by the place that he started his research there in June last year. His main project is working on an Alzheimer's prevention programme. Alzheimer's prevention was not heard of in 2005.30 to 50% of alzheimer's disease is preventable.
1 in 9 over 65s suffer from dementia. The prevenion of dementia particularly azlheimer's, is a major challenge for research clinicians. In the period 2001-2011 of the 1728 trials 1274 have failed and this will get worse as our children loose the opportunity to meet and talk face to face. The pathology in our brains is set by age 30 this is why it is imperative that we concentrate on prevention.
The overweight in the 40 to 65 age group are more likely to suffer from alzheimers Daily exercise and a RED wine a day will reduce the risk of alzheimers with the consequent reduction in public health costs. Loneliness is a contributing factor in Alzheimers. People who are lonely stay lonely and it is our duty to move them from this isolatioon to intergration, in doing this we will reduce the health costs also.
Also, meditation for 12 to 20 minutes a day will keep your your brain 20 years younger than your age.