World-leading neuroscientist to talk on nutrition, learning and memory

A world-leading researcher in neuroscience will discuss the correlation between nutrition, learning and memory at a public lecture tomorrow (Wednesday, 2 December).

Professor Aron Keith Barbey has travelled to Tasmania from the United States to hold the lecture and talk at a dementia symposium this Thursday. His research interests focus on health, ageing and disability. Part of his studies investigate the effects of psychiatric illness and neurological disease on general intelligence.

He is currently Director of the Decision Neuroscience Laboratory at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois.

The lecture will be held at the Medical Science Precinct in Hobart from 5.15pm. It is hosted by the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre and the University’s School of Medicine, Faculty of Health.

Professor Barbey’s contribution and achievement in the field of neuroscience are numerous and he was recently praised for spearheading several of the largest and most comprehensive human lesion studies of high-level cognitive functions.

He has received multiple academic achievement awards and won $US16 million in private and federal research grants and PI since joining the University of Illinois in 2011.

Professor Barbey will also be speaking at the day-long symposium, Dementia Intervention, at the Medical Science Precinct in Hobart on Thursday, 3 December.

The symposium will explore current evidence for dementia interventions from an international perspective, looking at providing effective care, developing a cure and supporting workforce education.

Professor Barbey will be joined by other guest speakers including Laureate Professor Colin Masters (Executive Director, Mental Health Research Institute, University of Melbourne), Professor Kaarin Anstey (Director, Dementia Collaborative Research Centre for Early Diagnosis and Prevention, ANU), Professor Elizabeth Beattie (Director, Dementia Collaborative Research Centre for Carers and Consumers, QUT) and Professor Fran McInerney (Professor of Dementia Studies and Education, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania).

The Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre is hosting the symposium.
University of Tasmania, Communications and Media Office