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The hopeful expectation of living into old age is often marred by the fear of the irreversible decline in one’s abilities and mental faculties. When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, the scientific community, professionals and society in general is dedicated to pursuing a three-pronged approach: find ways to irradiate the disease, delay the onset of the disease, and finally, figure out the most effective and comfort-centered approach to care-giving.

Since brain imaging studies reveal that the damage to the brain begins decades prior to the symptoms ever starting to interfere with daily functions, on this episode our guest, Kenneth S. Kosik, M.A. M.D., returns to discuss ways to envision the vitality of the neural landscape to build a better brain and elevate well-being, a sure way to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Kosik is a Harriman Professor and Co-Director of the Neuroscience Research Institute at UCSB, and is a highly celebrated award-winning research scientist who has coauthored a book called Outsmarting Alzheimer’s Disease: What You Can Do To Reduce Your Risk.

About Dr. Kenneth S. Kosik
Kenneth S. Kosik, M.A. M.D. served as professor at the Harvard Medical School from 1996-2004 when he became the Harriman Professor and Co-Director of the Neuroscience Research Institute at UCSB. His awards include Whitaker Health Sciences Award (MIT), Milton Foundation Award (Harvard Medical School), Moore Award (American Association of Neuropathologists), Metropolitan Life Award, Derek Denny-Brown Award (American Neurological Association), Zenith and Temple Awards (Alzheimer’s Association), Ranwell Caputo Medal (Argentine Society of Neurochemistry), NASA Group Achievement Award to Neurolab Team, the Premio Aventis (Academia Nacional de Medicina, Colombia), a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Santa Barbara Innovation Star Award.  He co-authored Outsmarting Alzheimer’s Disease and The Alzheimer’s Solution: How Today’s Care is Failing Millions and How We Can Do Better. His work, including the characterization in Colombia of the largest family in the world with familial Alzheimer’s has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New Yorker, BBC, CNN, PBS and CBS 60 Minutes. His 2016 UCSB commencement address was archived at the Graduation Wisdom Best Commencement Speeches web site.

Website

• https://labs.mcdb.ucsb.edu/kosik/kenneth/

Books

• The Alzheimer’s Solution: How Today’s Care Is Failing Millions and How We Can Do Better
• Outsmarting Alzheimer’s: What You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk

About Host, Sucheta Kamath
Sucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.

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