FALL AGING CONFERENCE

The Annual Fall Aging Conference sponsored by the Minneapolis and St. Paul Area Senior Workers Association will be held THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2008. It is held at Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center, MN.

This conference is geared to all workers in the senior industry. There will be a large vendor fair as well as interesting speakers. This year's theme is: "THE INVISIBLE ELDER" The cost is $60 for members and $75 for non-members. You can join MASWA at the Conference.

For more information you can link to www.seniorworkers.org and register online.

Scott County Senior Expo

Reminder: The Scott County Senior Expo will be held on Friday, October 17, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the (new)
Shakopee Senior High School.
1000 17th Avenue West
Shakopee, MN

Many vendors, such as myself, will be there with information and resources for our aging parents, spouses and family members. They will be able to answer questions on services available to the senior community. Please stop by the booth for "Savvy Seniors" where we will be handing out the guidebook with a wealth of information.

Door prizes will be awarded at lunch time.

A Shining Star

"Strictly Seniors" a cable TV show on Channel 6 locally, will have me (Barb Grimm) as the guest on an upcoming show. The air date is Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. It also airs on the following Wednesday morning but the time is to be announced.

I hope you will tune in and let me know what you think about my stellar performance. Just kidding.

Roland Minda is the host of the show and his website is www.strictly-seniors. com Feel free to check out the website for other interesting appearances by people in the senior industry.

It's State Fair Time- Financials on a Stick

A very good friend of mine and my best referral partner is hosting seminars at the State Fair this month. Don't miss this opportunity to hear him speak, especially if you are caring for an aging parent locally or from afar.

Just when you thought everything at the State Fair was already on a stick, there’s a new “stick” at the 2008 Minnesota State Fair—financials served, yes, on a stick.

The Ramberg Senior Center is hosting financial information workshops for fair goers. The 15 minute workshops feature Jim Bear, president and founder of J. Alan Financial in Champlin, Minnesota. Jim is a regular columnist for Minnesota’s Good Age magazine.

Jim made financial planning his career choice somewhat accidentally about 21 years ago after a family member was financially hurt based on poor investment advice. Today, “Safe Money” is Jim’s specialty--focusing his efforts to people over 50 years of age and their need for income, safety, and reduced taxes and risk.

You can attend Jim’s workshop on “5 Mistakes IRA Owners Make…and How They May Cost You” by visiting the Ramberg Senior Center booth located on the corner of Judson Avenue and Underwood Street.

Jim will present on Monday, August 25^th and Thursday, August 28^th at 11:20 a.m. and 12:35 p.m.

Get your 5 Mistakes on a Stick by attending one of Jim’s workshops.

Financial Mistakes on a Stick might be the easiest “on a stick” item to keep. It won’t smell bad after a week!

To receive a full copy of Jim’s report on the 5 Mistakes, contact Jim at 763-746-0829 or Jim@SafeMoneyAdvisorMN.com

Website www.SafeMoneyAdvisorMN.com

First Diagnostic Test For Alzheimer's

First Diagnostic Test For Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Disease On The Horizon

ScienceDaily (Apr. 7, 2008) — A new blood test that can give an early diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease and distinguish between Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease could be launched this summer, reports Marina Murphy in SCI's Chemistry & Industry magazine.

Manufacturer, Oklahoma-based proteomics company, Power3 Medical Products, said it plans to sell the test, NuroPro, which would be the first diagnostic test for neurodegenerative diseases on the market, in Greece by Q3 with further plans for it to go on the US market by late Q3 or Q4."

"There is currently no diagnostic test for any neurodegenerative disease on the market -- diagnoses are currently based solely on a clinical diagnosis of symptoms," said chief executive, Steve Rash.

Power3 has identified and patented several blood proteins⁽¹⁾ associated with neurodegenerative disease. The test NuroPro measures a suite of 59 protein biomarkers, the relative levels of which, they say, can help distinguish between Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease or tell whether a patient is disease free. The test is highly accurate with a specificity and sensitivity in the high 90s, according to Rash.

Although the test has been welcomed by Kieran Breen, director of research at the Parkinson's Disease Society, as being particularly useful for monitoring the progression of disease and assessing the effectiveness of drugs, he urged caution saying: "While the test seems promising, larger studies need to be conducted before it can be confirmed as being helpful in making a diagnosis."

Susan Sorensen, head of research at the UK Alzheimer's Society said: "There are 700,000 people living with dementia in the UK, 62 per cent have Alzheimer's disease and this will rise to more than a million in less than 20 years. An effective blood test would present those diagnosed and their families with an opportunity to prepare for the impact of this devastating illness and make crucial decisions about their future.

"The method, known as proteomics, involves analysing proteins in the blood although it remains unclear which group of proteins gives the definitive signs of Alzheimer's disease... Some suggest Alzheimer's, for example, is too complex to be identified in this way."

Two clinical validation studies are currently underway at the Cleo Roberts Center of Clinical Research in Arizona, US, and the Research Institute of Thessaly in Greece.

Note: (1) Expert Review of Proteomics 2008, 5(1), 1-8; Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2006, 342, 1034-1039

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Adapted from materials provided by Society of Chemical Industry, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Here is information about an upcoming NORC Health and Wellness lecture. NORC is a project of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis funded by grants from the Administration on Aging and the Minnesota Department of Human Services

Free NORC Health and Wellness Lecture

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Lenox Community Center

6715 Minnetonka Blvd.

St. Louis Park, MN 55426

Money Management for Seniors

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Presented by Barbara Grimm, Daily Money Manager and Certified Therapeutic Coach

"Learn techniques to manage your financial information, keep your money in safe places, transfer assets, and find resources to assist you along life's path."