Photo: Charlie Bibby/FT

Professor Rick Livesey and researcher Dr Christy Hung look at nerve cells at the Gurdon Institute

Okanagan Clinical Trials is trying to help raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and the genetic risks involved, by hosting an information session on the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease Wednesday night.

The free community event takes place at the Okanagan College Theatre in Kelowna, May 23rd at 7:00 p.m. featuring special guest speaker, Josh Dueck, Paralympian.

Dueck is a Canadian alpine skier who won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in the men's slalom sit-ski event. On February 3, 2012, Josh became the first person to perform a backflip on snow in a sit-ski.

Dr. Kim Christie is the Director of Research at Okanagan Clinical Trials; she has extensive knowledge of neurological diseases, specializing in Alzheimer's disease.  Christie obtained both her Masters and Doctoral degrees in Neuroscience from the University of Calgary. She has published multiple scientific papers in high impact journals and has a deep understanding of the brain and peripheral nervous system.

“Currently there are no treatments to prevent Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Kim Christie. “Medications focused on the genetic risk would be a huge advancement in the prevention and treatment of the disease. If effective this would offer great hope to families devastated by Alzheimer’s.”

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition with no cure and it is the most common form of dementia and affects almost 30 million people worldwide.