Packed House Welcomes Dr. Peter Whitehouse

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The Art of Living Well

On January 12^th, Dr. Peter Whitehouse delivered the inaugural program of the Art of Living Well speaker’s series to a capacity crowd in The Glenridge Performing Arts Center. Dr. Whitehouse is the author of The Myth of Alzheimer’s: what you aren’t being told about today’s most dreaded diagnosis. (The book is available at www.amazon.com) This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the first use of the term Alzheimer’s disease, which provided an excellent opportunity for Dr. Whitehouse to share the history and future of Alzheimer’s disease treatment from his perspective, research and work with patients.

For the over 120 community members and staff present, the highlight was when Dr. Whitehouse stated that one of the best ways to improve brain fitness and delay cognitive decline was to live in a community like The Glenridge. He explained that the community fitness programs, nutrition, empowered community culture and brain fitness program provide a synergy that gives meaning to the series title,
The Art of Living Well.

In explaining the “myth,” Dr. Whitehouse detailed five areas either misinterpreted or misunderstood:

1. Alzheimer’s is not one condition.
2. Alzheimer’s is not qualitatively distinct from a variety of brain aging processes.
3. There is not likely to be a molecular reductionist cure…though he added that he would love to be wrong on this issue.
4. Values have been distorted by scientism and capitalism.
5. More integrative approaches are needed in the treatment of cognitive loss.

For more information, visit http://www.themythofalzheimers.com/. This web site contains video segments on this topic, as well as valuable resources for caregivers.

He also previewed the positive results and benefits of the Inter-generational Charter School he launched with his wife at the Fairhill Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The school consistently exceeds educational achievement standards, and the benefits enjoyed by both the children the older adults, many of whom have dementia, and the adults themselves are spectacular. The school is a unique model of “sharing wisdom among generations.” Anyone interested can learn more about the school and its achievements by visiting http://www.tisonline.org/.

The next presentation, entitled The Truth About Florida’s Housing Market, will be on January 21, 2010 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at The Glenridge Performing Arts Center. The guest speaker will be Henry Fishkind, PhD. Dr. Fishkind is a principal of Fishkind & Associates and was Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Florida, where he served as director of the university’s forecasting program. His firm conducts residential real estate feasibility research. This involves price, product and supply analysis as well as extensive consumer research and focus group studies. As a result, the firm has considerable skill in analysis and interpretation of consumer preferences, behavior patterns and demographic trends.

To reserve a seat, call 941-552-5369 or register on line at www.theglenridge.com/rsvp. We anticipate a high demand for these educational programs and seating for non-members of The Glenridge will be limited.