FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Contact: Leah C. Payne, Director of Public Affairs, Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy, 304-691-1713

Maier Institute at Marshall School of Medicine convenes inaugural session
Group to focus on prescribing recommendations for elderly dementia patients

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.—The Maier Institute for Excellence in Prescribing for Elders with Dementia (MI/EPED) at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, a medical consortium focused on treatment of Alzheimer’s and related dementias, officially convenes its inaugural advisory board meeting tomorrow, Friday, June 10, at 10 a.m. at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

The MI/EPED seeks to become a nationally recognized source of information for treatment of Alzheimer’s and related dementias through various methods including clinical trials, an online and print newsletter as well as an annual or biannual large-scale conference for presentation of research.

Additionally, in a nod to the region, projects are planned to address special concerns or needs of the Appalachian elderly with dementia.

“We are all aware of the growing number of people with Alzheimer’s in the United States,” said Shirley M. Neitch, M.D., professor of geriatrics at Marshall’s school of medicine and director of the Maier Institute. “It is my hope our institute will identify existing knowledge gaps regarding care for people with dementia and initiate projects to address the gaps.”

Neitch, a widely-recognized medical expert on Alzheimer’s, says the MI/EPED will work closely with existing organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association and pharmacists’ professional associations to improve the lives of people with dementia through improved prescribing and de-prescribing.

“We will be reviewing which medications are beneficial for patients with dementia as well as medications which are not beneficial,” Neitch said. “We believe we will be the only group in the country comprehensively addressing all prescribing issues for persons with dementia, not just looking at drugs to use for the dementia itself.”

Groundwork for the institute was initiated several years ago through the generous support of a $1 million gift from General Corporation, which was matched by West Virginia’s Bucks for Brains Initiative.

“General Corporation and the Maier family are pleased to support the dementia research efforts at Marshall’s school of medicine,” said Brad M. Rowe, president of General Corporation.  “With the burden of dementia rapidly growing in West Virginia, our hope is that the establishment of the institute leads to meaningful research breakthroughs.”

The Maier Institute Advisory Board includes the following individuals:

In addition to the advisory board members and director, the MI/EPED will have research, administration and grant-writing support.

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Date Posted: Thursday, June 9, 2016