Pittsburgh Area Leading Scientists Headline Panel at Preview of HBO Documentary Films' THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT On April 16

Pittsburgh Area Leading Scientists Headline Panel at Preview of HBO Documentary Films' THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT On April 16

A PIONEERING MULTI-PART, MULTI-PLATFORM SERIES BRINGING NEW UNDERSTANDING AND HOPE FOR MILLIONS AND REVEALING HUMAN FACES BEHIND THE DISEASE

Maria Shriver Executive Produces With HBO's Award-Winning 'Addiction' Team

WHO: HBO, The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the University of
Pittsburgh and The Alzheimer's Association Greater Pennsylvania
Chapter will host an invitation-only preview of HBO Documentary
Films, "The Alzheimer's Project", debuting on HBO May 10. The
event will feature a screening of one segment of this multi-
platform series, which takes a close look at the groundbreaking
discoveries made by the country's leading scientists as well as
the effects of this debilitating and fatal disease both on those
with Alzheimer's and on their families. Following the screening,
there will be a panel discussion with local scientists who were
featured in the project and who are some of the most renowned in
their field:

William Klunk, M.D., Ph.D., Co-director, University of Pittsburgh
Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC); Professor of Psychiatry,
Pitt School of Medicine; and Director, Laboratory of Molecular
Neuropharmacology, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic

Chester Mathis, Ph.D., Director, University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center's PET Center; and Professor and Vice Chair of Research,
Department of Radiology, Pitt School of Medicine

The panel will also include:

Oscar Lopez, M.D., Co-director, University of Pittsburgh ADRC; and
Professor of Neurology, Pitt School of Medicine,

Alan Romatowski, Alzheimer's Association Greater Pennsylvania
Chapter Board of Directors and the Alzheimer's Association
National Early Stage Advisory Group

Lori McIntyre, Featured in the Documentary.

Judith Saxton, Ph.D., Leader of Clinical, Education and
Information Cores, University of Pittsburgh ADRC; and Associate
Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine

WHAT: One of the most devastating forms of memory loss is Alzheimer's
disease, an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that
slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Today, Alzheimer's is
the second most-feared illness in America, following cancer, and
may affect as many as five million Americans. As the baby-boom
generation reaches retirement, that number could soar to more than
11 million by 2040 and have a huge economic impact on America's
already fragile healthcare system. While there is no cure for the
disease, THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT shows there is now genuine reason
to be optimistic about the future. Scientific research is gaining
momentum in discovering ways to treat and possibly prevent this
devastating brain disease.

Aiming to bring a new understanding, THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT
features a four-part documentary series, 15 short supplemental
films, a robust website and a nationwide community-based
information and outreach campaign. A book published by Public
Affairs Books was developed by the producers as a companion to the
project.

The ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT is a presentation of HBO Documentary Films
and the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of
Health in association with the Alzheimer's Association(R),
Fidelity(R) Charitable Gift Fund and Geoffrey Beene Gives Back(R)
Alzheimer's Initiative. The series producer is John Hoffman; the
executive producers are Sheila Nevins and Maria Shriver.

WHERE: Carnegie Science Center at the Science Stage Theater
One Allegheny Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA

WHEN: Thursday, April 16, 2009
6:30pm Reception
7:30pm Screening and Panel discussion

MEDIA RSVP TO ATTEND THE EVENT OR INTERVIEWS:
Chris Murray, GaileyMurray Communications, 610-864-9123,
cmurray@gaileymurray.com or Jana Madarash, HBO, 212-512-1681,
Jana.Madarash@hbo.com

/PRNewswire -- April 6/

Source: HBO

Web Site: http://www.hbo.com/

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