Humanities & Society

Eating fish may help reduce the risk for dementia.Nutritionists have long endorsed fish as part of a heart-healthy diet, and now some studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids found in the oil of certain fish may also benefit the brain by lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In order to test whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, can impact the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers at the School of Medicine and Saint Louis University School of Medicine will evaluate DHA in a clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Leonard Berg, M.D., was a pioneer in the assessment and detection of Alzheimer’s disease, the founder and former director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and professor emeritus of neurology. In honor of his distinguished careers both as a clinician and researcher, a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. March 31 in the Connor Auditorium of the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center. A reception will follow. Berg died Monday, January 15, 2007, at age 79 following a stroke.

Washington University today joined a consortium of leading scientific and medical institutions around the country to warn Congress that persistent flat-funding of biomedical research could thwart advances in treatments for such diseases as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Following today’s Senate Appropriations Labor-HHS Committee hearing on funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Washington University and the eight other institutions issued a report at a Capitol Hill press conference on funding for U.S. medical research.

Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee, whose latest book outlines his distinct views and values, will give the College Republicans address for the Assembly Series. “From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPS for Restoring America’s Greatness,” the title of his book and his talk, will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4 in Graham Chapel on Washington University’s Danforth Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Eminent British archaeologist Lord Colin Renfrew will speak for the Assembly Series on cognitive archaeology and how we become human at 4 p.m. March 22 in Graham Chapel.

An American Indian Pow Wow, a presentation on American Indian mascots in sports, and a traditional food tasting are among the highlights of the University’s American Indian Awareness Week April 9-14. The annual awareness week and Pow Wow allow the University’s American Indian students to share their unique cultures with the rest of the campus and the St. Louis community. All events are free and open to the public.

A team of investigators at the School of Medicine and other centers around the United States is evaluating dietary supplements to determine if they can prevent some of the damage from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in Americans over the age of 65.

Political developments affecting American business and new challenges and directions in political risk analysis will be the focus of a public forum from 8 a.m.-noon March 23 in the May Auditorium of Simon Hall on the Danforth Campus of Washington University.

Moms can reap financial benefits from a college degree.A social work professor at Washington University in St. Louis says that despite the latest evidence that single and married mothers can reap financial benefits from a college degree, current social policy discourages post-secondary education for women in poverty. More…

An illustration from “When Grandpa Comes Home: A Story About Stroke,” an online book that teaches children how to cope when a relative suffers a strokeSpeedy treatment is essential to saving lives and preventing brain damage during a stroke. But the rapid pace of events also can leave patients and family members confused about what has happened and what to expect. That’s especially true for children whose parents or grandparents have a stroke. Now an online book is available to teach children about strokes at www.strokecenter.org/patients. More…