The Center for Vital Longevity has announced the schedule for its fall semester Science Luncheon Series, a program of weekly talks that brings together UT Dallas researchers and outside experts to discuss recent developments in cognitive neuroscience and aging research.

This semester’s schedule includes talks on topics ranging from preventing Alzheimer’s disease to the neural processes that support spatial memory.

“We are looking forward to a semester of stimulating talks and lively discussion about research vital to our understanding of cognitive health and disease,” said Dr. Karen Rodrigue, assistant professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, who organized this semester’s lineup.

The series kicks off on Sept. 17 with Dr. Roger Rosenberg, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center and Abe (Brunky), Morris and William Zale Distinguished Chair in neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

The Sept. 24 lecture will feature Dr. David Bennett, director of the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, who will discuss the concepts of mixed dementia and neural reserve.

The remainder of the series will include speakers from UT Dallas, University of South Florida, Georgia Tech and Boston University.

All lectures will take place at 12 p.m. in the Eighth Floor Conference Room at the Center for Vital Longevity, 1600 Viceroy Drive in Dallas. Space is limited. RSVP no later than the Friday before each talk.

Science Luncheon Series

  • Sept. 17
    “DNA A-Beta 42 Vaccine to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease”
    Roger Rosenberg, MD
    Professor and Director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center, and Abe (Brunky), Morris and William Zale Distinguished Chair in neurology, at UT Southwestern Medical Center

  • Sept. 24
    “Mixed Dementia and Neural Reserve:  Implications for the Prevention of AD”
    David Bennett, MD
    Professor and Director of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, and the Robert C. Borwell Professor of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center

  • Oct. 01
    “Use It or Lose It: Do Lifestyle Activities Reduce Age-Related Cognitive Declines?”
    Brent Small, PhD
    Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida

  • Oct. 08
    Topic to Be Announced
    Andrea Warner-Czyz, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Callier Center for Communication Disorders, UT Dallas

  • Oct. 22
    “Neural Systems Supporting Episodic Memory Humans”
    Kaia Vilberg, PhD
    Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Vital Longevity, UT Dallas

  • Oct. 29
    “The Synapse Project: The Impact of Productive Engagement on Cognitive Performance”
    Sara Haber, PhD
    Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Vital Longevity, UT Dallas

  • Nov. 05
    “What Frankenstein, Miss America, the Hulk, and Rush Limbaugh Have in Common”
    Emily Tobey, PhD
    Associate Provost and the Nelle C. Johnston Chair in Communication Disorders in Children, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, UT Dallas

  • Nov. 12
    “Directing Neural Plasticity to Understand and Treat Neurological Disease”
    Michael Kilgard, PhD
    Professor, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, UT Dallas

  • Nov. 26
    “Aging and Spatial Navigation”
    Scott Moffat, PhD
    Associate Professor, Georgia Tech

  • Dec. 03
    “The Hippocampus in Space and Time”
    Howard Eichenbaum, PhD
    Professor and Director, Center for Memory and Brain, Boston University

  • Dec. 10
    “Understanding Neural Representations of Facial Identity, Race, and Familiar Faces”
    Vaidehi Natu, PhD
    Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, UT Dallas