• Minnesota

    Pat Summitt, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Mayo’s Dr. Ron Petersen to Present at Meeting of the Minds

MULTIMEDIA ALERT: Watch Dr. Petersen in this Mayo Clinic News Network report. Follow the meeting on Twitter using the hashtag #minds.

WHAT: The Meeting of the Minds Dementia Conference is for people with mild cognitiveimpairment or early dementia, families, friends and professionals. The conference is a collaboration between the Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter and Mayo Clinic, who work together to create a day designed to inform, equip and support people with dementia, family caregivers and professionals. There will be more than 1,300 participants and more than 70 sponsors and exhibits. The conference is sold out. Watch a video preview of the conference.

WHO: Nearly 30 doctors, caretakers and speakers will be available to discuss varying aspects of dementia throughout the day. Full list of presenters. A few highlights include:

  • Pat Summitt, the winningest college basketball coach of all time. Summitt has been diagnosed with younger onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. She will speak at 8:30 a.m. NOTE: Summitt will not be available for interviews after her talk. However, journalists can record and shoot during her speech.
  • Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn, will talk about "The Future of the Alzheimer's Epidemic in America" at 3:35 p.m.
  • Ronald Petersen, M.D., Ph.D., the Chester and Debbie Cadieux Director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, will be on hand for a question and answer session about Alzheimer's disease and related conditions. Dr. Petersen is the Cora Kanow Professor of Alzheimer's Disease Research at Mayo. Session is at 12:45 p.m.

WHEN: Saturday, March 2, 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Saint Paul River Centre, 175 West Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, Minn.