San Diego Hosts Free Alzheimer's Forum With Top Experts

Five leading Alzheimer's experts are sitting down with the San Diego community this Saturday to share breakthrough research and answer questions about dementia care. The best part? Anyone can join for free, either in person or online.

"Date With A Cure" brings together top scientists from USC, UC San Diego, Sharp HealthCare, and Sanford Prebys Medical Discovery Institute for a two-hour forum. These researchers don't normally see patients, making this a rare chance for families to hear directly from the people leading the search for treatments.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon at San Diego Oasis in Rancho Bernardo. While in-person registration is full, anyone can watch live through CBS 8's website, app, or YouTube channel.

Alzheimer's San Diego hosts the annual event to bridge the gap between cutting-edge science and the families who need answers most. The organization provides care, education, and support to people living with all types of dementia.

"A lot of people don't know how much research really is going on here in San Diego County, but we have world-class research facilities right here in our own backyard," said Eugenia Welch, President and CEO of Alzheimer's San Diego. She emphasized that this is a chance to "hear good facts from people who really know what's going on and who are working the hardest to try to find a cure."

Before the main forum, a Research and Community Resource Fair opens at 9 a.m. for attendees to learn about local clinical trials. Vendors will provide information specifically for caregivers supporting loved ones with dementia.

More than 100,000 people in San Diego County have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. That number is expected to reach 115,000 by 2030, making this kind of community education more important than ever.

The Ripple Effect

Events like this do more than inform. They give hope to families navigating one of healthcare's most challenging journeys. When researchers step out of the lab to connect with the community, they remind everyone that science is working hard on solutions, and progress is happening right here in San Diego.

The forum panel includes Dr. Paul Aisen from the USC Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, Dr. James Brewer from the UC San Diego Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Dr. Paulette Cazares from Sharp HealthCare, Dr. Jerold Chum from the Sanford Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and Dr. Hector M. González from the UC San Diego School of Medicine. Together, they represent some of the most advanced Alzheimer's research in the nation.

For families wondering about memory changes in themselves or loved ones, Saturday offers a chance to get answers from people who dedicate their careers to understanding and treating dementia.

World-class research is happening in San Diego's backyard, and this weekend, it's available to everyone who needs it.