At the Metropolitan Club yesterday, Anchor-International Foundation hosted a luncheon to honor its president, the co-author of the new book, Preventing Alzheimer's (Putnam). Dr. William Rodman Shankle told about 50 guests how Alzheimer's disease could be prevented, delayed, and even reversed. Early detection is key; the doctor recommends annual "sensitive memory tests" after age 50.
Dr. Shankle spoke of a patient that complained that over the past year, the number of books he read a week had dropped to one from six. After two years of treatment, the patient is back to reading six books, Dr Shankle said.
Several guests raised their hands at once to ask the doctor questions. Princess Michael of Kent, who is the chairwoman of the foundation, asked about the benefits of taking an aspirin a day. The doctor said that aspirin can prevent stroke, but he has found that those that don't carry the gene for Alzheimer’s increase their chances of developing the disease when they take aspirin.
Guests at the luncheon included Princess Alexander Romanoff famed opera star Anna Moffo Sarnoff, and designer Mary McFadden. The music director of the New York Pops, Skitch Henderson, who sat next to Ms. Sarnoff, said the Pops would perform in Central Park July 3.
Anchor-International Foundation was founded in 1997 by American cardiologists working in St. Petersburg, Russia. Its programs promote health through daily vigorous exercise. It recently started a "Big Sister" program that matches donors with obese children in need of coaching and mentoring.
