Explore & Learn

Canyon Ranch and Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM), founded by Maria Shriver, are proud to present How to Lower Your Risk of Alzheimer's, with Dr. Anna Burke, Dr. Richard Carmona, and Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton, plus a team of Canyon Ranch experts.

With a mutual mission for preventative care that enables living a well way of life, Canyon Ranch and WAM have come together to deliver an integrative approach to aging with grace and grit.

Join us for this immersive five-day brain health-focused retreat at Canyon Ranch Tucson, featuring leading medical experts in the field of neurodegenerative diseases who will share their latest research on how these diseases impact women as they age. Along with presentations from WAM, Canyon Ranch wellness professionals in medicine, nutrition, fitness, and spirituality will deliver presentations to broaden the discussions around lifestyle changes that can decrease the impact of degenerative disease outcomes.

Hear presentations that explore how your lifestyle—from the meals you eat to the work you do—can impact how your brain functions at each stage of life, take a deeper dive into systems biology that include sex differences in mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s; and understand the repair mechanisms required to regenerate the brain of those living with degenerative disease.

(Check back for an updated list of guest speakers)

Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton
Dr. Diaz Brinton is the inaugural Director of the UA Center for Innovation in Brain Science (CIBS) at The University of Arizona Health Sciences and Professor of Pharmacology and Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona. CIBS is focused on therapeutic development and translational research for neurodegenerative diseases associated with age. The Center was created because there is not yet a cure for a single neurodegenerative disorder, and Dr. Diaz Brinton’s research focuses on the mechanisms underlying late-onset Alzheimer’s and developing therapeutics to prevent, delay, and cure the disease. Her research program explores systems biology of: mechanisms underlying risk of Alzheimer’s during female brain aging; sex differences in mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s; and repair mechanisms to regenerate the brain with Alzheimer’s. Her findings indicate that the aging brain is dynamic and adaptive, leading to increased focus on transition states of the aging brain, its plasticity, limits, and vulnerability.

Dr. Anna Burke
Dr. Anna Burke has led more than 80 clinical trials in Alzheimer’s and related dementia. She is the Karsten Solheim Chair for Dementia, and the director of neuropsychiatry at Barrow Neurological Institute. She specializes in geriatric psychiatry and is board certified in psychiatry with a subspecialty certification in geriatric psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Burke’s expertise includes the treatment of challenging behavioral and psychiatric disturbances that result from neurological conditions. She is a member of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, and the Arizona Neuropsychiatric Association.

Dr. Burke received her medical degree from Gdańsk Medical University. She completed her residency training in adult psychiatry at Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living before completing a geriatric psychiatry fellowship at McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Burke has led numerous clinical trials of investigational drugs, neuromodulation, environmental modifications, prevention methods, and novel neuroimaging techniques for cognitively impaired patients with neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr. Richard Carmona, MPH, FACS  
Dr. Richard Carmona is the Chief of Health Innovation at Canyon Ranch and is the Distinguished Professor of Public Health at MEZCOPH.  He also holds faculty appointments as a Professor of Surgery and Pharmacy and was the 17th Surgeon General of the United States. Trained in general and vascular surgery, Dr. Carmona also completed a National Institutes of Health-sponsored fellowship in trauma, burns, and critical care. He was then recruited jointly by the Tucson Medical Center and the University of Arizona to start and direct Arizona’s first regional trauma care system. He went on to become the chairman of the State of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System, a professor of surgery, public health and family and community medicine at the University of Arizona, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department surgeon and deputy sheriff. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Carmona’s interest in public health stemmed from the realization that most of his patients’ illnesses and injuries were completely preventable.

In 2002 Dr. Carmona was nominated by the President and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate to become the 17th Surgeon General of the United States. Dr. Carmona was selected because of his extensive experience in public health, clinical sciences, health care management, preparedness, and his commitment to prevention as an effective means to improve public health and reduce health care costs while improving the quality and quantity of life. As Surgeon General, Dr. Carmona focused on prevention, preparedness, health disparities, health literacy, and global health to include health diplomacy. He also issued many landmark Surgeon General Communications during his tenure, including the definitive Surgeon General’s Report about the dangers of second-hand smoke.

Dr. Chad Prusmack, FAANS
Dr. Chad Prusmack is the founder of Resilience Code, which creates comprehensive and personalized health and performance wellness plans for a high-definition 360 degree view of your future health. Dr. Prusmack is certified in functional medicine through IFM and an exclusive member of ILADS. He is the only board-certified neurosurgeon in the United States who also holds a functional medicine certification. He is the primary neurosurgical consultant for the Denver Broncos and the United States Olympic Committee, with a specialty in neurodegenerative disease, concussion, post concussive syndrome, and performance.

Kick off this Alzheimer’s-focused retreat with a hands-on culinary nutrition session for brain power, then enjoy a series of presentations each day about brain health. Presentations range from the impact of stress reduction and nutrition on neurodegenerative diseases, to exercise and cognitive tools to keep your mind fit and flexible. These offerings are mixed with both moving and still meditations, hikes, free time for spa services, creative expressions, and more.

Wednesday, June 1

5:30 – 7 pm
Dinner & Learn: Nutrition for Cognitive Perfomance with Stephanie Miezin, Director of Nutrition, Canyon Ranch. Space is limited, so reservation is required. Please call (800) 729-8090 in advance before your arrival. Or upon arrival, visit Program Advising, or call Ext. 44338 from the phone in your room.

Thursday, June 2

8 – 8:30 am
Centering Meditation (Yoga Studio)
Start your day by getting in touch with your daily intention and connecting with your breath.

10 – 11 am
30 Days to a Better Brain with Dr. Richard Carmona, MPH, FACS, Chief Health Innovator, Canyon Ranch

11 am – noon
Brain Health Panel with guest speakers and Canyon Ranch experts

2 – 3 pm
WAM Introduction and Women & Brain Health: What You Need to Know with Dr. Brinton

4 – 5 pm
Optimizing Brain Health with Stephanie Miezin, Director of Nutrition, Canyon Ranch

7 – 8 pm
Coffee & Canvas, a creative expression class

Friday, June 3

9 – 9:30 am
Walking Meditation

11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Posture & Balance (Studio 2)

1 – 2 pm
Dementia: What's Normal as We Age? with Dr. Anna Burke

5:30 – 6:30 pm
Can Lifestyle Modifications Affect Dementia Risk? with Dr. Anna Burke

Saturday, June 4

8 – 8:30 am
Centering Meditation (Yoga Studio)
Start your day by getting in touch with your daily intention and connecting with your breath.

10 – 11 am
Acting Your Fitness Age

11 am – noon
Secondary Brain Injury: Cause & Effect, Dr. Chad Prusmack

1 – 2 pm
Ai Chi (Aquatic Center)
A meditative series of Tai chi like movements that utilize the resistance of warm water to strengthen and relax the body.

5:30 – 6:30 pm
Neurodegenerative Disease, Dr. Chad Prusmack

Sunday June 5

8 – 9 am
Qi Gong (Yoga Studio)

10 – 11 am
Eating with Intention

4 – 5 pm
Improve your Memory Power
Steve Ochoa, Veteran Canyon Ranch expert and guest favorite