**MEDIA ALERT**

What: Brain Health Fair – Free for Patients and FamiliesWhen: Saturday, April 26, 2014, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA Register Now: Free Registration Now Open at http://www.BrainHealthFair.com

PHILADELPHIA - World-class neurologists are coming to Philadelphia to host a FREE Brain Health Fair for all area residents and their families on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the Philadelphia Convention Center. This once-in-a-lifetime event presented by the American Brain Foundation is free, but advance registration is encouraged at http://www.BrainHealthFair.com. Arrive by 10:00 a.m. to meet celebrities, attend classes taught by neurologists, and hear a keynote address from Congressman Chaka Fattah.

“The one in six people affected by a brain disease in the Philadelphia area and their families will get a front row seat on how to best treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury and concussion, epilepsy, headache, MS, child development, peripheral neuropathy, and other types of brain diseases,” said Brenda Banwell, MD, Chief, Division of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “And families and kids of all ages will get a close-up look at brains and how to best keep our brains healthy.”

Activities include:

  • Hold a human brain
  • View animal brains
  • Examine microscopic brain tissue
  • Free bike helmets (limited)
  • Free giveaways and resources
  • Health screenings
  • Participate in swim cap brain art
  • Learn to cook brain healthy food
  • Interact with therapy dogs
  • Attend Brain Health Classes
    • Alzheimer’s Disease
    • Stroke
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Brain Injury/Concussion
    • Epilepsy
    • Headache/Migraine
    • Child Development
    • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Experience the Cranial Nerve Stations
  • Play in the Kid's Area
Meet celebrities:
  • Performances by Musician Billy McLaughlin, who was diagnosed with focal dystonia in one hand and surprised the world by teaching himself to play music with his opposite hand.
  • Meet and get autographs from Ben Utecht, former NFL player with the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals, who suffered five known concussions and now raises awareness about concussion.

The Brain Health Fair is presented by the American Brain Foundation, the foundation for the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), which is bringing more than 12,000 neurologists and health care professionals from around the world to Philadelphia April 26 through May 3 for the AAN Annual Meeting, the world’s largest gathering of neurologists.

Exhibitors at the event will include 4 Paws for Ability, Allergan Inc., Alzheimer's Association, American Brain Tumor Association, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation, Inc., CDC/ATSDR – National ALS Registry, Child Neurology Foundation, Clinical Trials Booth (NINDH), DiscoverMI.org, Drexel University College of Medicine, Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania, Huntington’s Disease Youth Organization HDYO, International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF), Kyle Cares - Kyle Lewis Amoeba Awareness, Lundbeck LLC, Mark Morris Dance Group/Dance for PD®, Martin M. Shenkman, Medtronic, Inc., Mother’s to Baby Pregnancy Studies conducted by the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, MSWorld, Inc., Nancy’s House, National Ataxia Foundation, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Parkinson Foundation, National Spasmodic Torticollis Association, Neurology Now® magazine, Parkinson’s Action Network, Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Inc., Penn Medicine – Perelman School of Medicine and University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia Chapter Society of Neuroscience, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Stillpoint Holistic Studio, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., TEVA CNS, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, The Parkinson Council, Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc., and Well Spouse Association. Check http://www.BrainHealthFair.com for updates on attending exhibitors.

The event is sponsored by Allergan, Biogen Idec®, Genzyme, A Sanofi Company, Neurology Now magazine, TEVA CNS, and Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.

About the American Brain Foundation:The American Brain Foundation, the foundation of the American Academy of Neurology, supports crucial research and education to discover causes, improved treatments, and cures for the brain and other nervous system diseases. One in six people is affected by brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, autism, and epilepsy.

For more information about the American Brain Foundation and how you can support research, visit http://www.AmericanBrainFoundation.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube.

About the American Academy of Neurology:The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 27,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or visit Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.