Cognitive Decline

Felice Gersh MD, is a multi-award winning physician with dual board certifications in OB-GYN and Integrative Medicine. She is the founder and director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, which provides comprehensive health care for women by combining the best evidence-based therapies from conventional, naturopathic, and holistic medicine. An active part of the PCOS community, Dr. Gersh works with the PCOS Awareness Association and is a member of the PCOS Challenge’s Medical/Scientific Advisory Board. She speaks at the annual conferences of both non-profit organizations. She is a member of the AE-PCOS Society, and has spoken multiple times at their prestigious academic meetings. She taught obstetrics and gynecology at Keck USC School of Medicine for 12 years as an Assistant Clinical Professor, where she received the highly coveted Outstanding Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award. She now serves as an Affiliate Faculty Member at the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, through the University of Arizona School of Medicine, where she lectures and regularly grades the case presentations written by the Fellowship students for their final exams. She has had many scientific articles published in prestigious medical journals, and most recently had an article chosen to be featured in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Additionally, she is a sought after medical forensic expert and has worked on numerous high profile legal cases. Felice Gersh MD, is the bestselling author of PCOS SOS and the PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track and her newest book, Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know. She is a prolific lecturer and has been featured in several films and documentary series, including The Real Skinny on Fat with Montel Williams and Fasting with Valter Longo. 

Professor Alan Hayes is a muscle and exercise physiologist with more than 20 years of experience in conducting clinical trials and basic science investigations of the effects of exercise and nutraceutical supplements for the treatment of muscle wasting conditions and to promote healthy ageing. Professor Hayes completed his doctoral studies at The University of Melbourne and has been a teaching and research academic at Victoria University since 1997. He is currently the Assistant Dean of the Western Centre for Health Research and Education building located at Sunshine Hospital, and the Deputy Director of the Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS).

Dr. Gardener was awarded a PhD in Neuroscience and Nutrition in 2014 and is a Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. Gardener’s long-term research interests are primarily focused on investigating the effect of diet on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk, cognitive decline, and blood and cerebral imaging biomarkers of AD, along with elucidating the mechanisms underlying these relationships. Ultimately, the goal is to develop dietary interventions aimed at delaying the onset of AD. Gardener’s work is advancing the field and enhancing understanding of biological connections between diet and AD-related processes. Gardener plays a key role in numerous AD research studies; she is the Study Coordinator for the Perth site of the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network study (DIAN), which is a world-leading study of autosomal dominant AD and Tracking the Natural History of Dutch-type Hereditary Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy study (TRACK D-CAA) which aims to collect natural history data that can be used as trial run in data for future therapy trials in D-CAA. Since 2012 Gardener has demonstrated excellence in research, publishing 23 original peer-reviewed research articles (11 as first author), in peer-reviewed journals of significant international standing, as well as contributing a book chapter to ‘The Neuroscience of Aging’ published in 2021.

Ashok is an internationally renowned Speaker, Filmmaker & Health Practitioner who has dedicated his life to supporting people through chronic illness, and achieving their potential. Ashok suffered from ME, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, around 25 years ago when he was studying at Cambridge University. Through neurological research that he conducted, he managed to get himself 100% better. He then set up a clinic to treat others, and then published the well-known neuroplasticity “limbic retraining” recovery program known as the Gupta Program in 2007. He has published several medical papers and is continually researching these conditions, you can find out more information at guptaprogram.com. In 2017 Ashok published a popular 4.7 star rated app called the Meaning of Life Experiment, a 30-Day program of videos and meditations to discover more happiness, meaning, and to uncover your Life Purpose.

Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Endoscopic Surgeon, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, School of Medicine University of Wollongong, Australia. Associate Professor Jim Parker started his academic career with 3 years of preclinical training in Chiropractic at the Sydney College of Chiropractic in the 1978. He completed a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of NSW with a major in Anatomy in 1981. He obtained a Bachelor of Medicine Degree in 1986 and worked in General Practice. He completed the Diploma of Obstetrics in 1992 and obtained his Specialist Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1999. A/Prof Jim Parker has had a wide range of research interests with a particular interest in evidenced-based medicine and the application of research findings to clinical practice. A/Prof Jim Parker has published over 50 peer-reviewed research articles on preterm labour, obstetric emergencies, ectopic pregnancy, endoscopic surgery, nutritional and environmental medicine and the chronic diseases epidemic, polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolism and insulin resistance. A/Prof Jim Parker has been involved in a number of training, research, academic and educational roles since 1982. He has a number of collaborative research projects with a range of academics and clinicians in Australia and Internationally. He is currently an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Medicine at the University of Wollongong. He is actively involved in medical teaching, examining and research activities. 

Samantha's practice is focussed on “Grey Area Drinkers” – those whose alcohol consumption falls in the zone between social and damaging – and who may be able to abstain for periods of time but are likely to be preoccupied with alcohol and find it difficult to drink in moderation. While alcohol is a socially acceptable substance, here in Australia it is the fifth highest risk factor contributing to the burden of disease. Sam has spent many years diving into the research on what drives alcohol abuse and its impact on overall health and wellbeing. She is passionate about not only helping her clients but also supporting the wider practitioner community. Sam has developed an educational course for practitioners to help them better recognise where alcohol may be contributing to patients’ symptoms and how to support them through change.