Something Extra DOER PROFILE :CHALLE NGE: Keep The Mind Alive Gcm • - Atvla sinemg 0 006 45 E 509t 222 075 L'S. • Carol Rosenblum and David Bartczak review a recent copy of the Mental Illness Research Association's newsletter they produce together with other volunteers. Carol Rosenblum David Bartczak An ancient remedy yields new medicine. Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology are discovering that chemicals in green tea help rid the brain of iron deposits, which have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. These findings have Led to several new drugs based on mopping up excess iron with green tea extracts. Another drug developed at the Technion, now in the approval. process, actually halts the death of brain cells. Home: Huntington Woods Kudos: Health Education Huntington Woods couple, Carol Rosenblum and David Bartczak, are busy profes- sionals. Carol teaches fourth-graders at the private Kensington Academy in Beverly Hills. David is a diagnostic engineer for General Motors' trans- missions, working at the GM proving grounds in Milford. At night and on the weekends, they run their own home-based tutoring service. . As volunteers, they help two major health organizations educate the pub- lic and fund-raise for research and treatment. David, 56, and Carol, 59, both serve on the board of the Mental Illness Research Association (MIRA). David is also on the board of the Michigan Parkinson Foundation. A The American Technion Society is proud to be a partner in these efforts. With your help, we can ensure that Israel's scientists continue shaping a stronger Israel. and a better, safer world. Join us. ___ NO CHALLENGE TOO GREAT V ; AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TECHNION Carol, how did you and David get involved in the Bloomfield Hills-based MIRA? "We both had a interest in brain research. The late Dr. David Olen, a neuro-psychiatrist we knew socially, approached us to help form a group, which became the association. The association primarily wanted to edu- ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY To find out how you can participate in events email detroit@ats.org , call (248) 737-1990 or visit www.ats.org/mind Jo Strausz Rosen, Detroit Chapter Director Matt Engelbert, East Central Regional Director 32506 Northwestern Highway, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334 1066270 12 Janaury 26 • 2006 cate the public about the stigma of mental illness as well as raise money for research in brain diseases and dis- orders:' Basically, what is mental illness? "It is a brain-based disorder, a phys- ical illness. It is not a personality dis- order. And there are treatments for these illnesses." How widespread is the problem? "No family we know of hasn't been touched by a disorder. Mental illness affects one in every five families in the country. We're on the cusp of unlock- ing the key to finding cures for these illnesses:' What should the public know about mental illness? "Depression, bipolar disorder, schiz- ophrenia, Alzheimer's, anxiety and others are not character defects or personality disorders. They are ill- nesses that are treatable. In educating the public as to the nature of these disorders, we hope to help erase the