On August 3rd, doctors, athletes, and actors united at the “Power Foods For The Brain” benefit to support Alzheimer’s disease prevention by promoting a healthful diet and lifestyle. Physicians Committee president and author, Dr. Neal Barnard, hosted the event at the home of Amagansett resident, John Bradham. Alzheimer’s disease now affects 5 million Americans and rates are expected to triple within three decades. However, Dr. Barnard’s groundbreaking nutritional research shows that simple diet changes can shield the brain from memory loss, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. All proceeds went to support the work of the Physicians Committee.

Special guests included: actor and memory expert Marilu Henner, ultra-athlete Brendan Brazier, fashion designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart of Voute Couture, and actor Elaine Hendrix with her cast from It’s Just Sex; and host committee members Alec and Hilaria Baldwin and Jane Valez-Mitchell.

Guests were treated to healthy fare throughout the evening, such as wine from basketball champion John Salley’s The Vegan Vine, gourmet plant-based hors d’oeuvres from Verite Catering which included sweet pea mouse with an almond wafer, grilled oyster mushroom skewers, truffled ricotta, chili oil tarts, coconut brownie bites, and a sampling from Treeline Treenut Cheeses and Cavi-art.

“Every minute, our brain cells are bathing in the nutrients—or toxins—we take in through food,” says Dr. Barnard. “Just as we put money in a retirement account to ensure a secure future, we can put foods on our plates today to help keep the brain in high gear well into the future.”

Dr. Neal Barnard is the President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which was founded in 1985. It is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research, and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research.

For more info on Dr. Neal Barnard and his book “Power Foods For The Brain” go to www.nealbarnard.org

To learn more about the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine go to www.pcrm.org

*Photos courtesy of Jakes van der Watt/Physicians Committee