Dr. Robert Ollar, consulting microbiologist and member of the Pike County Tick Borne Diseases Task Force, will present “Neurologists Take Heed Lyme Neuroborreliosis Mimicry is Afoot” at the 4th annual Lyme Disease in the Era of Precision Medicine Conference on October 19 in New York City.

The Conference is free and open to the public.

Dr. Ollar’s presentation will focus on the practical application of advances in immunology and molecular biology to enable members of the medical community to distinguish true Alzheimer's disease from neurological Lyme Disease also known as Lyme neuroborreliosis, which mimics Alzheimer's-like symptoms.

“It is important for doctors in areas which are endemic for tick borne diseases to make this distinction,” says Dr. Ollar. “The emotional trauma to patients and their loved ones that results when Lyme neuroborreliosis has been misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease is devastating since neurological Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics if caught in early onset. Sadly, at this time, there isn't any cure for true Alzheimer's.”

Dr. Ollar is Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology in the Department of Neurology at New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York.

He is also consulting microbiologist for the Tick Borne Diseases Support Network, a nonprofit organization based in Milford.

Pike County’s Tick Borne Diseases Task Force is an initiative of the Pike County Commissioners.

The task force is focused on decreasing the number of tick borne illnesses by building community awareness through education, support, and advocacy.

“Education on tick borne diseases is essential to address this public health challenge,” says Pike County Commissioner Chairman Matthew Osterberg. “We want people to enjoy the outdoors, but we also want them to be safe and prepared.”

Meetings of the Tick Borne Diseases Task Force are held on the fourth Thursday of each month (unless otherwise indicated) at 10:00 a.m., at the Pike County Administration Building, 506 Broad Street in Milford. New members are welcome.

For more information about the Tick Borne Diseases Task Force contact Community Planner Brian Snyder by sending email to: bsnyder@pikepa.org or call 570-296-3569.

[For more information on tick and mosquito-borne diseases, visit DEP’s West Nile Virus webpage and the Department of Health’s Lyme Disease webpage and read the Eastern Equine Encephalitis fact sheet.]

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