George W. Bush tours Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

Kirvin Doak Communications

Former President George W. Bush is given a tour of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health by Larry Ruvo on Feb. 10, 2010.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 | 4:43 p.m.

George W. Bush Visits Brain Center

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Former President George W. Bush toured our downtown Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health yesterday afternoon and received a personal tour of the medical facilities and construction site of the soon-to-be completed Life Activity Center from Larry Ruvo, a longtime friend of the Bush family. He also greeted more than a dozen volunteers.

“I am honored to have been invited here to witness the progress of this impressive project,” Bush said. “I tip my hat to the people of Nevada for stepping up to the plate and recognizing a need and displaying the desire to help.

“The research and treatment being done inside these walls is essential to prolonging health and vital aging in people at risk for dementia and memory impairments, and I look forward to following the center’s progress.”

This afternoon, superstar singer Paul Anka followed with another tour given by Larry, who heads up the center named after his late father and the annual Keep Memory Alive gala that will star Barry Manilow on Feb. 27 at a gala benefit fundraiser in the Bellagio. Stars and VIPs are lining up to lend support for the event.

The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is a highly specialized clinical center designed to advance the research, early detection and treatment of neurocognitive disorders, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease. The facility, designed by Frank Gehry, houses clinical space, a diagnostic center, neuroimaging rooms, physician offices, laboratories devoted to clinical research and a Life Activity Center.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.