Research has linked head injury and a variety of mental health conditions to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Given veterans’ exposure to traumatic brain injury, PTSD, blast-induced neurotrauma, successive concussion syndrome, and depression, what do they and their families need to know about Alzheimer’s? And what’s currently done to help the nearly 50% of our veterans age 65 or older, who face an even greater risk of Alzheimer’s?

With Veterans Day approaching, two experts from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) joined us. Dr. Tom Edes oversees Geriatrics & Extended Care Operations, for VA Clinical Operations. Dr. Alex Chiu leads VA’s portfolio of Alzheimer’s disease research.

Dr. Edes discussed how VA is addressing this looming crisis and some of the resources that VA offers to veterans who are facing this disease. Dr. Chiu shared on overview of current and recent VA research into Alzheimer’s as it affects our nation’s veterans. This health crisis is affecting our veterans at an alarming rate, when they have already given so much in service to our country. 

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