Brain Talk | Being Patient for Alzheimer's Patients and Caregivers

Classical music publicist, educator, performer, and dementia advocate Mary Lou Falcone joins Being Patient Live Talks to discuss her book, I Didn’t See It Coming. In this memoir of “love, loss, and Lewy Body dementia,” Falcone details the caregiving journey for her late husband, Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Zann, whose illustrations introduce each chapter.

The key to understanding Alzheimer’s disease could be in our genes. While the cause of Alzheimer’s is still unknown, mounting research shows that carrying multiple copies of certain genes — like genetic variant ApoE4 — can significantly increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. By studying genetics and gene therapy, scientists are learning more about how genes play a role in Alzheimer’s disease and what can be done for prevention.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is associated with early stages of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Many people living with dementia cite symptoms of MCI as an early sign. Yet, there’s lots of confusion with what might be “normal” memory loss that comes with aging or a sign to see a doctor.

Navigating the holidays with dementia can be challenging, especially when it comes to travel. When designing a holiday trip, there are key strategies that caregivers can take in planning all of the trips this season may require. Dr. Alexis Eastman, a clinical associate professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, joins Being Patient Live Talks to discuss best practices for holiday travel and family gatherings for people living with dementia.

atching and accurately identifying a neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia early can make all the difference in the world to a patient and their loved ones: An early diagnosis means more time to plan for the future, join a clinical trial testing cutting-edge disease-modifying treatments, making lifestyle changes to slow symptoms, or spending more time with loved ones. On the other hand, a misdiagnosis could mean that patients receive the wrong medications, causing harm — and unfortunately misdiagnoses are all too common when it comes to dementia. Why is this the case, and what can patients do about it?

Writer, advocate, and international speaker Laurie Scherrer joins Being Patient Live Talks to discuss her experience living with early onset Alzheimer’s and FTD.

This video was made possible through sponsorship by Lexeo Therapeutics. Being Patient’s editorial team produced the interview and article, with no review/approval process by the sponsor.

Being Patient speaks with Benjamin Bikman, professor of cell biology and physiology at Brigham Young University, about the complex processes of our metabolism, and how metabolic health plays a role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and our brain health.

Doctor and New York Times bestselling author Sandeep Jauhar joins Being Patient Live Talks to discuss his latest book, “My Father’s Brain,” in which he shares an account of his father’s journey with Alzheimer’s alongside his own experience coming to understand the disease through caring for his father.

Virginia Tech’s Dr. Julia C. Basso joins Being Patient Live Talks to discuss her work studying the body-brain connection through dance, yoga, and meditation.