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

For aging adults and people experiencing memory changes, everyday technology can be confusing, frustrating, and difficult to navigate.

Angela Cearns is the founder and CEO of AsKevin, which offers workshops and digital coaching to help older adults and those with cognitive challenges — including Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease — better understand and use technology. In this conversation with Being Patient’s Mark Niu, Cearns identifies three core struggles facing people with cognitive challenges in the digital world: the constant distraction of notifications that makes it hard to keep track of information, the self-doubt caused by frequent software updates that change familiar interfaces, and the shame that comes from needing to ask family members for help.

Cearns, a former head of product management at Amazon Prime and chief e-commerce officer at Pizza Hut International, shares practical strategies for simplifying devices, turning off unnecessary notifications, cleaning up contact lists and focusing on tools that keep people connected. She also highlights the growing threat of multistep scams targeting older adults. While technology can bring risks, Cearns emphasizes that it can also be a lifeline — helping people stay engaged with loved ones, health care, and the wider world.----If you loved watching this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being Patient: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Being_Patient_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingpatientvoices/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beingpatientalzheimersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/being-patientBeing Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/

When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, caregivers are often thrust into a world of difficult decisions — from whether it's time to consider a care home to how to respond when a spouse becomes unrecognizable in temperament. Dementia care expert Teepa Snow, an occupational therapist with more than 40 years of clinical and academic experience, emphasizes that successful caregiving often depends less on arguing facts than on adjusting the environment, preserving purpose and social connection where possible, and recognizing that clinical labels or test results do not always capture what daily life with dementia actually looks like.Teepa developed the GEMS States of Brain Change and Positive Approach training strategies. Her company, Positive Approach to Care (PAC), provides online and in-person education and products to support those living with brain change. She also founded the Snow Approach Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Hillsborough, North Carolina.In this conversation with Being Patient’s founder, Deborah Kan, Snow discusses how dementia care rarely follows a straight line: families often must keep reevaluating what is working, balancing safety, dignity, routine, and quality of life. Snow urged caregivers not to wait too long before considering a care home, noting that adjusting to a new environment becomes harder as dementia progresses. ----If you loved listening to this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being Patient: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Being_Patient_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingpatientvoices/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beingpatientalzheimersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/being-patientBeing Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/

This interview is brought to you in partnership with Eisai and is part of the Journey to Diagnosis series.Eisai: https://www.eisai.com/index.htmlJourney to Diagnosis: https://beingpatient.com/journey-to-diagnosis/Nancy Nelson received an early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2013 — news that changed her life and forced her to rethink what the future could look like. Nelson has channeled her diagnosis into creativity and advocacy, publishing three poetry books, participating in research, and leading early-stage support groups for others living with dementia. She later received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment in 2018.Nelson joined forces with Kat Hartley, a pharmacist and brain health professional whose personal life and career have been shaped by Alzheimer’s across generations of her family. Together, they co-founded dangle & dot, a social enterprise built to challenge stigma and reimagine what it looks like to live, work, and connect with dementia.In this conversation with Being Patient’s founder, Deborah Kan, Nelson reflects on the power of early diagnosis and the value of staying socially engaged after a diagnosis. Hartley offers the perspective of a care partner and advocate working to replace the usual tragedy narrative with one rooted in dignity, resilience, and connection. Their discussion highlights a central message: while dementia brings real change, purpose, community, and support can still shape a rich and active life.---If you loved listening to this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being Patient: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Being_Patient_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingpatientvoices/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beingpatientalzheimersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/being-patientBeing Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/

This interview is brought to you in partnership with Eisai and is part of the Journey to Diagnosis series.Eisai: https://www.eisai.com/index.htmlJourney to Diagnosis: https://beingpatient.com/journey-to-diagnosis/Andrew Reid was 56 when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s after unexplained changes that affected his work, driving, and daily functioning. He lives with a rare form of the disease called Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), which primarily affects visual processing. Before his diagnosis, Andrew built a career in management and leadership as the founder and CEO of Big Fish Interactive, a leadership training firm focused on guiding organizations through positive change. He’s also a gold medalist in the European Dragon Boat Championships. Andrew and his wife, Karina, are committed to sharing their story to educate others about early-onset Alzheimer’s, reduce stigma, and amplify the voices of young families facing the disease. Andrew has found strength in an improv acting group and has become a passionate advocate for others living with young-onset Alzheimer’s.In this conversation with Being Patient’s Mark Niu, Andrew and Karina describe the emotional toll of uncertainty and the importance of getting the right diagnosis. They discuss the realities of living with PCA and strategies to make daily life safer and more manageable, from visual cues in the home to finding new forms of connection through humor, community, and creative outlets like improv. Together, they exemplify how resilience and support can help families keep moving forward even as the disease changes everyday life.------If you loved watching this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being Patient: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Being_Patient_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingpatientvoices/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beingpatientalzheimersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/being-patientBeing Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/

After Deborah Kan’s mother, Alvera Kan, died in December of last year, the family donated her brain to UCSF to better understand what type of dementia she had. The answer came back with not just one diagnosis, but three different types of dementia: Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and LATE. Kan and her sister, Susan Whitaker, are joined by Dr. Bruce Miller, director of the UCSF Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center, and Dr. David Soleimani-Meigooni, a neurologist at UCSF’s Memory and Aging Center and assistant professor focused on precision diagnosis in Alzheimer’s and related neurodegenerative diseases. Miller’s work has helped shape how clinicians identify and distinguish different forms of dementia, including frontotemporal dementia, while Soleimani-Meigooni’s clinical and research work includes using imaging and biomarkers to better understand amyloid, tau and other drivers of cognitive decline.In this conversation with Kan and Whitaker, Miller and Soleimani-Meigooni discuss how dementia diagnosis can remain uncertain during life and how an autopsy can reveal multiple diseases. They underscores how common mixed dementias are, why symptoms such as getting lost or struggling with numbers can point to specific brain changes, and why better diagnostic tools are needed. They also highlight the lasting scientific value of brain donation, showing how one family’s decision can contribute to more precise diagnoses, better biomarkers, and, ultimately, more individualized treatment approaches for future patients.---If you loved listening to this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being Patient: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Being_Patient_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingpatientvoices/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beingpatientalzheimersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/being-patientBeing Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/

Dr. Michael Fossel, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and recognized expert in aging and telomere biology. He serves as chairman of the board of Telocyte, a biotech company developing telomerase therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, with FDA-sponsored human trials planned to target the underlying disease process. Fossel has authored more than 100 scientific publications and has lectured internationally, including at the National Institutes of Health. His work explores how processes like cell senescence — when aging cells stop working properly and can contribute to chronic inflammation — may help drive age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s.In the interview with Being Patient Founder Deborah Kan, Fossel argues that aging is not simply wear and tear, but a breakdown in the body’s ability to maintain and repair cells over time. He explains why lifestyle habits may help slow aging but are unlikely to reset it and outlines why his research is focused on whether telomerase therapy could restore cellular function in Alzheimer’s. He acknowledges that the science is still in its early stages, with major questions remaining about how much damage can be reversed, which patients might benefit most, and how soon these ideas can be tested in people.----If you loved listening to this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being Patient: Twitter:   / being_patient_  Instagram:   / beingpatientvoices  Facebook:   / beingpatientalzheimers  LinkedIn:   / being-patient  Being Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/

Conversations about cognitive impairment can feel confusing and hard to navigate. You may notice small changes and not know whether to bring it up, how to bring it up, or what the “right” approach is without causing fear, defensiveness, or shame. Dr. Dani Cabral is a neurologist and psychiatrist with more than 15 years of experience in Alzheimer’s care and clinical research. She founded BrainLove after seeing how the traditional health care system often fails to give patients and families the time, support, and individualized care they need. Through BrainLove, Cabral is working to transform the narrative on Alzheimer’s and related diseases by combining cutting-edge medical care, accessible education, and trusted resources to help families move forward with more clarity and a sense of possibility. Drawing on her background in both neurology and psychiatry, as well as early experience in hospice dementia care, Cabral brings a whole-person approach that addresses not only the biology of cognitive decline, but also the emotional, psychological, and practical realities families face.In this interview with Being Patient’s Mark Niu, Cabral emphasizes that conversations about cognitive changes should begin gently and without assumptions, focusing on curiosity rather than confrontation. She highlights the importance of involving family members early, addressing safety concerns before they become crises, and recognizing that cognitive decline is not always straightforward or caused by one condition alone.

--- If you loved watching this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being Patient: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Being_Patient_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingpatientvoices/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beingpatientalzheimersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/being-patientBeing Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/

This interview is brought to you in partnership with Eisai and is part of the Journey to Diagnosis series.Eisai: https://www.eisai.com/index.htmlJourney to Diagnosis: https://beingpatient.com/journey-to-diagnosis/Ben Draper was just 47 when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. In the years leading up to that diagnosis, he and his wife, Robin, began noticing changes. Ben struggled with everyday tasks that used to come easily, such as sending text messages, using a phone or computer, managing time, and doing simple math. While running his construction business, he realized he could no longer read a tape measure. Even following GPS while driving became difficult.Early testing revealed significant cognitive impairment, followed by an extensive medical workup that included an MRI and a spinal tap. The results showed amyloid plaque, and, with a strong family history of Alzheimer’s, Ben later learned he also carries a genetic link to the disease.Today, Ben and Robin are focused on living each day to the fullest. They document their experiences on TikTok (@draperfamilylife) to help others feel less alone and to raise awareness about early-onset Alzheimer’s.In this conversation with Being Patient’s founder Deborah Kan, Ben and Robin describe the emotional whiplash of fearing a rapidly fatal diagnosis like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease before receiving clarity, and the unexpected relief that can come with finally having the early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis. They talk candidly about Ben's symptoms and how financial and care gaps can leave younger families scrambling for disability coverage, insurance, and support. Above all, they return to a guiding mindset, focus on what Ben can still do, lean on community, and make each day count.----Visit Being Patient for more Alzheimer’s and brain health coverage: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being PatientTwitter: https://twitter.com/Being_PatientInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingpatientvoices/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beingpatientalzheimersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/being-patientBeing Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet covering brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. Our Live Talk series features interviews with experts and people living with dementia.Watch more Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/

This interview is brought to you in partnership with Eisai and is part of the Journey to Diagnosis series.Eisai: https://www.eisai.com/index.htmlJourney to Diagnosis: https://beingpatient.com/journey-to-diagnosis/ What are the early signs of primary progressive aphasia (PPA)?In this Being Patient Live Talk, Samuel Valverde and his wife, Heather, share their journey to a diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia, a form of cognitive impairment that affects language and communication.Samuel Valverde is a Desert Storm combat veteran and former police chief in Waelder, Texas, who built his life around discipline, service, and staying sharp under pressure. But over time, subtle changes began to appear — missed court dates, forgotten details, and increasing difficulty with focus, planning, and speech.In 2022, while being treated for PTSD, Samuel’s psychologist noticed changes that seemed to go beyond trauma. After months of testing — including cognitive evaluations, speech therapy, MRIs, and a PET scan — Samuel was diagnosed at age 53 with primary progressive aphasia (PPA).In this conversation with Being Patient’s Mark Niu, Samuel and Heather talk openly about:

• Recognizing the early warning signs of PPA
• The road to diagnosis
• How PPA affects speech and daily life
• The emotional impact on the whole family
• Adjusting roles as a couple after diagnosis
• Finding resilience, support, and hope

If you or someone you love is living with PPA, young-onset Alzheimer’s, or another form of dementia, this conversation offers insight, support, and practical perspective.Visit Being Patient for more Alzheimer’s and brain health coverage: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being PatientTwitter:   / being_patient  Instagram:   / beingpatientvoices  Facebook:   / beingpatientalzheimers  LinkedIn:   / being-patient  Being Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet covering brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. Our Live Talk series features interviews with experts and people living with dementia.

Parkinson’s can affect speech and swallowing—often starting with subtle changes like a softer or raspy voice. Without treatment, these issues can progress, making communication harder and increasing the risk of swallowing complications, including aspiration.In this Live Talk, Samantha Elandary, MA, CCC-SLP—speech-language pathologist and President & CEO of the Parkinson Voice Project—shares why early evaluation matters and how targeted therapy can help people protect their voice and swallow. She explains how Parkinson’s can change how loud someone thinks they’re speaking, why everyday skills like talking and swallowing may need to shift from “automatic” to more intentional control, and how daily practice can make a difference.You’ll learn about:

• Early signs of Parkinson’s-related voice and speech changes
• Why “speaking with intent” can support clearer communication
• How speech therapy may help protect swallowing and reduce aspiration risk
• Why consistent at-home exercises are key (not just clinic visits)
• Programs like Parkinson Voice Project’s SPEAK OUT!® and ongoing support

Explore more brain health journalism from Being Patient + subscribe to our newsletter:https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being PatientTwitter:   / being_patient_  Instagram:   / beingpatientvoices  Facebook:   / beingpatientalzheimers  LinkedIn:   / being-patient  Being Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet covering brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series, founder and former Wall Street Journal editor Deborah Kan interviews experts and people with lived experience.Watch our latest Live Talks:https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/