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What if knowing sooner could change everything? In this episode of BrainStorm, host Meryl Comer sits down with Dr. Nathaniel Chin — geriatrician, Alzheimer's researcher, and author of When Memory Fades: What to Expect at Every Stage, from Early Signs to Full Support for Alzheimer's and Dementia, to explore why early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and dementia is more empowering than it is frightening.

Dr. Chin opens up about the fear, stigma, and denial that keep patients and families from seeking answers, and why those hesitations have a real cost. Drawing on his own experience watching his father's cognitive decline, he walks through the subtle early signs of memory change, the difference between normal aging and something more serious, and how new biomarker tests are reshaping the diagnostic conversation.

From navigating family denial to balancing hope, Dr. Chin offers a rare combination of clinical expertise and deeply personal insight of the journey. He reminds us that behind every diagnosis is a family with their thoughts on what matters most. 

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In this episode of BrainStorm by UsAgainstAlzheimers, host Meryl Comer continues her conversation with Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman, Founder and Chief Director of the Center for Brain Health at UT Dallas, about how to build a more resilient brain in the face of modern life's relentless stressors. Dr. Chapman breaks down the difference between acute and chronic stress, explains why accepting cognitive decline is a myth, and challenges the popular belief that brain games are an effective prevention strategy. She shares practical, science-backed techniques — from possibility thinking and single-tasking to strategic rest and reframing stress — that can meaningfully strengthen the brain at any age. The conversation also touches on retirement as a critical risk period for cognitive decline and the remarkable findings of brain gains even years into a dedicated brain health practice. Whether you're 30 or 80, this episode makes the case that your brain is dynamic, trainable, and worth investing in — starting today.

Produced by Susan Quirk

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What if you could train your brain to outperform the very biomarkers that signal Alzheimer's risk? In this episode of BrainStorm by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s host Meryl Comer sits down with Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman, founder of the Center for Brain Health at UT Dallas, to explore the groundbreaking science behind the Brain Health Project — a landmark study tracking over 40,000 people across 65 countries. Dr. Chapman reveals why our peak brain years don't have to stall at 30 and how people in their 70s are showing cognitive gains equal to those in their 20s.  Together they delve into the three pillars of brain health - clarity, connectedness, and calm – and their relevance for your daily life. Dr. Chapman and Ms. Comer also dig into the gender differences in cognitive resilience, the promise and pitfalls of AI on brain development, and the real impact of hormonal changes on women's cognition. Whether you're a peak performer or just starting to notice mental slowdowns, this conversation makes the case that it's never too early — or too late — to invest in your brain.

Produced by Susan Quirk

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In part one of a series on UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Brain Health Journey host Meryl Comer is joined by Nancy Meserve, a lived experience advisor and APOE4 double-carrier, and Catherine Patterson, interim COO of UsAgainstAlzheimer's. Their conversation explores the newly launched Brain Health Journey — a suite of resources designed to help people at elevated Alzheimer's risk, those living with the disease, and their care partners navigate the road from concern to diagnosis.

You can find the Brain Health Journey at MyBrainGuide.org.

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Host Meryl Comer continues her conversation with Dr. Jason Karlawish, professor of medicine, medical ethics, and neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, about the evolving landscape of Alzheimer's disease. Drawing on his book The Problem with Alzheimer's, Dr. Karlawish explores the promise of early detection, the ethical complexities of disclosing uncertain diagnoses, and why he remains skeptical that an outright cure is on the near horizon — famously comparing it to planning retirement with a lottery ticket. 

The conversation moves into the deeply human side of the disease, touching on caregiving as a form of "mind support," the role families play in both enabling and delaying diagnosis, and the exciting potential of smartphones and smart home technologies to transform care. Dr. Karlawish shares a candid reflection on what gives him hope and what keeps him up at night. This episode is a thoughtful, unflinching look at a disease that is best understood as a "complex tragedy."

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What happens when your carefully mapped career path collides with an Alzheimer's diagnosis — and you're only 26? In this deeply personal episode of BrainStorm by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, host Meryl Comer sits down with Jessica Guthrie, founder of the online platform Career and Caregiving Collide, whose life changed forever when her mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2014.

Jessica shares what it means to be a young Black professional thrust into the role of long-distance caregiver — navigating a healthcare system that often didn't listen, workplaces that weren't designed with caregivers in mind, and support spaces where she was frequently the youngest and only Black person in the room. Rather than suffering in silence, she turned her experience into a growing online community where caregivers across generations find connection, validation, and practical wisdom.

Meryl and Jessica unpack the hidden barriers facing Black families seeking an Alzheimer's diagnosis, the toll caregiving takes on career ambitions and financial security, and why the people who show up at diagnosis often disappear years down the road.

This is conversation for anyone who has ever had to choose between their dreams and their family.

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Alzheimer's disease is no longer just a memory problem — it's a biological, cultural, and ethical challenge reshaping how we think about aging, identity, and medicine. In this episode of Brainstorm by UsAgainstAlzheimers, host Meryl Comer sits down with Dr. Jason Karlawish, professor of medicine, medical ethics, health policy, and neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. They explore how Alzheimer's evolved from a rare condition into a full-blown public health crisis. Dr. Karlawish unpacks the science behind biomarker testing and early detection, the promise and complexity of new anti-amyloid treatments, and why so many physicians remain reluctant to diagnose cognitive decline at all. From health equity gaps that leave Latino and African American patients chronically underserved, to the ethical weight of disclosing an Alzheimer's diagnosis to someone still in the middle of their career, Dr. Karlawish brings both scientific precision and moral seriousness to one of medicine's most urgent conversations. It's a candid, wide-ranging discussion about what it truly means to confront a disease that strikes at the heart of who we are. You don’t want to miss this episode!

Produced by Susan Quirk

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In honor of Black History Month, this episode of BrainStorm by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s explores the critical intersection of Alzheimer's disease and health equity in African-American communities. Host Meryl Comer talks with Daphne Delgado, Vice President for Health Equity at UsAgainstAlzheimer's, and Dr. Charlene Whitaker-Brown, a clinical nursing professor and 2022 Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship graduate. They discuss the stark disparities facing Black Americans—who are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's yet 35% less likely to receive timely diagnosis. Dr. Whitaker-Brown shares her powerful journey from experienced nurse to full-time caregiver, and how the fellowship transformed her ability to serve her community through culturally tailored outreach in churches, workshops, and community centers.  The conversation emphasizes the vital role nurses play as trusted frontline educators in promoting brain health, addressing stigma, and connecting families to essential resources. This is a must listen episode!

Produced by Susan Quirk

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This episode of BrainStorm, by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, features host Meryl Comer interviewing Leah Fisher, a psychotherapist and author who took a bold year-long solo travel sabbatical at age 60 to explore different cultures while maintaining her marriage. The conversation takes a poignant turn as Fisher reveals that after the events in her book, she received an MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) diagnosis with elevated Alzheimer's risk. She candidly shares her journey of recognizing early symptoms like misplacing car keys and developing aphasia, the validation that came with diagnosis, and her current experience living with uncertainty about disease progression. Fisher offers insights on how couples cope with health diagnoses, the importance of curiosity over avoidance, and her desire to be treated with patience, kindness, and continued love as she faces an uncertain future. This conversation is essential listening for family members, caregivers, and anyone navigating aging and brain health. 

Produced by Susan Quirk

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BrainStorm guest Vradenburg, Chairman and Founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer's, sits down with host Meryl Comer for a comprehensive look at the state of Alzheimer's research, advocacy, and care in 2025.

Vradenburg addresses critical challenges facing the Alzheimer's community, including threats to NIH funding and the impact of funding instability on researchers and clinical trials. The discussion covers key advocacy efforts like the CHANGE Act and ASAP Act, which aim to make cognitive checkups and blood-based diagnostic tests more accessible through Medicare coverage. Vradenburg also highlights UsAgainstAlzheimer's expanding initiatives, from the BrainGuide platform offering direct-to-consumer cognitive assessments to educational programs training healthcare professionals on brain health.

Looking forward, Vradenburg makes a bold prediction: within the next decade, we could see preventive treatments for Alzheimer's, potentially including a vaccine. This episode offers both a candid assessment of current challenges and an optimistic vision for the future of Alzheimer's prevention and treatment. This is a must listen episode!

Produced by Susan Quirk and Amber Roniger

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