The care partner is the keeper of the secrets and their perspective is essential to break through the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s disease. In this episode of BrainStorm host Meryl Comer talks with Leigh Callahan, a respected epidemiologist and researcher focused on rheumatic disease. Her husband, Dr. John Winfield, had a distinguished career as a researcher and rheumatologist until Alzheimer's changed everything. Dr. Callahan shares her experience as she navigated her husband’s journey, sharing that the first signs of disease - agitation, irritation, and frustration - are not typically identified as symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Listen as they discuss the challenges before and after a diagnosis. 

This episode is sponsored by Otsuka and Lundbeck.

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Chronic loneliness affects young and old and has been cited by the 21st US Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, MD as a major health crisis.  Research shows that loneliness can reduce life expectancy by 30% and increases the risk of dementia by 40%, Dr. Jeremy Nobel, a primary care physician and public health expert on the faculty at the Harvard Medical School, is Founder and President of the Foundation for Art and Healing. 

In this episode of BrainStorm, host Meryl Comer and Dr. Nobel discuss his new book “Project UnLonely: Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection."  Listen as they discuss the connection between loneliness and symptoms of Alzheimer’s. 

Sponsored by The Otsuka and Lundbeck

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There is nothing more powerful than the stories of people who are directly affected by Alzheimer’s. This week’s BrainStorm host, Jon Summers, Chief Communications Officer at UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, spoke with a few patients and caregivers who share their deeply personal experiences to help raise awareness of Alzheimer’s. They discuss the disproportionate impact of the disease on Black and Latino people, and the hope they have for the future.

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s lifts voices of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers to raise awareness of the disease, educate, and eliminate stigma. The UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Story Project—Voices of Hope, Inspiration and Courage is made possible by an educational grant provided by Biogen. 

Produced by Susan Quirk and Amber Roniger

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What do technology, AI and the Arts have in common? In part 2 of an interview with Susan Magsamen, founder and director of the International Arts and Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Ms. Magsamen talks with BrainStorm host Meryl Comer about how technology and AI are best used to advance the evolving science of neuroaesthetics. Neuroaesthetics is an expanding field of research aimed at the intersection of psychological aesthetics, biological mechanisms, and human evolution. Ms. Magsamen is also co-author of the New York Times Bestseller, Your Brain on Art, How the Arts Transform Us. 

Produced by Susan Quirk and Amber Roniger.

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Art for Art's sake is about to become passe with the emerging science of neuroaesthetics, an expanding field of research aimed at the intersection of psychological aesthetics, biological mechanisms, and human evolution. Susan Magsamen, founder and director of the International Arts and Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine talks with BrainStorm host Meryl Comer about the health and healing benefits when we participate in the arts. Ms. Magsamen is also co-author of the New York Times Bestseller, Your Brain on Art, How the Arts Transform Us. 

Produced by Susan Quirk and Amber Roniger. 

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Alzheimer’s disease spares no one… and this story could easily be anyone’s story. Debra Tann Ed D., author of The Race of Dementia talks with host Meryl Comer about juggling her advocacy work while caring for her husband with dementia at home. Recipient of the 2023 Bright Focus Foundation Community Impact Award, Dr. Tann breaks the silence of the Alzheimer’s journey and talks about the stigma of Alzheimer’s and her push for education, equity, and access to health services for all. 

This episode is sponsored by Eisai.

Produced by Susan Quirk and Amber Roniger

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 Alzheimer’s is being singled out in Medicare’s decision on reimbursement for patients. President of Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation and Co-Founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, John Dwyer spoke with host Meryl Comer about the ramification to patients and how this decision will create greater disparities. Take a listen.

This episode is sponsored by Genentech and Eisai. 

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We the Scientists: How a Daring Team of Parents and Doctors Forged a New Path for Medicine

In Part 2 of the interview with Amy Dockser Marcus, Pulitzer Prize winning Wall Street Reporter and Author, she and host Meryl Comer discuss a rare disease often likened to Children’s Alzheimer’s.  The common thread is advancing the science with new pathways for treating disease and conducting research. Amy talks about if this new collaborative research model aimed at saving children would work for elderly populations with long-term chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s. In the process to accelerate new drug development, science may be forever changed. 

This episode is sponsored by Genentech and Eisai.

If you have recommendations for topics or guests, email us at [email protected]. To learn more go to: https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/

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