Today Barbara is joined by Bryan Wing whose wife, Patricia, was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 56. Bryan describes Patricia’s progression, from the early signs when she’d move things around in the kitchen (items that belonged in the refrigerator appeared in the cabinets, etc.) to when she had her first seizure in 2013. They discuss the challenges Bryan and his family experienced to get an accurate diagnosis, and the time when Patricia was prescribed the wrong medication and turned into a completely different person. 

Visit ALZ.org for more information on younger-onset Alzheimer’s

Today Barbara welcomes Deb Kurtz, whose mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2018. They discuss how the disease gradually changed Deb’s relationship with her mother -- the “slow role reversal” as she realized her mother couldn’t take care of herself. Deb remembers how overwhelming it was at first, trying to care for her mother and stay on top of the disease. They talk about Deb’s approach, and how she coped with her mother’s anger and resentment: “You learn how not to press or fight ... then you figure things out and handle it by yourself.” 

Follow or reach out to Deb:
@alookbackbook
[email protected]

Today Barbara welcomes Yael Wyte, program director at the Alzheimer’s Association (CA, Southland Chapter). They discuss the association’s mission, and the exciting brain studies and research happening all around the world. They also discuss the association’s deep resources -- and how “going virtual” actually inspired new opportunities for collaborations and programs. To learn more, please visit ALZ.org or call 1-800-272-3900.

Today Barbara is joined by Roz Wolpert. Roz describes her husband Jay -- a talented and successful screenwriter and Hollywood producer -- as deeply feeling and exceptionally articulate; a “big man” both in stature and personality. They talk about the early years, before the official Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and how difficult it was for Jay to accept what was happening. They also discuss the stigma around dementia, and how caregivers can support and “work around” their loved one’s feelings of anger, frustration, and shame.   

Today Barbara is joined by Bonnie Waddles, the executive director of Hilarity for Charity (HFC), a non-profit that uses humor to raise awareness among young people about Alzheimer’s disease. They discuss the concept of brain health, and how one out of three Alzheimer’s cases can be prevented through life-style changes and interventions. 

Today Barbara is joined by Bruce Ettinger whose wife, Honey, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and then dementia. With the diagnosis, Bruce says that Honey sank into a deep depression that she’s never come out of. They discuss the unpredictability of her mood swings -- one day she’ll wake up happy and loving, then the next day in a panic attack. “Her struggles make me love her more,” he says.

Now 26, America Garza started noticing something was wrong with her 81-year-old father when she was still in high school. She joins Barbara to talk about the early signs of Alzheimer’s, and how, as a child, she struggled to interpret the symptoms. They discuss her journey, when she knew something was wrong but was too young to trust her own judgement or to have the vocabulary to define what she was noticing.    

Today Barbara is joined by Jill Davis,* whose father is battling dementia on the east coast. Jill says at first, the symptoms seemed mild: he was mixing pronouns and forgetting words. But from there, it progressed quickly. She describes the shock and confusion she felt when she realized her dad had lost most of his memories, and how she struggles to understand their relationship now that he has no memory of her childhood. 

*not her real name

It was Ramona Garza’s daughter who first noticed that George (Ramona’s husband) seemed different. A fastidious engineer, he was ignoring bills and letting important things fall through the cracks. George was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016 but looking back, Ramona says the signs were there much earlier. Ramona joins Barbara to discuss the early signs of memory loss, and how sometimes a spouse can be too close to see them. 

By the time Chris Zenner’s mother was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2020, she had lost her short-term memory, her concept of time, and her ability to rationalize and reason. Chris joins Barbara to talk about caring for his mother, who was a fiercely independent and strong-willed woman, as her personality radically changes and she can no longer take care of herself.