Greg O’Brien is 66 years old and open about his struggles with early onset Alzheimer’s. When a story about Greg appeared on NPR detailing how he uses running to combat mental decline, Runner’s World editor Christine Fennessy reluctantly decided to reach out.

Reluctantly because up until this point, Fennessy had done whatever she could to avoid personal stories about Alzheimer’s. They hit too close to home.

This week, Fennessy meets O’Brien in person—and confronts her biggest fears about the disease. 

Additional Resources:

On Pluto by Greg O’Brien

Outrunning the Demons by Greg O’Brien, edited by Christine Fennessy

Inside Alzheimer’s: NPR

Episode Credits:

Host: Rachel Swaby 

Producers: Christine Fennessy, Rachel Swaby 

Editor: Audrey Quinn 

Production help: Mervyn Degaños 

Theme music: Danny Cocke 

Human Race editor-in-chief: David Willey

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