‘There’s hope’: 4 The Document examines the demanding situations going through households coping with Alzheimer’s illness
Up to date: 11:55 AM EDT Jun 16, 2024
COMMUNITY. FOR THE RECORD, STARTS NOW. WELCOME TO FOR THE RECORD, I’M MICHELLE WRIGHT. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IS AFFECTING MORE AND MORE OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION SAYS NEARLY 7 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE ALZHEIMER’S, AND IT AFFECTS 1 IN 9 PEOPLE AGE 65 AND OLDER. TODAY, I SPEAK WITH A WOMAN WHO’S CARING FOR HER SISTER, WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER’S IN HER 40S, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE LEADERS FROM THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION’S GREATER PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER. THEIR STORIES PAINT A PICTURE OF JUST HOW DIFFICULT THIS DISEASE CAN BE FOR THOSE THAT SUFFER FROM IT AND THEIR FAMILIES. LET ME START WITH YOU AND YOUR SISTER. TELL ME ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE. IT’S BEEN A JOURNEY, TO SAY THE LEAST. UM, BACK STORY IS I HAVE BOTH OF MY GRANDMOTHERS WHO PASSED AWAY FROM ALZHEIMER’S AT AND AT THAT TIME, YOU DON’T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT AS BEING A DISEASE. I WAS YOUNGER, I WAS IN COLLEGE AT THAT TIME, AND IT DIDN’T REALLY HIT ME UNTIL MY SISTER WAS DIAGNOSED IN HER LATE 40S, MID TO LATE 40S. THAT’S YOUNG. IT’S VERY YOUNG. EARLY ONSET IS WHAT THEY CALLED IT. UM, THE JOURNEY, AS I SAID, HAS BEEN LONG. UM, YOU START TO THINK LIKE, DID I MISS SOMETHING? WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE? YOU CAN HAVE SYMPTOMS FOR 20 YEARS. AND SO NOW WE START THINKING BACK, WAS THIS A SYMPTOM? IS THIS A SYMPTOM? UM, THE DECLINE HAS BEEN FAST BECAUSE SHE HAS MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF DEMENTIA UNDER THE UMBRELLA. SO IT HAS BEEN RAPID AND FINDING CARE FOR SOMEBODY AS YOUNG AS SHE IS HAS BEEN HARD. SHE’S 56 YEARS OLD AND AND MOST FACILITIES WANT PEOPLE TO BE. 65 AGAIN. WE START THINKING ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA AS AN OLDER PERSON’S DISEASE, AND IT’S REALLY NOT. IT STARTS EARLIER AND IT PROGRESSES OVER TIME. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AS I WATCH MY LOVED ONE GO THROUGH IT, I START TO WORRY ABOUT MYSELF. IS IS IT ME? IS IT GOING TO BE MY KIDS? AND THEN I START BRANCHING OUT? IS IT GOING TO BE YOU? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU FORGET? COULD BE ANY OF US. IT COULD BE ANY OF US. WHEN YOU FORGET TO CLOSE THE REFRIGERATOR. IS THAT A SIGN? YOU KNOW. SO WE’RE WE’RE LOOKING FOR TIME AND, SARAH, I KNOW YOU’RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOVED ONES WHO ARE BATTLING THIS, AND YOU’RE ALSO WATCHING THE RESEARCH CAREFULLY TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE DEALING WITH SOMEONE, A FAMILY MEMBER OR THEMSELVES WITH DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER’S? SO OUR FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE IS KNOW THAT YOU’RE NOT ALONE. YOU KNOW THIS DISEASE. I’VE BEEN WITH THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION NOW FOR 13 YEARS, BUT I STARTED, UM, WITH THIS JOURNEY AS SEEING MY FATHER CARE FOR HIS MOTHER AT A VERY YOUNG AGE. UM, AND KNOWING THAT THERE’S RESOURCES AND SUPPORT OUT THERE IS THE FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE THAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE FOR CARE PARTNERS. THIS IS SUCH AN ISOLATING DISEASE. PEOPLE FEEL LIKE NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND AND RELATE TO. UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY’RE GOING THROUGH. AND SO AT THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED. I KNOW LISA HAS DONE SOME AMAZING EFFORTS AND SOME ADVOCACY EFFORTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREGIVERS TO CONVENE WITH OTHERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS. SO WE HAVE CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS FOR THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION THAT ARE BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE, IN ADDITION TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. SO WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE, BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND FOUNDING BRAIN HEALTH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREGIVERS TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES IS SO IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGES OF CAREGIVERS IN THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE ANOTHER CHRONIC CONDITION. IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, OVER 76% OF CAREGIVERS HAVE ANOTHER CHRONIC CONDITION. SO WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE THAT IT IS TO EDUCATE CAREGIVERS ABOUT THE DISEASE PROGRESSION AND WHAT TO DO, BUT ALSO TO EMPOWER THEM NOT ONLY WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES, BUT WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP SUPPORT THEM. SO, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE SUPPORT GROUPS AND THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE YOUR STORY LIKE LISA IS RIGHT NOW AND TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH AND WHAT CAN OTHERS DO IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO, SO IMPORTANT. AND THE ONE THING WE DO ALSO HAVE AT THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION IS WE HAVE A 24 OVER SEVEN HELP LINE. UM, ONE. (800) 272-3900 AND THAT HELPLINE IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. IT’S AVAILABLE IN OVER 200 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES BECAUSE WE WANT WE DON’T WANT LANGUAGE TO BE A BARRIER IN GETTING ACCESS AND SUPPORT TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. AND SO WITH THAT 2:00 IN THE MORNING, SOMEONE NEEDS TO TALK TO SOMEONE, RIGHT? OR THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE CLOSEST ALZHEIMER’S CARE UNIT IS TO THEM. WE HAVE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL AND SUPPORT AND SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO THEM ON THAT ONE 800 NUMBER. SO I REALLY THINK THE PIECE OF ADVICE IS KNOW THAT YOU’RE NOT ALONE, BE AWARE AND ACCESS THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, NOT JUST AT THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION, BUT IN THE GREATER COMMUNITY ALONE, AND KNOW THAT THERE’S WAYS TO GET INVOLVED AND TO SHARE YOUR STORY IS SO POWERFUL AND SO NEEDED. AND LISA, LET ME ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR STORY WITH YOUR SISTER. WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN INTO A CAREGIVER FOR YOUR SISTER, HOW OVERWHELMING WAS THAT? AND WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST STEPS IN TRYING TO TACKLE THAT? AND THE FIRST STEPS WERE, HOW DO YOU DO THIS? YOU KNOW, HER BOYFRIEND HAS BEEN A CAREGIVER SUPER SUPPORTIVE. IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR. IT’S NOT JUST ONE PERSON. SO NOT ONE PERSON CAN TAKE CREDIT. UM, I THINK THAT MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS REFERRING GOING BACK TO MY GRANDPARENT, YOU KNOW, HOW DID MY MOM DO IT? HOW DID THE FAMILY HANDLE BOTH GRANDPARENTS? AGAIN, I VISITED, BUT I DIDN’T SEE WHAT I’M SEEING NOW. THE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, THE HALLUCINATIONS, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH THIS DISEASE IS IT’S FRIGHTENING, YOU KNOW? BUT BEYOND LOOKING AT IT JUST FROM A CAREGIVERS PERSPECTIVE, THINK OF IT FROM THE PERSON WHO HAS THE DISEASE BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND SHE KNOWS THAT THERE’S SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG. AND SOMEWHERE IN THERE SHE WANTS TO BE WHO SHE ALWAYS WAS. AND SO THE FEAR FOR HER GOING THROUGH THIS DISEASE IS THE FEAR OF US LOOKING AT HER, GOING THROUGH THIS AND THEN TRYING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, LOVE, LOVE, FORGIVENESS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES YOU RELY ON FAITH. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT STRONGLY, FAITH IS WHAT GETS YOU THROUGH. SARAH, FOR PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME THAT MIGHT NEED TO FIND HELP TO CARE FOR THEIR LOVED ONE, THAT’S OVERWHELMING. IT FEELS INVASIVE SOMETIMES. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS? WHEN YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE POINT WHERE YOU NEED HELP CARING FOR YOUR LOVED ONE? WELL, WE ALWAYS SAY WE WANT TO EDUCATE LATE FAMILY CAREGIVERS, WHATEVER THAT CAREGIVER LOOKS LIKE BEFORE THEY NEED THE CARE. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, WE TALK VERY EARLY ON. THE IMPORTANCE ALSO NOT ONLY TO HAVE ACCESS TO MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS, ESPECIALLY ALL THE EXCITING THINGS IN THE PIPELINE THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT. BUT ALSO TO COME UP WITH THAT CARE PLAN AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE REALLY, REALLY WANT TO AVOID A CRISIS FROM HAPPENING. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY, WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THIS DISEASE, SPECIFICALLY OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND ALL THE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEMENTIA, IT’S A VERY SLOW, PROGRESSIVE DISEASE. AND THE IMPACT AND THE TOLL, NOT JUST THE THE PHYSICAL TOLL, BUT ALSO THE EMOTIONAL TOLL FROM DAY ONE OF THAT DIAGNOSIS CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING, CAN EVEN IMAGINE THAT FOR THE CAREGIVER. SO BEING ABLE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN AND SAYING, LOOK, KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY FOR A CAREGIVER TO CARE FOR THAT LOVED ONE AND THEIR ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING IS GOING TO DIMINISH, RIGHT? THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO DO THINGS FOR THEMSELVES IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A SLOW PROGRESSION. AND SO BEING ABLE TO TO WORK NOT ONLY JUST WITH INDIVIDUAL WITH THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION, BUT KNOW WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES OUT THERE FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING. THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE DISEASE IN THE UNITED STATES TO CARE FOR. SO UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE THEIR OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, HAVING ACCESS TO A FINANCIAL ADVISOR OR CERTIFIED ELDER LAW ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, BEING AWARE OF THE RESOURCES, WHAT ARE THE CHOICES THAT THEY HAVE? AND ALSO, IF SOMEONE IS DIAGNOSED EARLY ENOUGH, HAVING THAT INDIVIDUAL WITH THE DIAGNOSIS ABLE TO TO HELP MAKE SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS IS SO, SO IMPORTANT. SO WHAT WE SUGGEST AT THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION IS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO START THAT PLANNING. AND IF AGAIN, IT’S PROGRESSION. AND IN THE MIDDLE SOME OF THE DISEASES, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TO DO THAT STUFF EARLY IN ADVANCE. AND I’M HEARING BOTH OF YOU SAY MAINLY THE MESSAGE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ALONE WHO ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS, EVEN THOUGH IT FEELS LIKE IT’S VERY ISOLATED, WAITING TO A LARGE EXTENT. THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THINGS AND HAVE A LOT OF ADVICE. YOU JUST HAVE TO REACH OUT. ABSOLUTELY. THERE ARE FACEBOOK GROUPS THAT YOU CAN REACH OUT AND AND SHARE YOUR STORIES WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SIMILAR STORIES LIKE YOU. SO YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOU CAN REACH OUT AND GRAB SOMEBODY IF YOU NEED TO AND SAY, HEY, I NEED SUPPORT RIGHT NOW. UM, FAMILY MEMBERS. IT’S A TOUGH DISEASE IS AND I DON’T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO SAY, OH, THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT HAPPENS. THIS IS JUST A PART OF LIFE. EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS, THEN YOU CAN START WORKING TOWARDS AND AS SARAH SAID, YOU HAVE TO START PLANNING EARLY. YOU HAVE TO GET PEOPLE ON BOARD SO THAT YOU HAVE A UNIQUE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL PERSON AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY. WELL, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. AND I GUESS WE JUST WANT TO SAY GODSPEED TO THE RESEARCH. STILL AHEAD ON FOR THE RECORD, WE NEED TO MOVE FAST AND EXPLORE ALL POSSIBLE OPTIONS BECAUSE ALZHEIMER’S IS NOT GOING AWAY. THE RESEARCH HAPPENING RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO TREAT ALZHEIMER’S AND HELP THE FAMILIES AFFECTED. WELCOME BACK TO FOR THE RECORD, IN OUR LAST SEGMENT, WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE STRUGGLES. SO MANY FAMILIES FACE WHEN DEALING WITH A LOVED ONE WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, AS WELL AS THE HELP THAT’S AVAILABLE. WELL, NOW I TURN TO THE GROUNDBREAKING WORK ON A TREATMENT HAPPENING JUST SOUTH OF PITTSBURGH. TAKE A LOOK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR ALI REZAI WITH THE WVU ROCKEFELLER NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE. YOU GUYS ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS. AND SO I’M SO GLAD YOU TOOK THE TIME TO COME TALK TO US. UM, GLAD TO BE HERE. I JUST WANT TO GET RIGHT INTO THE RESEARCH YOU’RE DOING. SO YOU’RE DOING SOME GROUNDBREAKING THINGS. KIND OF EXPLAIN WHAT YOU’RE DOING. SO WHAT WE’RE DOING USING THIS TECHNOLOGY CALLED FOCUSED ULTRASOUND, ESSENTIALLY IS A HELMET THAT HAS A THOUSAND ULTRASOUND PROBES. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT AN ULTRASOUND, YOU MAY THINK OF AN ULTRASOUND. YOU USED TO LOOK AT A BABY IN A WOMB, RIGHT? OR ULTRASOUND TO RECORD THE HEART FUNCTION AND ACTIVITY. THOSE ARE ONE ULTRASOUND UNITS. NOW WE HAVE A THOUSAND OF THEM. AND IMAGINE THOSE THOUSAND ARE BEING BEAMED TRAVELING THROUGH YOUR HAIR, THROUGH YOUR SCALP, THROUGH YOUR BRAIN, WITHOUT DOING AN INCISION. AND THEN THE BEAMS CONVERGE IN A PINPOINT AREA IN THE BRAIN TO HELP CLEAR THE PLAQUES IN THE BRAIN. IN ALZHEIMER’S OR ACTIVATE THE FUNCTION OF THE BRAIN, OR STOP THE TREMOR. IN THE CASE OF PARKINSON’S OR OTHER PROBLEMS, THE QUESTION IS, IS IT WORKING FOR ALZHEIMER’S? IT’S AN EARLY CLINICAL TRIAL THAT WE’RE DOING WITH FDA, AND WHAT WE’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’S. AND THE STUDIES HAVE BEEN SHOWN THAT JUST ANTIBODY INFUSION, WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE IN MANY PLACES, WHICH IS FANTASTIC FOR THOSE THAT HAVE ALZHEIMER’S, IS ABLE TO REDUCE THESE PLAQUE BUILD UPS IN THE BRAIN OVER TIME AND ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY, REDUCE THE PROGRESSION OF ALZHEIMER’S. SO THAT’S BEEN A GAME CHANGER IN MANY WAYS FOR THE TREATMENTS OF PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH ALZHEIMER’S. WHAT WE DID, WE WANTED TO SEE IF BY USING THIS TECHNOLOGY, WE CAN OPEN THIS BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER, BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER IS A PART OF THE BRAIN THAT’S INHERENT TO ALL OF YOUR BRAINS. BLOOD VESSELS. WHAT IT IS, IS A PROTECTIVE SHIELD THAT ALLOWS ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS, SUGARS, AND OTHERS TO GET INTO THE BRAIN. BUT IT PREVENTS LARGER SIZED MOLECULES OR BACTERIA OR VIRUSES FROM GETTING INTO THE BRAIN. IT’S A PROTECTIVE BARRIER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS BARRIER ALSO LIMITS MEDICATIONS. SO MORE THAN 98% OF THE MEDICATIONS DO NOT EASILY GET INTO THE BRAIN. THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE TO TAKE PILLS, INFUSIONS, INJECTIONS, AND MANY DOSES MANY YEARS LONG TERM. SO NOW IF WE CAN OPEN THIS BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER TO ALLOW THIS MEDICATIONS TO GET INTO THE PROBLEM AREA IN THE BRAIN WITH A HIGHER PENETRATION, THE GOAL WAS TO SEE IF WE CAN FURTHER ACCELERATE THE CLEARANCE OF THESE PLAQUES. SO THAT WAS THE THE STUDY. SO WHAT WE SHOWED IN THIS FIRST STUDY PUBLISHED IN NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY ACCELERATE THE CLEARANCE OF THESE ANTIBODIES INTO THE BRAIN AND CLEAR THE PLAQUES IN THE BRAIN BY 50% MORE WHEN YOU COMBINE IT WITH ULTRASOUND TO OPEN THE BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER. AND WE THINK THAT IS OF IMPORTANCE, BECAUSE IMAGINE IF YOU CAN CLEAR THE BRAIN OF THESE PATHOLOGICAL PROTEINS WITHIN A FEW MONTHS VERSUS 2 OR 3 YEARS, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO HAVE A RUNNING START IN THE RACE AGAINST ALZHEIMER’S. SO THIS CAN POTENTIALLY DO THAT. BUT THIS IS STILL A FDA STUDY. IT REQUIRES INCLUSION EXCLUSION CRITERIA. SO IT’S A VERY RIGOROUS STUDY. SO NOT EVERYBODY IS A CANDIDATE FOR THIS STUDY. ARE YOU STILL ACCEPTING APPLICANTS FOR THE STUDY? WE ARE I’M SURE A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS WATCHING THIS PARTICULAR EPISODE WILL WANT TO KNOW HOW THEY CAN APPLY. THEY CAN GO ON OUR WEBSITE AND THEN SEE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR THE STUDY. SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH TWO THINGS. ONE IS THAT PEOPLE CAN NOW GET THE ANTIBODY BY ITSELF. SO IT’S FDA APPROVED MEDICARE REIMBURSED. SO PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALZHEIMER’S OR EARLY ALZHEIMER’S THAT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR ANTIBODIES, THEY CAN GET IT. THIS STUDY IS AIMED AT COMBINING THE ANTIBODIES, WHICH IS APPROVED WITH THE ULTRASOUND TO ACCELERATE THE CLEARANCE. AND YOU’VE SEEN GREAT SUCCESS WITH THAT SO FAR. WE’VE SEEN GREAT SUCCESS. IT’S EARLY ON. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS IS AN EARLY STUDY. IT WAS A SAFETY AND FEASIBILITY STUDY, BUT WE’RE QUITE ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE CAN, IN A MORE RAPID FASHION, CLEAR THESE PLAQUES IN THE BRAIN, DESCRIBE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE PLAQUES AND THE BRAIN DOES TO YOU, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOU MENTALLY? SO. SO ALZHEIMER’S IS A NEURODEGENERATIVE CONDITION LIKE PARKINSON’S. AND LIKE FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION. LEWY BODIES, AS MANY OF THEM. AND IN ALZHEIMER’S, YOU HAVE THIS PROGRESSION OF THESE TOXIC SIGNS IN THE BRAIN THAT THAT CLUMP THESE PROTEINS OVER TIME, THAT FORM THESE PLAQUES WHEN THEY COALESCE AND NORMALLY YOU DON’T ARE NOT AWARE OF IT, BUT THESE PLAQUES ACCUMULATE OVER TEN, 15, 20 YEARS IN YOUR BRAIN WITHOUT YOU BEING AWARE OF IT. BY THE TIME THEY REACH A CRITICAL CONCENTRATION OF DENSITY TO REACH A TIPPING POINT, THAT’S WHEN YOU START HAVING THE SYMPTOMS, THE EXCESSIVE FORGETFULNESS, NOT FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND. SO WE NEED TO FIND THESE PLAQUES EARLIER ON AND DETECT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE EARLIER ON. AND THAT’S ONE IMPORTANT THING TO DO BECAUSE IMAGINE IF YOU CAN DETECT AND FIND THAT IF YOU HAVE ALZHEIMER’S OR LIKELY TO GET IT IN TEN, 20 YEARS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? YOU MAY CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE. YOU MAY PARTICIPATE IN CLINICAL TRIALS AND GET THERAPIES EARLIER ON. SO THESE PLAQUES ARE AN IMPORTANT HALLMARK OF ALZHEIMER’S. SO THE GOAL IS TO CLEAR THESE PLAQUES SO YOU CAN REDUCE THESE CLUMPING OF PROTEINS, WHICH BASICALLY BLOCK THE NEURONS FROM COMMUNICATING FROM EACH OTHER. SO NEURONS ARE INVOLVED IN THE BRAIN. THE 90 PLUS BILLION NEURONS IN THE HUMAN BRAIN, THEY COMMUNICATE INVOLVING IN MEMORY, COGNITION, SPEECH, PERSONALITY, BEHAVIOR. BUT NOW IF THESE NEURONS ARE NOT COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE THERE’S LARGE CLUMPS OF PROTEINS AND PLAQUES BLOCKING THE COMMUNICATIONS, THEN YOU HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH YOUR BASIC FUNCTIONING. SPEAKING MEMORY, COGNITION, EVEN YOU CAN GET PROBLEMS WITH IRRITABILITY AND IMPULSIVITY, FRUSTRATION AND TOLERANCE, WHICH HAPPENS WITH PEOPLE WITH PROGRESSION OF ALZHEIMER’S. SO THE GOAL IS TO CLEAR THESE PLAQUES EARLIER AND EVEN GO BEFORE WE HAVE TO DETECT THEM EARLIER WHEN WHEN IT’S WHEN THEY’RE SILENT, WHEN YOU’RE NOT AWARE OF IT, YOU’RE ASYMPTOMATIC. NICK. SO THE FIELD OF ALZHEIMER’S IS EVOLVING RAPIDLY. IT’S ACTUALLY A VERY EXCITING TIME BECAUSE WE CAN USE BLOOD BASED BIOMARKERS, FLUID BIOMARKERS, IMAGING AND USING ALL THESE THREE ADVANCES, WE CAN DETECT ALZHEIMER’S BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE. KEEP IT HERE ON. FOR THE RECORD, MY CONVERSATION WITH DOCTOR ALI REZAI CONTINUES RIGHT AFTER THIS. WELCOME BACK TO FOR THE RECORD, WE’RE CONTINUING MY CONVERSATION NOW WITH DOCTOR ALI REZAI FROM WVU. ROCKEFELLER NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE. LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. AND I KNOW IT IS EXCITING AND ESPECIALLY ON THE RESEARCH END, BUT A LOT OF FAMILIES WATCHING AT HOME ARE MAYBE SCARED AND OR FRUSTRATED. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND THEY MIGHT BE HESITANT TO GO GET THAT TEST. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION ON THE IMPORTANCE IS CRITICAL BECAUSE FOR TEN, 15, 20 YEARS, YOUR BRAIN IS DEGENERATING, BUILDING UP THESE TOXINS OR THESE BRIGHT PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT NORMAL. SO, SO BY IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS A PATTERN OF MEMORY, FORGET FORGETFULNESS OR SOMEBODY WHOSE FAMILY MEMBERS MAY HAVE HAD ALZHEIMER’S, DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY WILL GET IT. BUT THERE ARE TESTING THAT CAN BE DONE NOW WITH BLOOD TESTING AND IMAGING AND A COMBINATION OF TESTING THAT CAN PREDICT POTENTIALLY WHETHER YOU MAY HAVE AN INCREASED RISK FOR ALZHEIMER’S. SO I THINK FOR FAMILIES IT IS SCARY. THERE’S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE’RE GETTING BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE TO DETECT IT EARLIER. AND IF THEY CAN DETECT IT EARLIER, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE NOT SYMPTOMATIC, LET’S SAY IF YOU HAVE PLAQUES IN YOUR BRAIN AND YOU HAVE NO PROBLEMS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? WELL, YOU MAY WANT TO ADJUST YOUR LIFESTYLES BECAUSE SIMPLE THINGS SUCH AS DIET, EXERCISE, SLEEP HYGIENE, IMPROVEMENTS, REDUCING YOUR STRESS AND IMPROVING CONNECTEDNESS AND ENGAGING WITH FAMILIES THOSE HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO ACTIVATE THE BRAIN TO FACILITATE THE BRAIN’S RESILIENCE. SO YOU CAN FIGHT ALZHEIMER’S LIKE THAT JUST WITH SIMPLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES. AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE IN CLINICAL TRIALS, GET MEDICATIONS EARLIER. SO EARLIER DIAGNOSIS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE FUNDAMENTALLY YOUR BRAIN IS DEGENERATING FOR TEN, 15, 20 YEARS BEFORE THE FIRST EXTERNAL MANIFEST STATIONS OF ALZHEIMER’S OR PARKINSON’S FOR THAT MATTER. SO IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DETECT IT EARLIER AND JUMP ON IT, BECAUSE IT’S NOT GOING AWAY. SO WE NEED TO GET A HEAD START IN THE RACE AGAINST ALZHEIMER’S OR PARKINSON’S. YOU’RE WATCHING, FOR THE RECORD STRAIGHT AHEAD, OUR FINAL THOUGHT AS WE EXAMINE THE DIFFICULTIES OF THOSE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND THEIR FAMILIES, WE’RE BACK AFTER THIS. WELCOME BACK TO FOR THE RECORD, WE WANT TO LEAVE YOU TODAY WITH A FINAL THOUGHT COURTESY OF SARAH MURPHY FROM THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION’S GREATER PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER. SHE SAYS DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES SURROUNDING ALZHEIMER’S, THERE’S ONE THING FAMILIES SHOULDN’T LET GO OF. I HOPE THAT MESSAGE IS CLEAR. RIGHT? THERE IS HOPE. THERE IS SO MUCH EXCITING RESEARCH THAT IS HAPPENING. AND, YOU KNOW, THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION WERE THE THIRD LARGEST FUNDER OF RESEARCH, RIGHT BEHIND THE US AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. AND WE HAVE AMAZING RESEARCH HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD IN PITTSBURGH. SO KNOWING THAT THERE IS A LOT OF HOPE, THERE’S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT WITHIN THE ALZHEIMER’S SCIENCE COMMUNITY. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IF SOMEONE IS GOING THROUGH THIS DISEASE AGAIN, REACH OUT TO THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION, REACH OUT ON OUR HELPLINE AND THE NUMBER TO THAT HELP LINE IS ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW. ONE 800 272 3900 AND THEIR WEBSITE IS ALS ORG AND WE HAVE A LINK TO THAT UNDER THE ON TV. TAB@WTAE.COM. THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY’S EDITION OF FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
‘There’s hope’: 4 The Document examines the demanding situations going through households coping with Alzheimer’s illness
Up to date: 11:55 AM EDT Jun 16, 2024
On Sunday, 4 The Document tested the demanding situations confronted by means of households who’ve a cherished one with Alzheimer’s illness.Watch the entire episode of “4 The Document” within the video aboveHost Michelle Wright spoke with Lisa Raymond, an recommend and caregiver whose sister was once identified with early-onset Alzheimer’s illness in her 40s.“We begin enthusiastic about Alzheimer’s and dementia as an older particular person’s illness and it really isn’t,” stated Raymond. “It begins previous and it progresses over the years. So that is one thing that, as I watch my cherished one undergo it, I begin to concern about myself. Is it in me? Is it going to be in my youngsters?”By means of Raymond’s aspect all over the interview was once Sara Murphy, vp of methods and products and services for the Larger Pennsylvania Bankruptcy of the Alzheimer’s Affiliation.“I am hoping that message is obvious: There’s hope,” stated Murphy. “There’s such a lot thrilling analysis that is occurring. And the Alzheimer’s Affiliation, we are the third-largest funder of study, proper in the back of the U.S. and Chinese language governments. And we have now superb analysis going down proper right here in our yard in Pittsburgh.”That comes with the paintings being performed at West Virginia College’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Analysis Institute. Wright spoke with Dr. Ali Rezai, government chair and director of the institute.“Essentially, your mind is degenerating for 10, 15, two decades ahead of the primary exterior manifestations of Alzheimer’s,” stated Rezai. “So it is in reality essential to hit upon it previous and bounce on it. As a result of it is not going away. So we want to get a head get started within the race in opposition to Alzheimer’s.”
PITTSBURGH — On Sunday, 4 The Document tested the demanding situations confronted by means of households who’ve a cherished one with Alzheimer’s illness.Watch the entire episode of “4 The Document” within the video above
Host Michelle Wright spoke with Lisa Raymond, an recommend and caregiver whose sister was once identified with early-onset Alzheimer’s illness in her 40s.“We begin enthusiastic about Alzheimer’s and dementia as an older particular person’s illness and it really isn’t,” stated Raymond. “It begins previous and it progresses over the years. So that is one thing that, as I watch my cherished one undergo it, I begin to concern about myself. Is it in me? Is it going to be in my youngsters?”By means of Raymond’s aspect all over the interview was once Sara Murphy, vp of methods and products and services for the Larger Pennsylvania Bankruptcy of the Alzheimer’s Affiliation.“I am hoping that message is obvious: There’s hope,” stated Murphy. “There’s such a lot thrilling analysis that is occurring. And the Alzheimer’s Affiliation, we are the third-largest funder of study, proper in the back of the U.S. and Chinese language governments. And we have now superb analysis going down proper right here in our yard in Pittsburgh.”
That comes with the paintings being performed at West Virginia College’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Analysis Institute. Wright spoke with Dr. Ali Rezai, government chair and director of the institute.
“Essentially, your mind is degenerating for 10, 15, two decades ahead of the primary exterior manifestations of Alzheimer’s,” stated Rezai. “So it is in reality essential to hit upon it previous and bounce on it. As a result of it is not going away. So we want to get a head get started within the race in opposition to Alzheimer’s.”
