BrainStorm by UsAgainstAlzheimer's

Brain and mental health that drive Alzheimer’s prevention are top of mind worldwide as we work to redefine a new normal post pandemic. Recovering from the emotional anxiety and stress juggling work, family, and caregiving requires new strategies.

BrainStorm host, Meryl Comer, and guest, Dr. Wendy Suzuki, professor of neuroscience in psychology in the Center for Neuroscience at New York University and an international authority on neuroplasticity, discuss how to rethink the brain-emotion connection. Dr. Suzuki’s Ted Talk on Exercise and the Brain has more than 14 million views and her latest book, “Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion” provides strategies to keep the brain healthy, use anxiety as a superpower and get a handle on the negative triggers.

The Alzheimer's journey can range from three to twenty-plus years. Typically, people living with late-stage Alzheimer's or another dementia decline to a point when they are no longer able to communicate. But for some, after years of relative silence, they can suddenly communicate coherently, even if only for a short period of time. This phenomenon is called paradoxical lucidity in dementia.

In this episode of BrainStorm, Meryl Comer speaks with Dr. Joan M. Griffin, Professor of Health Services Research at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Consultant at the Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery at the Mayo Clinic, about the moments when people in the late stage of Alzheimer’s regain the ability to communicate. Listen as Dr. Griffin’s delves into her landmark study to understand these lucid moments, and how they affect family caregivers. Learn about some triggers and what these moments mean.

After the episode, learn more about UsAgainstAlzheimer’s A-LIST®, an online community where people with dementia, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health come together to better understand the experience of living with the disease, caring for a loved one, and how to take care of our brains. Join more than 10,000 A-LIST members answering monthly surveys that help the world know what matters most to us. Sign up at ALIST4research.org.

The global pandemic brought issues of diversity and equity in healthcare to the forefront. By 2030, nearly 40 percent of all Americans living with Alzheimer’s will be Black or Latino. Latinos are 1.5 times as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to develop Alzheimer’s.

In this episode, BrainStorm host Meryl Comer speaks with Dr. Jane Delgado, President and Chief Executive Officer of The National Alliance for Hispanic Health and author of the book series, The Buena Salud® Guides and The Latina Guide to Health.
Listen as Dr. Delgado shares how diversity in equity is about seeing everyone, and what is being missed when the health profile of black and brown communities are lumped together to evaluate current models of health and risk factors.

After the episode, learn more about UsAgainstAlzheimer’s equity work at https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/health-disparities-race-and-alzheimers

Spirituality can often be used to provide support to families and caregivers coping with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Dr. Rebecca Chopp, former Chancellor of the University of Denver and Dean of Yale Divinity School, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2019, talks about her spiritual journey with BrainStorm host Meryl Comer. Dr. Chopp shares her personal story of being raised in an agnostic family to becoming a theologian. She explores spirituality and faith while offering insights into acceptance, grief, and maintaining one's sense of self while living with Alzheimer’s disease. Chopp, author of Still Me: Accepting Alzheimer’s Without Losing Yourself, shares how she reshaped her life for a healthy and vibrant approach to finding meaning while living with Alzheimer’s. You don’t want to miss the heartfelt episode!
Produced by Susan Quirk and Amber Roniger

Support the show

The World Health Organization has put brain and mental health at the top of their agenda as a wakeup call to all countries to do a better job supporting their populations. HRH Princess Tatiana, in the midst of the global pandemic, launched BREATHE, a Mindful Mental Health Movement dedicated to raising awareness around mental health and building healthier, more resilient communities.

Host, Meryl Comer, and Princess Tatiana discuss the stunning increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression around the globe. Her organization, BREATHE, has partnered with the Greek government to launch a national campaign “Keep Your Mind on Your Mind” raising awareness and reducing stigma around mental health. Hear Princess Tatiana’s own personal story and why talking about mental health is so important.

Hear Rudy Tanzi’s inspirational BrainStorm interview referenced in this episode.