AN ALZHEIMER'S PATIENT ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES TAKING CARE OF AN ALZHEIMER'S PATIENT AND FROM A MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS SUEDAL IDEATION.

SUICIDAL IDEATION N. THE STUDIO WE HAVE THREE PANELISTS THAT SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE WITH THE TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER'S.

Dr. COOPER IS CHIEF OF ADULT NEUROLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF THE MEMORY CENTER THANK YOU NORTON NEUROSCIENCE INCIDENT.

NEXT IS GREGORY JICHA M.D.

P.H.D UK SANDERS-BROWN CENTER ON AGING AND COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

AND OUR THIRD MEMBER IS SHANNON WHITE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OF GREATER KENTUCKY AND SOUTHERN INDIANA.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> SO SINCE WE HAVE TWO GREGS, I DID A COIN TOSS AND WE'LL START OFF WITH GREG COOPER BECAUSE C COMES BEFORE J.

WE TALK ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S, DEMENTIA, AM I CONFUSING THE TERMS.

>> THEY'RE OVERLAPPING.

IT IS A BROAD OVER ARCHING TERM.

A CHANGE IN COGNITION, MEMORY, LANGUAGE, ATTENTION, OTHER AREAS, TO THE DEGREE THAT WE NEED HELP WITH OUR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES SO THAT BROADLY SPEAKING IS A DEMENTIA.

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IS I PARTICULARLY CAUSE OR TYPE OF DEMENTIA AND REALLY IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE.

IT COUNTS FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 60 TO 80% OF ALL DEMENTIA.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, GREG, WHO IS THIS PERSON THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHO HAS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?

IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN SAY, OKAY, ANY ONE PARTICULAR SEX, RACIAL GROUP, AGAIN WE TALKED ABOUT THE AGE.

>> YOU NOW, I THINK THAT THAT IS A COMPLICATED QUESTION FOR MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE BUT THE REALLY ANSWER IS REALLY SIMPLE.

THE PERSON WITH ALZHEIMER'S COULD BE THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU IN LINE AT THE KROGER OR AT THE BANK OR FAMILY MEMBER THAT YOU ARE SITTING AND HAVING DINNER WITH.

ALZHEIMER'S IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DESTROYER, AS I ALWAYS SAY.

AND IT CAN AFFECT ANY AND ALL OF US.

OUR RISKS INCREASE AS WE GET OLDER, AS YOU MENTIONED.

>> YOU KNOW, TELL ME, SHANNON, WE KNOW THAT DEMENTIA INCREASES AS WE AGE.

SO WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE OLDER PEOPLE, ARE WE REALLY SEEING MORE ALZHEIMER'S OR DEMENTIA FROM OTHER CAUSES DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THE DIAGNOSIS IS GETTING MORE SPECIFIC, MORE PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING INTO THE DOCTOR EARLIER WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING CONCERNING SO I THINK WE ARE SEEING MORE PREVALENCE WITH IT BUT I THINK IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AROUND IN FAMILIES THROUGHOUT TIME.

>> SO, GREG, I WONDER ABOUT THAT, THE POINT THAT SHANNON JUST SAID.

ARE WE JUST GETTING BETTER-- ALMOST LIKE AUTISM, WE SEEM TO BE RECOGNIZING IT MORE SO THE DIAGNOSIS IS GETTING MADE MORE.

ARE WE JUST BETTER AT PICKING UP ALZHEIMER'S OR SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN THERE ALONG OR INCIDENTS INCREASING?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY BOTH.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE ARE GETTING BETTER AT IT.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING IT.

WE NO LONGER JUST ACCEPT THIS AS A NORMAL PART OF AGING.

IN THE PAST, PEOPLE MIGHT JUST ACCEPT IT AND NOT HAVE IT EVALUATED.

SO, YES, I THINK AS A PUBLIC WE ARE DOING BETTER AT RECOGNIZING IT.

CERTAINLY PROFESSIONALLY WE ARE DOING A BETTER JOB OF RECOGNIZING AND DIAGNOSING IT AND ALSO AS OUR POPULATION AGES, WE ARE JUST GOING TO SEE LARGER AND LARGER NUMBERS.

>> GOTCHA.

GREG, TELL ME, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEMENTIA WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS?

I MEAN OTHER THAN ALZHEIMER'S, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS THAT FALL UNDER THIS UMBRELLA.

>> THERE CERTAINLY ARE.

WHEN WE PROACH A PATIENT WITH MEMORY COMPLAINTS THAT MAY BE IMPACTING THEIR DAILY FUNCTION, IT REALLY IS THE JOB OF WHATEVER MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL YOU ARE REACHING OUT TO TO TRY TO REALLY DEFINE THE UNDERLYING DISEASE.

SO ALZHEIMER'S IS A BIGGIE, BUT HERE IN KENTUCKY AS WELL, VASCULAR DEMENTIA, VASCULAR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, WHAT WE USED TO CALL HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES IS ALMOST EQUALLY AS PREVALENT.

WE HAVE DEMENTIA WITH LOUIS BODIES, A SISTER DISEASE TO PARK PARKINSON'S, FRONTAL TEMPORAL DEMENTIA WHERE BEHAVIORS MAY BE ABNORMAL ALL CAUSED BY DIFFERENT BIOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES IN THE BRAIN.

AND AS WE IMPROVE OUR THERAPEUTICS AND USE OF OUR SYSTEMATIC THERAPIES, THERE MAY BE QUITE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TAKEN, DEPENDING ON REALLY RECOGNIZING WHAT TYPE OF DEMENTIA AM I DEALING WITH.

>> AS WE ARE SEEING THE POPULATION IS GETTING OLDER AND MORE CHRONIC ILLNESSES, THE DIABETES, HYPERTENSIONS, AND OTHER THINGS.

THESE COULD BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS, WHICH PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO TRY TO CONTROL EARLY ON TO MINIMIZE THE ONSET OF DEMENTIA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MANY OF OUR CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS AND YOU HAVE TOUCHED ON A FEW OF THEM, HYPERTENSION, DIABETES, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE RISK FACTORS FOR VASCULAR DISEASE BUT THEY'RE ALSO RISK FACTORS FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND THAT INTERDISPLAY IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

SO OFTEN WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOW CAN I AVOID ALZHEIMER'S, HOW CAN I KEEP MY BRAIN HEALTHY?

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS AND PERHAPS ONE OF THE STRONGEST INFLUENCES YOU CAN HAVE IS BY MAKING SURE IF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS TOO HIGH, IF YOUR CHOLESTEROL IS TOO HIGH, IF YOUR SUGAR IS STARTING TO EDGE UP THERE, LET'S GET THOSE UNDER CONTROL AND NOT ONLY TREAT THOSE CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS, BUT LIKEWISE HELP OUR BRAINS TO AGE HEALTHIER AND POTENTIALLY DELAY OR AVOID DISEASES LIKE ALZHEIMER'S.

>> GREG, YOUR TWIN BROTHER SAID, MAINTAINING BRAIN HEALTH.

ARE THERE RISK FACTORS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR ALZHEIMER'S?

GENETICS?

SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE PASSED DOWN OR OTHER FACTORS?

>> SO WITHOUT DOUBT, YES.

TWO RISK FACTORS WE CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT: AGE.

WE ALL WANT TO KEEP GETTING OLDER.

AND FAMILY HISTORY.

THOSE CERTAINLY ARE RISK FACTORS AND WE CAN'T DO A LOT ABOUT THOSE.

WE CAN'T CHOOSE OUR FAMILY.

WE CAN'T STOP GETTING OLDER.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS AND GREG TOUCHED ON SEVERAL OF THOSE.

A LOT OF THOSE RELATE BACK TO THE HEART, HEART HEALTH, THE WAY WE PREVENT STROKE.

CONTROLLING BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, DIABETES, NOT SMOKING, GETTING EXERCISE, KEEPING OUR WEIGHT UNDER CONTROL AND THEN THERE ARE OTHERS.

AVOIDING SOCIAL ISOLATION, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEN SOME THAT MAYBE IT'S HARD TO CONTROL INDIVIDUALLY BUT AIR POLLUTION.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE RISK FACTORS FOR US INDIVIDUALLY AND MOST OF THOSE ARE MODIFIABLE.

WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT SHANNON, YOU SPEAK TO A LOT OF GROUPS ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S.

AND I'M SURE EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER'S?

ARE THERE ANY SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS THAT CAN KIND OF GIVE US A CLUE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE A WHOLE-- OUR WEBSITE ALZ.ORG/10 SIGNS.

WE HAVE THE 10 WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S.

WHEN PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND TALK ABOUT IT, I TELL THEM SOMETIMES IT SEEMS THAT YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, YOUR FRIEND OR LOVED ONE, SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT.

SO LET'S SAY THEY GO TO THE BANK EVERY FRIDAY AND THEY GET $30 OUT AND THEY KNOW THE BANK TELLER AND THEY KNOW HER BY NAME AND THEY SAY HELLO.

AND THEN SUDDENLY THEY'RE GOING IN ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AND THEY'RE GETTING OUT $30,000 AND THEN $15,000.

THAT IS A WARNING SIGN.

ANOTHER THING CAN BE PERSONALITY CHANGES AS WELL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COME UP TO ME PERSONALLY AND SAY, I KEEP LOSING MY KEYS.

DO I HAVE ALZHEIMER'S?

I SAY TALK TO YOUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL BUT ALSO, IT ISN'T IF YOU ARE LOSING YOUR KEYS.

IT IS ARE YOU FORGETTING WHAT THIS HUNK OF METAL IS IN YOUR HAND.

THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC AND ALARMING WARNING SIGNS YOU CAN BE LOOKING OUT FOR BUT MAINLY WE TELL FAMILIES, IF SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT, TALK TO YOUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND HAVE ADDITIONAL TESTING.

>> YOU WENT THROUGH THAT VERY QUICKLY ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION.

BUT THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION HAS A REALLY GOOD BOOKLET ON FACTS AND FIGURES.

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EVERY MARCH WE PUBLISH FACTS AND FIGURES AND YOU CAN GET THAT AT ALZ.ORG/GET THE FACTS.

IT'S 500 PAGES LONG BUT THERE IS USUALLY A SPECIAL INSERT THAT IS A TOPIC THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO REALLY FOCUS ON FOR THE YEAR.

SO THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF RESOURCES AND TREATMENT OPTIONS.

THERE IS THE LATEST UPDATES IN RESEARCH.

THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION TO LOOK AT.

IT'S A GREAT THING TO PERUSE.

>> I HEARD SHANNON TALK AND I GOT MY KEYS IN MY HAND AND I THINK I'M GOING TO GO OUT HERE TO MY CAR BUT I'M STARTING TO GET FREAKED OUT, MAN.

HOW DO YOU MAKE THE DIAGNOSIS?

IS IT A CLINICAL THING?

BASED ON THE PRESENTATION OR SOME DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES THAT YOU DO.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

I WOULD SAY IT'S OLD FASHIONED MEDICINE, TALKING TO PEOPLE, TAKING THE HISTORY; UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE SYMPTOMS ARE, WHAT THE CHANGES ARE.

AND WITH THIS CONDITION, IT'S PARTICULARLY CRITICAL TO TALK TO AND INFORM A LOVED ONE, A FAMILY MEMBER, AS SILLY AS THIS MAY SOUND FOR ME TO SAY, IF I'M DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE I DON'T REMEMBER THAT I DON'T REMEMBER SOMETHING.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS SILLY.

BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM ARE THE FAMILY.

WHAT SORTS OF CHANGES ARE THEY NOTICING?

IN MY WORLD, 90-95% OF IT COMES DOWN TO TAKING THE CAREFUL HISTORY, UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS GOING ON.

NOW THERE ARE SOME STANDARD TESTS WE DO TO RULE OUT OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

WE DO A SCAN OF THE BRAIN TO LOOK FOR THINGS LIKE STROKE OR TUMOR.

ALL OF THAT IS PRETTY STANDARD.

NOW THE FIELD IS EVOLVING.

AND THERE IS MORE AND MORE INTEREST IN SOMETHING CALLED BIO MARKERS.

AND ESSENTIALLY THESE COME DOWN TO DIFFERENT PROTEINS THAT WE PAY SEE IN THE BLOOD, IN THE SPINAL FLUID, IN THE BRAIN.

THAT GIVES US AN IDEA, IS THIS PERSON LIKELY TO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?

IS THIS LIKELY TO BE A DIFFERENT CONDITION LIKE ANOTHER FORM OF DEMENTIA.

SO WE ARE INCREASINGLY MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION I WOULD STILL SAY EVEN TODAY MOST OF IT IS TALKING TO PEOPLE.

MUCH.

>> WE KNOW SOMEBODY MAY SUSPECT THEY HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON.

YOU GET A DIAGNOSIS.

ARE THERE STAGES?

IS THIS AN ALL OR NOTHING THING OR IS IT LIKE MOST ILLNESSES, THERE IS MILD SYMPTOMS AND PROGRESSES ON.

>> YEAH, ALZHEIMER'S IS A CHRONIC DISEASE LIKE OTHER DISEASES OF AGING.

WE TOUCHED BASE ON HYPERTENSION AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND DIABETES.

ALZHEIMER'S IS A DISEASE THAT OCCURS OVER THE COURSE OF A DECADE, SOMETIMES MORE.

AND SO WHEN SOMEBODY IS DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S, WE ALL JUMP TO THE PICTURE OF SOMEBODY WHO IS COMPLETELY INCA PASS TAFT-- INCAPACITATED AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THEMSELVES AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IN THE REAL WORLD.

WE MAY FIND SOMEBODY WITH ALZHEIMER'S THAT HAS MILD PROBLEMS, NEED SOME MILD HELP AND CAN WE KEEP THEM IN THAT STAGE AND SUPPORT THEM SO THAT THEY CAN MAINTAIN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY YEARS.

EVENTUALLY THE DISEASE WILL PROGRESS.

SO WE HAVE TO WATCH FOLKS VERY CAREFULLY AND BE PREPARED TO STEP IN, TO HELP WHEN HELP IS NEEDED, BUT NOT OVER CATEGORIZE, NOT EVERYONE WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF ALZHEIMER'S HAVING NOTHING LEFT TO OFFER OR TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR OWN FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> IT ALMOST SOUNDS AS THOUGH YOU ARE SUGGESTING THAT THOUGH THAT THE DIAGNOSIS HAS BEEN MADE , YOU ARE NOT PREORDAINED AT SOME RAPID RATE TO HAVE A MASSIVE CASE WHERE YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR YOURSELF OR OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING TO HELP YOU.

>> IT IS VARIABLE.

WE HAVE FOLLOWED IN OUR RESEARCH PROGRAM FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE FOR 26 YEARS AND ARE STILL LIVING AT HOME.

AUTOPSY PROVEN ALZHEIMER'S CAN BE THAT SLOW, BUT FOR MOST OF US, WE ARE LOOKING AT A RANGE OF 10 TO 12 YEARS AND 10 TO 12 YEARS, IF YOU ARE 80 YEARS OLD, IS A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF PRECIOUS TIME EARLY ON WE MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO TRY TO SLOW THE PROGRESSION, AT LEAST THE PROGRESSION OF SYMPTOMS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT CANCER WE CAN PREVENT, WE TALK ABOUT THINGS WE CAN DO TO PREVENT OR MITIGATE HEART DISEASE OTHER METABOLIC PROBLEMS.

CAN WE PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S?

NOT EVERYBODY WILL AGREE WITH THAT.

THERE IS A RECENT REPORT THAT CAME OUT.

GETS UPDATED EVERY FOUR YEARS CALLED THE LANCE IT COMMISSION REPORT AND THEY DETERMINED THAT JUST OVER 45% OF DEMENTIA IS PREVENTIBLE, WHICH IS AN ASTONISHING NUMBER TO ME.

THAT'S A LARGE NUMBER.

AND THEY, IN THIS CASE, IDENTIFIED 14 RISK FACTORS, MAINLY THE ONES WE HAVE ALREADY SPOKE ERIN ABOUT HERE.-- SPOKEN ABOUT HERE AND THAT ALMOST WILL PROBABLY GET LARGER OVER TIME.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE ARE CERTAINLY MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THAT I BELIEVE MEANINGFULLY REDUCE OUR RISK.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

VERY VERSED ON THAT REPORT.

, NOT JUST MAINTAINING THOSE CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS BUT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST ABOUT HEARING LOSS AND HOW THAT MAY LEAD TO SOCIAL ISOLATION.

PEOPLE STOP EXERCISING, DIETARY CHANGES, WHICH THE LANCE LANSIT COMMISSION DIDN'T COMMENT ON THIS TIME AROUND BUT WE KNOW A HEALTHY DIET CAN BE A WONDERFUL SOURCE OF WHAT YOUR BRAIN NEEDS TO MAINTAIN ITS HEALTH.

SO I THINK THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO AND WHEN WE TOUCH ON THESE THINGS, WE CAN SEE THAT WHAT GREG WAS TALKING ABOUT, IN TERMS OF EXPECTATION THAT THE NUMBER OF WAYS WE CAN LOWER OUR RISK IS LIKELY TO EXPAND IN THE FUTURE AS WE LEARN MORE AND MORE ABOUT THIS DISEASE.

THERE IS A LOT THAT WE CAN DO AND WE REALLY SHOULD BE PROACTIVE.

>> WHAT WE LIKE TO TELL OUR FAMILIES, WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE HEART IS GOOD FOR THE BRAIN.

SO EVERYONE, THE NEW TREATMENTS THAT ARE OUT THAT I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE WHILE ARE INCREDIBLE.

REALLY IT'S LIFESTYLE CHANGES.

IT'S EXERCISING MORE, BEING OUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO AVOID SOCIAL ISOLATION.

IT'S GOOD FOOD LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT AND REALLY TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> WE WATCHED THE TV AND THE COMMERCIALS COME ON-- I WON'T NAME THE BRANDS BUT THEY SAY I WAS FORGETTING SOME THINGS AND NOT REMEMBERING.

NOW I TAKE THIS PILL OVER THE COUNTER AND SUDDENLY I'M REMEMBERING EVERYTHING, LIFE IS GOOD.

MY TENNIS GAME HAS IMPROVED OR PICKLEBALL, I GUESS IS WHAT IT IS NOWADAYS.

>> WE HAVE INCREDIBLE DOCTORS THAT CAN TALK ABOUT THAT BUT I REALLY DO THINK PEOPLE WANT A MAGIC PILL.

THEY WANT A QUICK FIX.

THEY WANT AN ANSWER THAT ISN'T I NEED TO WALK MORE.

I NEED TO EXERCISE MORE.

I NEED TO BE AROUND PEOPLE MORE.

I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MY HEART, BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> COMMONSENSE THINGS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE THINGS WE SEE ADVERTISED OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS?

ARE THEY HELPFUL TO US?

>> THERE IS REALLY NOT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT ISN'T HELPFUL BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IT.

I CAN'T THINK OF A SINGLE INSTANCE WHERE HAVE I WORKED WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS STAYED ON A MEDICATION LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS HELPFUL.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE BRAIN STIMULATION THROUGH CROSS WORDS, SUDOKU.

>> I THINK THAT'S REAL.

CERTAINLY, AND THERE IS EVEN RESEARCH TO SHOW COGNITIVE STIMULATION IS GOOD FOR THE BRAIN.

THE SPECIFICS MAY NOT BE THAT IMPORTANT.

IN FACT, THERE ARE SOME RESEARCHERS WHO HAVE SHOWN IT'S NOT ONE INDIVIDUAL THING.

IT'S JUST DOING ANYTHING THAT STIMULATES THE BRAIN.

THERE IS PROBABLY AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE FOR SWITCHING IT UP FROM TIME TO TIME.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, AS AN ANALOGY, IF ALL DIFFICULT WAS CURLS WITH MY RIGHT BICEPS, MY RIGHT ARM WOULD LOOK GREAT AND THE REST OF MY BODY WOULDN'T.

SO YOU PROBABLY WANT TO MIX IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I'M A STRONG PROPONENT OF ANYTHING THAT STIMULATES US MENTALLY, STIMULATES US COGNITIVELY.

>> THE SAME WITH EXERCISE.

FIND AN EXERCISE THAT YOU LIKE SO WILL YOU STICK WITH IT.

I THINK THAT'S SIMILAR FOR DOING EXERCISING YOUR BRAIN, WHETHER THAT'S LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE OR LEARNING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT OR DOING THE CROSS WORD.

ANYTHING THAT CAN KEEP YOU STIMULATED THAT YOU ARE GOING TO STICK TO.

>> WHAT ABOUT MUSIC THERAPY.

>> YEAH, MUSIC THERAPY IS INCREDIBLE.

>> REALLY?

SO PEOPLE GOING OUT, PICKING UP AND DOING THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

STIMULATION THAT COMES WITH IT.

>> IT LIGHTS UP YOUR BRAIN IN A WAY THAT OTHER THINGS DO NOT.

SO MUSIC THERAPY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> SO I NEED TO GO BACK AND TAKE UP AN INSTRUMENT.

THERE YOU GO.

DIAGNOSIS OF ALZHEIMER'S HAS BEEN MADE.

I IMAGINE IT'S ALMOST LIKE, YOU TILL A PATIENT THEY HAVE A CANCER AND YOU GET A LOT OF BLANK LOOKS.

I SUSPECT THIS PROBLEM MAY BE ALZHEIMER'S.

WHAT DO YOU TELL THE FAMILY OR THE CAREGIVERS TO HELP THEM PREPARE FOR THE JOURNEY THEY'RE NOW EMBARKING ON.

>> OUR FIRST MESSAGE IS YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

SO WE HAVE SUPPORT GROUPS.

WE HAVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

WE REALLY TRY TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND FAMILIES AFTER THEY GET THE DIAGNOSIS.

AND SO IT'S LIKE WITH A LOT OF THINGS, WHEN PEOPLE GET A CANCER DIAGNOSIS AT FIRST, THEY WANT A TON OF INFORMATION SO WE ARE HERE FOR THEM WITH THAT AND THEN THEY SORT OF FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH IT AND THEY NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SO WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT RANGE FROM THE 10 WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S ALL THE WAY TO VERY SPECIFIC CAREGIVER PROGRAMS ABOUT BEHAVIORS AND COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES THAT CAN HELP THE CAREGIVERS IN REAL TIME.

SO WE JUST OFFER AN INCREDIBLE MENU OF OPTIONS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES.

>> THE ONSET OF ALZHEIMER'S NOT ONLY AFFECTS THE PATIENT AS WE TALKED ABOUT BUT ALSO COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS TO SEE THE DYNAMICS OF THIS DIAGNOSIS ON A FAMILY I SPOKE TO VANESSA WILLIAMS-HARVEY WHO WAS A CAREGIVER FOR HER MOTHER.

SO, VIRGINIANESS VANESSA, YOU WANTED TO CARE FOR YOUR MOTHER AT HOME.

WHO HOW DID YOU COME TO THAT DECISION.

>> IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION, BUT IT IS ONE THAT THE FAMILY CAME TOGETHER.

OUR MOTHER WAS LIVING WITH MY OLDEST SISTER AT THE TIME OF HER DIAGNOSIS.

AND SO IN THE BEGINNING.

DID YOU DECIDE TO ONE PERSON'S HOUSE OPPOSED TO JUST YOUR SISTER'S?

>> AT THAT TIME, WE DIDN'T.

WE THOUGHT ABOUT SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

WEIGH WANTED TO KEEP OUR MOTHER IN THE MOST STABLE COMFORTABLE SETTING THAT SHE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO.

>> I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

IT WAS GOOD THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBERS BUT DID THAT EVER PRESENT ITSELF AS A PROBLEM WHEN YOU WERE TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO FOR YOUR MOTHER, SAY, AS FAR AS ANY MEDICATIONS OR HOW AGGRESSIVE YOU WERE GOING TO BE WITH THERAPY?

>> IT WAS GOOD AND NICE TO HAVE SO MANY FAMILY MEMBERS AND MY SIBLINGS, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF FIVE OF US-- TO HELP OUR MOTHER BECAUSE SHE WAS SINGLE.

BUT EVERY DECISION, THE SIMPLE-- WHAT MEDICATIONS TO PUT HER ON, WAS A FAMILY DISCUSSION AND IT WAS A VOTE SOMETIMES.

SOMETIMES IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE FIVE OF US SO MAJORITY WOULD RULE.

>> HOW DID YOU DECIDE AS FAR AS THE CARE GIVING THINGS, TAKING YOUR MOTHER OUT FOR AN OUTING OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

WAS THAT A GROUP EFFORT OR JUST I'M GOING TO DO THIS FOR MOM TODAY, ET CETERA?

>> WE TRIED TO SPREAD IT OUT SO THAT THE ONUS AND RESPONSIBILITY AND ALSO THE STRESS AND CHALLENGES OF MANAGING AND CARING FOR OUR MOTHER WASN'T LEFT TO ONLY ONE PERSON.

SO WE TRIED TO MIX IT UP AND SHARE IN THE CARE OF OUR MOTHER.

WHAT LED TO THE DECISION FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR MOTHER GO TO A MEMORY CARE FACILITY.

>> IT WAS A TOUGH ONE.

IT WAS A HARD ONE THERE WERE A LOT OF DISAGREEMENTS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF TEARS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF GUILT EVEN IN MAKING THAT DECISION.

BUT ULTIMATELY WE HAD TO DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR OUR MOTHER AND HER SAFETY AND AS FOR OUR FAMILY, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT SOME THINGS WE HAD NO CONTROL OVER YOUR MOTHER RAISED YOU TO TAKE CARE OF YOU AND NOW SHE WAS IN A VERY DELICATE POSITION AND SHE REQUIRED CARE AND TO FEEL THAT WE WERE GIVING CARE NEEDS TO SOMEONE ELSE INSTEAD OF TAKING THAT ON OURSELVES.

THERE IS A BIT OF GUILT WITH THAT.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, WAS THERE THE RECOGNITION THAT TAKING CARE OF AN OLDER PERSON IS REALLY IS REALLY TIME CONSUMING AND EMOTIONALLY CONSUMING AND SOMETIMES WE CAN'T DO IT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU CAME DOWN TO?

>> THAT'S WHAT WE CAME DOWN TO.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK TO FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS WHO ARE CARE GIVING FOR THEIR LOVED ONES, I TELL THEM THAT A PERSON WITH DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER'S, IT'S LIKE A TWO-YEAR-OLD.

THAT A TWO-YEAR-OLD INFANT, THEY LEARN AND THEY GROW AND THEY DEVELOP AND THEY REQUIRE LESS OF YOU.

BUT A PERSON WITH DEMENTIA ALZHEIMER'S, THEY'RE THAT TWO-YEAR-OLD THAT'S DECLINING, THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE MORE AND MORE AND AT SOME POINT, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT I CAN DO AND WHAT I'M NOT ABLE TO DO.

AND LOOK FOR DIFFERENT RESOURCES TO HELP THROUGH THE SITUATION.

>> HOW DID YOU HANDLE THAT?

>> NOT VERY WELL.

OKAY?

SO WE GOT FRUSTRATED, YES, WE DID.

WE GOT FRUSTRATED WITH THE DIAGNOSIS AND WE WERE ALL HANDS ON.

I'M THE YOUNGEST OF THE FAMILY.

I'M THE NURSE IN THE FAMILY.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS A HIERARCHY IN OUR FAMILY AND IN A LOT OF FAMILIES, SO THE SENIOR MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY, WHO MY MOTHER LIVED WITH, SHE WAS MY MOTHER'S POWER OF ATTORNEY, SO SHE ULTIMATELY MADE THE FINAL DECISION BUT WE ALL HAD A SAY IN THE MATTER.

AND SOMETIMES IT WAS SAID NICELY AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD JUST BE SAID WITH A LOT OF EMOTION AND THAT'S WHAT GETS INTO THE MIX.

PEOPLE AND THEIR FEELINGS AND THEIR EMOTIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR ATTACHMENTS.

>> WELL, VANESSA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING SOME EXPERIENCES WITH US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING TO SHARE ANDING AND AWARENESS OF ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA.

>> I THINK CLEARLY VANESSA IS HONEST.

AND HER EXPERIENCE PRETTY TYPICAL, AT LEAST MY CONVERSATIONS IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS A VERY TYPICAL EXPERIENCE THAT WE SEE WITH CAREGIVERS.

VANESSA IS ON OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION SO I KNOW HER WELL AND I KNOW HER STORY WELL.

SOMETIMES WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT, IT SEEMS LIKE CATHOLIC GUILT TO ME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF GUILT THAT GOES ALONG WITH MAKING SOME OF THESE HARD DECISIONS THAT YOUR LOVED ONE NEEDS A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE AND USUALLY WE SEE SOMETHING HAPPENS.

THERE IS A CRISIS THAT HAPPENS AND THERE HAS BEEN A FALL OR A SAFETY CONCERN.

AND MOST PEOPLE SAY I WISH I WOULD HAVE MADE THIS DECISION EARLIER AND WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST AND GETTING OVER THE GUILT BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOUR LOVED ONE NEEDS A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE.

>> LET'S BE HONEST.

WHEN WOE TALK ABOUT A MEMORY CARE FACILITY, IT IS COSTLY.

>> IT IS.

>> SOME ARE GOOD, SOME ARE OKAY AND SOME NOT SO GOOD.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE MAY LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A MEMORY CARE FACILITY FOR OUR LOVED ONE BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE GUILT.

THE LAST THING WE WANT IS FOR THEM TO BE IN A BAD SITUATION AND MAKE THE GUILT EVEN COMPOUNDED EVEN MORE.

>> RIGHT.

WE TELL PEOPLE TO LOOK AT ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS AND SEE WHERE YOUR LOVED ONE SEEMS THE MOST COMFORTABLE.

WE ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AARP CALLED COMMUNITY RESOURCE FINDER AND THERE ARE REVIEWS THERE AND ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION, PRICING, AVAILABILITY.

WHAT INSURANCE THEY TAKE, ET CETERA.

BUT WE ALSO ARE HERE FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.

AND SOMETIMES WE ARE SURPRISED.

I TALKED TO A GENTLEMEN A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHO SAID WE REALLY HAD OUR HEART SET ON ONE PLACE AND TOOK A LAST MINUTE TOUR OVER HERE AND MY MOM LOVED IT BETTER I.

WAS LESS EXPENSIVE AND CLOSER TO HIS HOME AND HE WASN'T THINKING ABOUT THAT.

HOOEY REALLY THOUGHT THIS OTHER OPTION WAS BETTER FOR HIM.

SO IT REALLY IS SHOP AROUND AND GET OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE ABOUT IT WHETHER IT IS GOING TO BE THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR LOVED ONE.

>> ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL FOR EVERYBODY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT OPTIONS OUT THERE.

>> GREG TELL ME, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A PATIENT WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, ARE YOU MANAGING THE SYMPTOMS, ARE YOU SLOWING DOWN THE DISEASE OR TREATING THE PERSON TO GIVE THEM A CURE?

>> A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

UNTIL RECENTLY WOULD I SAY WE WERE TRYING TO MANAGE THE SYMPTOMS AS BEST WE CAN.

AND CERTAINLY THAT IS STILL TRUE.

WE ARE TRYING TO MANAGE THOSE SYMPTOMS WHETHER IT BE ISSUES WITH MEMORY, WHETHER IT BE ISSUES WITH ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION; WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

NOW, OVER THE LAST YEAR TO TWO YEARS WE HAVE HAD SOME EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS.

WE NOW HAVE MEDICATION ARE AVAILABLE TO US THAT SLOW THE PROGRESS OF THIS DISEASE.

SO NOW WE ARE TRYING TO BEND THAT CURVE, IF YOU WILL.

THEY'RE NOT AS GOOD AS WE HOPE THEY WILL BE SOME DAY BUT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THAT COURSE.

SO I THINK WE ARE IN THOSE FIRST TWO CATEGORIES RIGHT NOW.

I CAN'T HONESTLY SAY THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CURE THE ILLNESS WITH ANY GIVEN INDIVIDUAL.

NO DOUBT THE FIELD IS WORKING TIRELESSLY TO COME UP WITH A CURE.

BUT WHEN I'M SITTING IN THE ROOM WITH AN INDIVIDUAL, I KNOW I'M TREATING THEIR SYMPTOMS, TIME I'M TRYING TO MODIFY THE COURSE OF THEIR DISEASE.

I'M NOT YET AT THE POINT WHERE CAN I OFFER THEM A CURE.

>> GREG, WHAT IS DOWN THE HORIZON?

ARE YOU SEEING SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CURE PEOPLE?

>> I THINK THAT AS GREG WAS SAYING, THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE FIELD IS MOVING AND THAT'S REALLY THE VISION.

SO IT'S NOT A DREAM THAT FAR OFF.

IT'S AN ACTIVE VISION THAT IS BEING EXPLORED BY THOUSANDS OF SCIENTISTS AND DOCTORS ACROSS THE GLOBE.

AND SO THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE FROM SLOWING SYMPTOMS WHICH MAY BUY PEOPLE SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE SHE THEY NEED PLACEMENT IN MEMORY CARE TO NOW DISEASE MODIFYING THERAPY THAT CAN REMOVE THE AMYLOID PLAQUE OF ALZHEIMER'S FROM THE PLAIN AND YET NOT STOP THE DISEASE BECAUSE WE'VE STILL GOT TANGLES AND INFLAMMATION SO BEGINNING TO THINK AND THE CONCEPT OF THE CANCER MODEL FOR MANY YEARS AGO THAT A SINGLE AGENT IS GOING TO SLOW, BUT MAYBE COMBINATION OF AGENTS IN THE FUTURE WILL INCREASE THAT SLOWING, BUYING PEOPLE MANY MORE YEARS.

AND EVENTUALLY WE MAY GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE SLOW THE DISEASE SUFFICIENTLY THAT IT MAY NEVER TAKE SOMEONE DOWN AND THEY MAY END UP DYING OF NATURAL CAUSES LIKE WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO DO IN OUR SLEEP, PEACEFULLY ONE NIGHT.

>> I'VE HEARD OF THINGS USING STEM CELL WORK.

DOES THAT LOOK LIKE SOMETHING THAT MAY BE OF BENEFITED TO US DOWN THE ROAD.

>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF APPROACHES OUT THERE.

STEM CELLS AND OTHER GENETIC MANIPULATIONS.

THEY SHOW SOME PROMISE TO TARGET PARTS OF THE DISEASE.

TO WORK ON STEM CELLS TO INCREASE DIFFERENT BRAIN CHEMICALS.

THESE ARE A LONG WAY AWAY FROM APPROVAL.

ALZHEIMER'S THEMSELVES IS A DISEASE THAT INVOLVES THE WHOLE BRAIN AND SAID WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE STEM CELLS, WE HAVE TO SAY CAN THEY REALLY REPAIR THE ENTIRE BRAIN BECAUSE MOST OF THE DISORDERS, WHERE WE USE THAT KIND OF DIRECTED APPROACH, WE ARE USING THEM VERY FOCALLY.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A COMBINATION, REALLY KEEPS US ALL GOING?

>> GREG, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ACCOUNTS FOR, I THINK IT'S NUMBER 7 IS THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES.

HOW DOES ALZHEIMER'S CAUSE DEATH?

>> FOR MOST PEOPLE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME COMPLICATION OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE; FOR INSTANCE, THEY'RE MORE PRONE TO DEVELOP PNEUMONIA OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF INFECTION.

OR IT MAY BE AN ISSUE WHERE WE ARE JUST NOT GETTING THE CALORIES IN LIKE WE USED TO.

WE MAY BE MORE PRONE TO AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE FALL OR INJURY OURSELVES.

MOST COMMONLY IT IS SOMETHING LIKE AN INFECTION LIKE PNEUMONIA THAT IS A COMPLICATION OF A RELATIVELY SEVERE DEGREE OF DEMENTIA.

>> IS DEPRESSION A FACTOR IN THE ALZHEIMER'S PATIENT AND EVEN IN THE CAREGIVER?

>> YES.

BUT THAT CAN TAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMS.

CERTAINLY DEPRESSION BY ITSELF IS A RISK FACTOR FOR DEVELOPING DEMENTIA.

CERTAINLY IT'S TRUE THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL DEMENTIA DEVELOP DEPRESSION AS SORT OF A COMPLICATION OF THAT.

AND THEN THERE IS NO DOUBT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT ON THE CAREGIVER AND THAT CAN LEAD TO STRESS AND THAT CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION.

I'VE ALWAYS FELT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A DISEASE OF THE INDIVIDUAL BUT RATHER OF THE FAMILY.

AND WE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CAREGIVER.

AND, IN FACT, MAYBE TO TAKE IT A STEP FARTHER.

WE KNOW THAT BY SUPPORTING THE CAREGIVER, WE CAN ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE STRESS AND DEPRESSION AND THE PATIENT.

OUR LOVED ONE ACTUALLY DOES BETTER WHEN WE CARE FOR THE CAREGIVER.

>> WHAT ADVICE TO YOU OFFER TO THE FAMILIES OF THE ALZHEIMER'S PATIENT.

DO YOU TELL THE PATIENT AND ALSO THE FAMILIES?

>> WE DO.

WE TELL PEOPLE GET INVOLVED.

REACH OUT.

WE HAVE EARLY STAGE SUPPORT GROUPS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO, WHERE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE LIVING WITH THE DISEASE IN ONE ROOM WITH A SPECIALLY TRAINED FACILITATOR AND THE OTHER ROOM WE HAVE THE CAREGIVER.

SO THEY HAVE A POT LUCK.

THEY BRING THEIR FAMOUS RECIPES.

SO IT'S SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND IT'S GETTING SUPPORT FROM THEM.

AND WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME TO THAT THAT SAID I SAT IN THE PARKING LOT FOR 30 MINUTES BEFORE I CAME IN BECAUSE I WAS SO NERVOUS AND DIDN'T WANT TO GO AND THE WORD SUPPORT GROUP BUT IT'S CHANGED MY LIFE.

NOW THAT I HAVE THESE FRIENDS AND THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY HAS REALLY LIGHTENED MY DEPRESSION AND MADE ME FEEL LESS ALONE AND GIVEN ME CONFIDENCE TO KNOW THAT CAN I FACE THIS DISEASE.

>> WE KNOW THAT PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT TEND TO BE TERMINAL, IT DOES CAUSE CERTAIN DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE HAS INCREASED IN BOTH PATIENTS LIVING WITH DIMENTDIA AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS OR SIGNS THAT MAY GIVE US AN INDICATION THAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT SUED SUICIDAL IDEATION.

WE TALKED TO A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER, MISS ASHLEY LEE AND WE PUT THIS TO HER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE ARE THOUGHT TO THAN INCREASING WITH CAREGIVERS AND DEMENTIA PATIENTS.

WHAT ARE SIGNS OF SUICIDAL IDEATION WE SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR.

>> SIGNS IN CAREGIVERS WOULD BE ISOLATION, OFTEN TIMES THEIR PATTERN HAS CHANGED SO THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE PATTERN HAS CHANGED.

THEY'RE FOCUSING ON TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE AS WELL AS TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES SO THERE IS AN INCREASED ISOLATION.

THERE IS LESS FOCUS ON THEMSELVES.

THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE ACTIVITIES MAYBE THAT THEY USED TO DO AND GETTING A BREAK FROM THEIR CARE GIVING ROLE SO LOOKING AT ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, ISOLATION.

THE IF THERE IS ANY INCREASE IN THE USE OF SUBSTANCES OR ALCOHOL, IF YOU NOTICE PEOPLE GIVING AWAY ANY ITEMS OR SAYING THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE IF I'M HERE ANYMORE.

I DON'T CARE IF I WAKE UP ANYMORE.

THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

YOU WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE THINGS, PARTICULARLY WITH YOUR CAREGIVERS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY ISOLATED AND OFTEN TIMES THEIR ROLE IS SOLELY FOCUSED ON TAKING CARE OF ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, THAT THEY HAVE LESS TIME, THEY FEEL, TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

AND PATIENTS THAT HAVE A COGNITIVE DECLINE, THEIR LIFE HAS CHANGED AS WELL, THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS, ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS A RISK FOR THEM WE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR THAT, TOO, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE COGNITION TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES OR TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS.

AND SUICIDAL IDEATIONS IN THE PAST.

DO THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY A CAREGIVER BUT ALSO A PATIENT.

>> I WONDER, YOU KNOW, SOME PATIENTS WHO HAVE COGNITIVE DECLINE, DO YOU TEND TO SEE THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE OCCURRING EARLIER IN THE COURSE OF EVENTS WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT I HAVE AN ILLNESS THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE THESE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD?

OR DO YOU TEND TO SEE THE INDIVIDUAL THEY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> OFTEN TIMES, AND THIS IS JUST MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, I THINK WHEN SOMEONE RECEIVES THAT TYPE OF DIAGNOSIS THEY SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR SUICIDE EARLIER ON IN THEIR DIAGNOSIS WHEN THEY HAVE MORE COGNITIVE CAPABILITIES TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS MORE APPROPRIATELY.

THAT WAY YOU ARE ABLE TO GET A TRUE PICTURE OF THAT INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR PERSON AND OF THAT PERSON AND YOU ARE ABLE TO GET A TRUE HISTORY OF DO THEY HAVE ANY MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS, HAVE THEY STRUGGLED WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ANY HISTORY OF ZAIDAL IDEATION SUICIDAL IDEATIONS, YOU ARE GETTING A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE AND CAN TAILOR THEIR CARE FOR THEM.

WHEN THE DISEASE HAS PROGRESSED, IT IS HARDER TO GET A TRUE PICTURE OF THEM BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE JUST BEHAVIORS OR PART OF THE PROGRESSION OF THEIR DISEASE OR IF THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE STRUGGLED OR DEALT WITH IN THE PAST.

AND I WOULD ALSO SAY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CARING FOR THEM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER TO LOOK OUT FOR ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND ISOLATION IN THEM, ALSO SCREENING THE CAREGIVERS BECAUSE WE NEED TO KIND OF HEAD THIS OFF AT THE PASS TO KNOW, OKAY, WHAT THINGS NEED TO BE IN PLACE FOR THAT PERSON, SOME SORT OF SUPPORT, CARE, RESPITE, SERVICES FOR THEM SO THAT PERSON HAS THE CAPABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN NOT ONLY TAKING CARE OF THIS OTHER INDIVIDUAL, BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.

>> FINAL QUESTION I WANT TO ASK YOU THOUGH.

IS IT APPROPRIATE TO ASK THE PERSON, SAY, HEY, WE SEE SOME CHANGES GOING ON IN YOU.

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE AND WE THINK THERE IS AN INTERVENTION NEEDED?

OR I WONDER DO WE RISK HURTING PEOPLE'S FEELINGS?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASK THAT QUESTION.

OFTEN TIMES YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE IF SOMEONE IS HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND YOU ARE ASKING THAT QUESTION, YOU ARE NOT PUTTING THOSE THOUGHTS IN THEIR HEAD.

THEY ARE ALREADY HAVING THOSE THOUGHTS.

ANOTHER THING I WANT TO TELL PEOPLE, IF YOU ARE ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY'RE HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, DIVE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE LISTENING TO THEM, BEING ATTENTIVE TO THEM AND VALIDATING THEIR EXPERIENCE BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO SEE DOES THIS PERSON HAVE ACCESS TO LETHAL MEANS IN THEIR HARM HOME.

IF THEY HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO HARM THEMSELVES AND THEY HAVE ACCESS TO LETHAL MEANS, THAT IS DEFINITELY WHERE WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP FURTHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT TO FOLKS ARE SAFE IN THEIR HOME BUS IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO MEANS AND A PLAN, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REMOVE THOSE THINGS OUT OF THE HOME AND GET THE PERSON SOME HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY REMAINS SAFE IN THAT HOME.

>> MISS LEE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US AND I APPRECIATE THOSE WORDS OF ADVICE.

THANK YOU.

>> GREG, I THINK ASHLEY WAS RIGHT ON TARGET ABOUT PROACTIVE INTERVENING WHEN WE SEE SOMETHING.

HOW DO YOU-- ARE YOU MANAGING JUST THE PATIENT WHO IS COMING INTO YOUR OFFICE OR TAKING CARE OF THE CAREGIVERS, TOO AND DO YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE STRESSES AND STRAINS THAT ARE COMING ALONG WITH THIS?

>> YEAH, I AGREE WITH OUR OTHER PANELISTS, ABSOLUTELY, THAT, AND I LIKE THE WAY THAT GREG PUT IT.

THAT THIS DISEASE THAT REALLY AFFECTS THE FAMILY, NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL.

IT'S A CRITICAL PART OF CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS, NOT JUST TO BE ADDRESSING THEIR SYMPTOMS, THEIR BIOLOGY OF DISEASE BUT REACHING OUT AND SEEING WHAT THE FAMILY NEEDS ARE, WHAT THE CAREGIVERS NEEDS ARE.

I DON'T THINK THAT THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE SHOULDN'T ASK OR AVENUES THAT WE SHOULDN'T PURSUE.

I WILL SAY WE SEE AN EXTREMELY LOW RATES OF SUICIDE FOR OUR PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA AND FOR THEIR CAREGIVERS.

WE NEED TO KEEP THAT UP BY BUILDING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT-FOR-THESE PATIENTS BY HAVING ACCEPTANCE, ABOUT I NOT LABELING THEM-- BY NOT LABELING THEM AND THINKING THEY'RE END STAGE WHEN THEY'RE REALLY JUST RECENTLY DISSINGED DIAGNOSED AND QUITE MILD, REINFORCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY CAN HAVE IN PROVIDING RESOURCES THAT THE CAREGIVER CAN SHARE IN THAT QUALITY OF LIFE BENEFIT OF DIAGNOSIS AND CONTINUED TREATMENT FOR NOT JUST THE PATIENT BUT THE WHOLE FAMILY.

>> SHANNON, IT SOUNDS LIKE GREG IS SAYING WE NEED TO STRESS THE HOPE THAT IS OUT THERE, GIVEN THE PROGRESS THAT IS GOING ON.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I DO THINK THAT, YES, ALZHEIMER'S IS A TERRIBLE DISEASE AND THIS IS A REALLY HARD JOURNEY TO GO ON.

BUT THERE IS SO MUCH HOPE.

AND YOU STARTED THE PROGRAM TONIGHT BY SAYING THERE IS A RIPPLE OF HOPE.

AND WE FEEL IT.

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PEOPLE CAME INTO OUR OFFICE LAST FRIDAY TO START HER LOUISVILLE WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S TEAM AND SHE SAID I'M ON ONE OF THE NEW TREATMENTS.

I'VE NEVER FELT BETTER AND I FEEL CONFIDENT I'M GOING TO LIVE TO 100.

AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT IS THAT SHE IS LIVING WITH THIS IS DISEASE AND LIVING AND DRIVING BY HERSELF AND WE HAVE SEEN HER COGNITIVE DECLINE SLOW DOWN BECAUSE OF THE NEW TREATMENTS BUT STAYING ENGAGED.

THAT SHE CAME INTO OUR OFFICE TO TALK TO US AND TO CONNECT WITH US IS SO IMPORTANT.

THESE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY LONELINESS AND ISOLATION CAN REALLY BE DEADLY.

SO WE DO TRY TO HAVE SUPPORT GROUPS THAT ARE ONLINE.

WE HAVE PLEASE BE PATIENT CARDS THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE OUT AND GIVE TO THE WAITRESS AT A RESTAURANT THAT SAYS MY LOVED ONE HERE HAS DEMENTIA, WE HAVE EMPOWERED CAREGIVER SERIES.

SO WE REALLY TRY TO PIVOT OURSELVES TO REACH CAREGIVERS WHERE THEY ARE SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE.

>> WHEN VANESSA WAS TALKING TO US EARLIER, HARD DECISION ABOUT GOING TO A MEMORY CARE FACILITY, WHERE ARE MOST PATIENTS WHO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S?

ARE THEY AT HOME OR ARE THEY IN THE FACILITY AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP KEEP THEM THERE AT HOME?

>> IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE.

I WOULD SAY IT'S HALF AND HALF.

HALF THE PEOPLE ARE STILL AT HOME AND SOMETIMES WHEN A CRISIS OR SOME SAFETY ISSUE HAPPENS SHE HAVE TO GO TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE.

IT IS THE WHOLE SPECTRUM.

SOME PEOPLE DO DAY CENTERS OR SENIOR CENTERS WHERE A LOVED ONE CAN GO FOR A LITTLE WHILE SO THE CAREGIVER CAN HAVE A BREAK.

I REALLY THINK INFORMATION AND CONNECTION IS SO IMPORTANT AND IT'S NOT ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF HIGHER LEVELS OF CARE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY NEED A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH THE DISEASE WHERE THEY ARE.

AND SO IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING THAT DECISION FOR A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, LET US HELP YOU WITH THAT DECISION.

IF YOU STILL HAVE YOUR LOVED ONE AT HOME, LET US HELP YOU FIND WAYS THAT YOU CAN GET OUT AND BE AROUND PEOPLE, HAVE FUN, GET INFORMATION, EDUCATION.

WE REALLY WANT TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING.

YOU SAID DAYCARE CENTER.

SO HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES NEED A BREAK SOMETIMES.

>> YES.

>> AND SO HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT FINDING A DAYCARE CENTER OR EVEN AN INDIVIDUAL COMING INTO THE HOME?

ARE THERE SERVICES WHERE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE?

>> THERE IS IN-HOME CARE YOU CAN LOOK INTO IT.

I WENT TO AN EVENT AT THE LEXINGTON SENIOR CENTER.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN, THEY CAN EXERCISE, PLAY GAMES, DO ARTS AND CRAFTS, HAVE PROGRAMS THERE.

THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS KENTUCKY UNDERSTAND SOUTHERN INDIANA THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE THAT CONNECTION, A GO-TO SPOT WHERE THE CAREGIVER CAN EITHER GET EDUCATION THERE THEMSELVES OR TAKE A BREAK.

MAYBE THEY GO HOME AND TAKE A NAP OR GO GROCERY SHOPPING OR SOMETHING TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

>> SO THEY'RE OUT THERE.

>> YES.

>> YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT POLLUTION.

>> YEAH.

>> AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OLDER PEOPLE, THE INS DEPTH OF ALZHEIMER'S GOES UP.

WHAT ABOUT RACIAL GROUPS OR AT LEAST SOCIETAL DEFINITION OF RACIAL GROUPS.

ARE WE SEEING A DIFFERENCE IN INCIDENTS OR SEVERITY AND THEN, YOU KNOW IN PEOPLE?

>> WE DEFINITELY ARE.

I THINK FOR ME THIS IS VERY TROUBLING.

HISPANICS HAVE ABOUT A ONE AND A HALF TIMES RISK OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS ABOUT DOUBLE.

EARLY ON IN MY CAREER WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO GENETIC FACTORS BUT MORE AND MORE NOW WE SEE THOSE RELATED TO WHAT WE CALL SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

ACCESS TO CARE ACCESS TO NUTRITION, TO MEALS, ACCESS TO EDUCATION.

WE ARE EVEN LEARNING THAT JUST THE TRAUMA OF RACISM, THE EFFECT THAT MAY HAVE ON INDIVIDUALS,CAN IMPACT THE BRAIN IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR THIS AND CERTAINLY WHAT YOU OPENED WITH POLLUTION.

POLLUTION TENDS TO BE WORSE IN AREAS WHERE ETHNIC MINORITIES LIVE AND THAT'S PROBABLY NOT AN ACCIDENT.

>> THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN DURING THIS LAST SENATORIAL ELECTION WHERE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, BOOKER SAID, FROM THE HOLLER TO THE HOOD.

HE WAS SHOWING THERE WAS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO.

SO WHAT WE SEE IN URBAN AREAS, PARTICULARLY AFFECTING AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WHAT ABOUT IN THE RURAL AREAS?

NUMBER ONE, THERE HAS GOT TO BE AN ACCESS ISSUE?

>> I THINK THAT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, AS GREG WAS TALKING ABOUT ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR OUR RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES BUT ALSO OR THOSE WITH LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC RESOURCES AND THOSE THAT LIVE IN RURAL AREAS AS SENATOR BOOKER SAID, THE HOLLER, ACCESS TO CARE, SPECIALTY CARE, RECOGNITION OF MEMORY PROBLEMS, RISK REDUCTION, THOSE MANY CHRONIC DISEASES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ARE RAMPANT IN OUR RURAL AREAS.

AND SO WE'VE REALLY GOT TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, NOT JUST TO THE CARE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AT HIGH LEVEL MEDICAL CENTERS, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CARE IS ACCEPTABLE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM THE HOLLERS TO THE HOODS.

>> GREG, THE DIAGNOSIS IS MADE LATER IN LIFE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS IS OCCURRING LATER IN LIFE.

WHAT IS THE LAG TIME, REALLY?

ARE WE MISSING THE REAL ONSET OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE WHEN WE SAY WE ARE MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS OF SOMEONE AT AGE 65?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN SMOLDERING LONGER THAN THAT?

>> MOST LIKELY, YES.

THE CURRENT THINKING IS THE DISEASE PROCESS STARTS IN THE BRAIN MAYBE 20 YEARS EARLIER.

AND WE MAY NOT SEE SYMPTOMS FOR 10, 15, 20 YEARS.

AND THEN WE MAY NOT MAKE THAT DIAGNOSIS FOR TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS AFTER THE SYMPTOMS START.

SO I THINK THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT WE ARE MISSING THE EARLY PART OF THIS.

>> WHAT ABOUT 40 YEAR OLDS.

ARE WE SEEING MORE OR ANY CHANGE IN THE ONSET IN THAT AGE GROUP?

>> I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE THAT WE ARE.

I CAN TELL YOU PERSONALLY, IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS, I'VE DIAGNOSED MORE PEOPLE IN THEIR 40S AND FIFTH THAN I EVER HAVE IN MY LIFE.

I'M NOT SURE THAT I CAN REALLY SAY THAT'S A NATIONAL TREND VERSUS JUST MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

THERE MIGHT BE A BETTER ANSWER TO THAT.

>> I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS, WE ARE NOT SEEING ANY OF THE AGE GROUPS INCREASE IN INCIDENTS.

WE ARE SEEING PREVALENCE INCREASE IN THE ELDERLY.

AND WE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING ALMOST ON A GLOBAL SCALE, THE INCIDENTS OF ALZHEIMER'S THROUGH ADOPTION OF HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES , IF WE LOOK BACK WHAT WAS THE LIFESTYLE OF OUR PARENTS IN THE 70s, OR 60s, THEY WERE NOT AS HEALTH CONSCIOUS AS WE ARE TODAY.

SO WE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING PER POPULATION, THE INCIDENTS OF ALZHEIMER'S GOING DOWN BUT THE PREVALENCE EXPLODING.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO DANCE AROUND THIS ISSUE SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, SHANNON.

ARE WE JUST MISSING THE DIAGNOSIS?

SOME OF THE WARNING SIGNS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE 10 RED FLAGS?

AND THIS IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT A 40-YEAR-OLD AND SAYING THEY DON'T GET THIS DISEASE.

SO THE QUESTION TO ME IS DO BEE NEED TO HAVE MORE NEUROLOGISTS INVOLVED WHO ARE LOOKING AT THIS WITH THE JAUNDICE EYE OR DO WE NEED TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS IN OUR PRIMARY CARE... >> ONE THING THAT CAN HELP THIS.

THERE IS SUCH EXCITING TREATMENTS AND BIO MARKERS COMING OUT SO HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A BLOOD TEST SOON.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR YOU GUYS OR BAD FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE EVERYONE WILL WANT TO HAVE THE BLOOD TEST.

AND SO THAT BLOOD TEST WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IF YOU HAVE INCREASED PROTEIN IN YOUR BLOOD, WHICH COULD SAY THAT YOU HAVE INCREASED AMYLOID PROTEIN IN YOUR BRAIN.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE MISSING THE DIAGNOSIS BUT I ALSO THINK AT 40 AND EARLY 50S, YOU ARE NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU MAY NOT BE ON THE RADAR SCREEN TO SEE THE SYMPTOMS OR WARNING SIGNS.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE MISSING IT BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE FOCUS ON IT.

>> RIGHT NOW, GREG, WHAT IS GIVING-- I WANT EACH OF YOU TO RESPOND TO THIS BY THE WAY.

YOU GET TO BE FIRST: WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE AS FAR AS ALZHEIMER'S RIGHT NOW.

>> THE FACT THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY MOVING THE DIAGNOSIS TOWARDS A MEDICAL MODEL THAT IS INTERVENABLE, WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO STUDY AND DETERMINE THROUGH A BLOOD TEST, WHAT THE ACTUAL ABNORMAL PROTEINS ARE AND THEN THROUGH TREATMENT ADVANCES, BE ABLE TO REMOVE THOSE.

THESE ARE OUR STEPS TOWARDS A CURE AND I'M INCREDIBLY HOPEFUL ABOUT THAT.

>> IT'S NOT JUST A PIPE DREAM RIGHT NOW.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

WE ARE WORKING ON IT.

>> GREG, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK FIRST WE NOW CAN SEE THAT NEARLY HALF OF DEMENTIA IS PREVENTIBLE.

SO IMAGINING IF WE COULD HAVE ELIMINATE HALF OF DEMENTIA AND THEN WE HAVE TREATMENTS THAT CAN SLOW IT DOWN AND IT'S NOT UNREALISTIC TO THINK THAT MAYBE IN THE NEAR FUTURE BY UP TO 50%.

AND THEN WE GET INTO COMBINATIONS OF MEDICATIONS, MUCH AS GREG SAID, WHERE WE CAN TURN THIS INTO A MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE CHRONIC ILLNESS WHERE WE SEE LIMITED PROGRESSION.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY CAREER, I THINK THAT IS FORESEEABLE ON THE HORIZON.

>> DO YOU SEE ISOLATION PLAYING A ROLE IN ALL THIS BY THE WAY.

>> YES, I THINK IT'S BOTH A RISK FACTOR TO DEVELOP COGNITIVE DECLINE.

I THINK IT MAY ALSO EXACERBATE COGNITIVE DECLINE AND REALLY EMPLOYING, DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDE SOCIALIZATION CAN REALLY BEND THIS CURVE.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE OUT THERE IN THE FUTURE?

>> I AGREE WITH BOTH GREGS THAT REALLY WE ARE IN THE ERA OF TREATMENT.

SO ALZHEIMER'S WAS DISCOVERED IN 1906, AND THESE TREATMENTS THAT HAVE COME OUT IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS ARE THE FIRST DRUGS THAT TREAT THE DISEASE, NOT JUST THE SYMPTOMS.

FOR ALL OF THIS TIME IT HAS JUST BEEN TREATING THE SYMPTOMS SO IT'S SUCH AN EXCITING TIME AND WE REALLY THINK THAT AS MEDICINE AND RESEARCH CONTINUES, THAT IT WILL BE EVEN MORE EXCITING AND WE ARE CREATING A RIPPLE OF HOPE.

>> BEFORE I GET TO YOUR TAKE HOME POINT, DIAGNOSIS WAS MADE, ORIGINALLY DESCRIBED IN 1906, BUT YOU LOOK AT CANCER, WE HAVE CHANGED THE ENTIRE WAY CANCER IS BEING DIAGNOSED NOW.

WILL THAT HAPPEN WITH ALZHEIMER'S?

>> WE THINK SO.

>> THE BIO MARKERS.

>> THAT'S HOW WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS.

IN MANY CASES, CANCER HAS BECOME A CHRONIC DISEASE.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT COMPLETELYIY RAD CANNOT BE COMPLETELY ERADICATED FROM THE BODY BUT ONE CAN MAINTAIN A QUALITY OF LIFE AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING TO ALZHEIMER'S.

>> I WANT TO TAKE HOME POINT.

GREG, I'LL START WITH YOU.

>> THERE IS HOPE.

WE CAN DO THINGS TO LOWER OUR RISK AND IF WE DO HAVE THIS CONDITION, IDENTIFYING IT EARLY CAN LEAD TO TREATMENTS THAT CAN SLOW THE PROGRESSION AND HELP US MAINTAIN A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, SHANNON?

>> I REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

FROM THE MOMENT THAT YOU SEE A WARNING SIGN, TO DIAGNOSIS AND THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY, THAT OUR ORGANIZATION IS HERE FOR YOU.

AND THAT THERE IS A LOT OF STIGMA AND A LOT OF SILENCE ABOUT THIS DISEASE AND THERE IS A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE DRESSED IN PURPLE THAT ARE READY TO SUPPORT YOU.

>> GREG.

>> I THINK THE BIG MESSAGE THAT I MIGHT HAVE IS DON'T BE AFRAID OF THIS DIAGNOSIS.

DON'T RUN AND BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND BECAUSE IF IT'S COMING FOR YOU, BE PROACTIVE.

FIGHT BACK.

MAINTAIN YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

STAY IN YOUR HOME.

BUT BE PROACTIVE.

DON'T RUN AND HIDE.

>> WELL I'M GOING TO TELL PEOPLE NOT TO RUN AND HIDE BUT TO RUN OUT AND WALK.

I BELIEVE THERE IS A WALK COMING UP SOON.

WHEN IS THAT GOING TO BE AGAIN?

>> 12 WALKS TO END ALZHEIMER'S EVENT WE LIKE TO REFER TO AS OUR LARGEST COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP OF THE YEAR FROM ASHLAND TO PADUCAH AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.

>> WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU THREE FOR BEING WITH US.

THIS HAS BEEN A MOST INTERESTING DISCUSSION AND I DO THINK THAT SOME GREAT CHANGES ON THE HORIZON REGARDING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

PLEASE BE SURE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE PREVIOUS PROGRAMS ON OUR NEXT CHAPTER SERIES.

AND WE LOOK POARD TO TALKING TO-- FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

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