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Living with early-onset Alzheimer's: "Life does not end with a diagnosis"

There’s really no way to avoid the obvious: Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is a scary condition. The causes are somewhat mysterious, results of treatments are mixed, and there is no cure. A diagnosis will impact everybody who it touches - logistically, financially, psychologically, and emotionally.

Today, you’re going to meet a man living alone with early onset, and a husband and wife team who are doing everything they can to make sure the husband is cared for.

And you’ll get some helpful things to keep in mind from a dementia-care education specialist.

1-800-272-3900 is The Alzheimer's Association’s helpline. It is open 24/7.

GUESTS: 

  • Teepa Snow: A dementia-care education specialist with a background in occupational therapy and close to 40 years of clinical practice, using a "positive approach to care"
  • Brian Van Buren: Started experiencing memory issues when he was 50, but wasn’t formally diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's until age 64. He was a 2017 member of the National Alzheimer’s Association early onset advisory group, and is a member of the Dementia Action Alliance Advisory Board to bring awareness to people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community
  • Marva and Tyrone Patterson: Pastors at Rescue Temple in East Hartford. Tyrone began experiencing symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer's in January of 2021

Jessica Severin de Martinez and Catie Talarski contributed to this show, with help from our interns, Jacob Gannon and Taylor Doyle.

Audacious with Chion Wolf is available as a podcast onApple Podcasts,Spotify,Google Podcasts,Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Join the conversation onFacebook,Twitter, and email.

Jessica Severin de Martinez is a producer for Audacious with Chion Wolf.
Chion Wolf is the host of Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public, featuring conversations with people who have uncommon or misunderstood experiences, conditions, or professions.