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What happens when your carefully mapped career path collides with an Alzheimer's diagnosis — and you're only 26? In this deeply personal episode of BrainStorm by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, host Meryl Comer sits down with Jessica Guthrie, founder of the online platform Career and Caregiving Collide, whose life changed forever when her mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2014.

Jessica shares what it means to be a young Black professional thrust into the role of long-distance caregiver — navigating a healthcare system that often didn't listen, workplaces that weren't designed with caregivers in mind, and support spaces where she was frequently the youngest and only Black person in the room. Rather than suffering in silence, she turned her experience into a growing online community where caregivers across generations find connection, validation, and practical wisdom.

Meryl and Jessica unpack the hidden barriers facing Black families seeking an Alzheimer's diagnosis, the toll caregiving takes on career ambitions and financial security, and why the people who show up at diagnosis often disappear years down the road.

This is conversation for anyone who has ever had to choose between their dreams and their family.

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Alzheimer's disease is no longer just a memory problem — it's a biological, cultural, and ethical challenge reshaping how we think about aging, identity, and medicine. In this episode of Brainstorm by UsAgainstAlzheimers, host Meryl Comer sits down with Dr. Jason Karlawish, professor of medicine, medical ethics, health policy, and neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. They explore how Alzheimer's evolved from a rare condition into a full-blown public health crisis. Dr. Karlawish unpacks the science behind biomarker testing and early detection, the promise and complexity of new anti-amyloid treatments, and why so many physicians remain reluctant to diagnose cognitive decline at all. From health equity gaps that leave Latino and African American patients chronically underserved, to the ethical weight of disclosing an Alzheimer's diagnosis to someone still in the middle of their career, Dr. Karlawish brings both scientific precision and moral seriousness to one of medicine's most urgent conversations. It's a candid, wide-ranging discussion about what it truly means to confront a disease that strikes at the heart of who we are. You don’t want to miss this episode!

Produced by Susan Quirk

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In honor of Black History Month, this episode of BrainStorm by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s explores the critical intersection of Alzheimer's disease and health equity in African-American communities. Host Meryl Comer talks with Daphne Delgado, Vice President for Health Equity at UsAgainstAlzheimer's, and Dr. Charlene Whitaker-Brown, a clinical nursing professor and 2022 Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship graduate. They discuss the stark disparities facing Black Americans—who are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's yet 35% less likely to receive timely diagnosis. Dr. Whitaker-Brown shares her powerful journey from experienced nurse to full-time caregiver, and how the fellowship transformed her ability to serve her community through culturally tailored outreach in churches, workshops, and community centers. The conversation emphasizes the vital role nurses play as trusted frontline educators in promoting brain health, addressing stigma, and connecting families to essential resources. This is a must listen episode!

Produced by Susan Quirk

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