In this episode of the award-winning Caregiver SOS On Air podcast, hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial sit down with board-certified geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Weiss to tackle one of the most challenging chapters in caregiving: identifying and managing early-onset dementia.

Dr. Weiss shares his unique perspective—shaped by both 44 years of psychiatric practice and his own deeply personal family history with Alzheimer’s disease. Together, the panel explores how early-onset conditions alter family dynamics, why behavior shifts are often misdiagnosed, and how modern medicine is finally shifting from a state of demoralization to a new era of hope. Plus, stick around until the end of the episode as Dr. Weiss introduces a brief but powerful look into another growing health crisis for older adults: the physical toll of loneliness.

Key Topics Covered

• Understanding Early-Onset & Rare Dementias: Dr. Weiss breaks down why early-onset dementia (occurring in a person's 40s or 50s) is uniquely difficult for families. He highlights frontotemporal dementia, explaining how it presents not with memory loss, but with dramatic, sudden behavioral changes.

• The Evolution of Diagnosis: Discover how the medical field has evolved from invasive brain biopsies and spinal taps to modern, highly specific blood-based biomarkers that can identify Alzheimer’s disease early.

• "When the Disease Talks": Carol and Dr. Weiss discuss the vital mindset shift caregivers must make: recognizing that aggressive or uncharacteristic behaviors are a physical symptom of a neurodegenerative illness, not intentional actions.

• The Medical Toll of Loneliness: In a striking closing segment, the discussion turns to the isolation epidemic, highlighting research that equates the physical impact of chronic loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Key Takeaways for Caregivers

• Take Your Own Pulse First: Borrowing a medical aphorism, Dr. Weiss reminds caregivers that the first rule of managing an emotional or tense situation with a loved one is to keep calm and manage your own emotions first.

• Pivot to Positive Prompts: When met with resistance (such as a loved one refusing a bath or medication), avoid sharp words. Instead, lead with a compliment, use gentle physical prompts, or lean into music and aromatherapy.

• Accept the Present Reality: One of the hardest parts of caregiving is letting go of past expectations and accepting your loved one exactly as they are right now, rather than fighting the reality of the disease.

• Lean on Community Support: Don't be a "Lone Ranger." Lean on organizations like the Alzheimer's Association to find support groups where you can brainstorm solutions with peers who truly understand the journey.

About Dr. Weiss

Dr Thomas Weiss is a geriatric psychiatrist in solo private practice. He is a graduate of the USAF Academy, UTHSCSA Medical School and completed a fellowship in consultation psychiatry at MGH/Harvard. He is board-certified in four specialties: adult, geriatric, addiction, and consultation psychiatry.

Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

Caregiver SOS On Air is a presentation of the WellMed Charitable Foundation. For more resources, tips, and past episodes, visit caregiversos.org or email your questions to radio@wellmed.net.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it possible to not just slow down, but actually reverse advanced Alzheimer’s disease? In this groundbreaking episode of Caregiver SOS On Air, co-hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial sit down with two visionary researchers from Case Western Reserve University who are challenging decades of medical dogma.

Dr. Andrew Pieper, a board-certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist, alongside postdoctoral researcher Dr. Kalyana Chauvi, share the astonishing results of their latest study. Traditionally, Alzheimer’s has been viewed as a chronic, strictly irreversible condition. However, using a class of neuroprotective compounds known as P7C3, their lab has demonstrated that symptomatic, cognitively impaired mice can actually recover their function and clear out brain pathology.

Tune in to discover how targeting cellular energy could completely change the future of dementia care and provide long-awaited hope to millions of families and caregivers worldwide.

Key Takeaways & Highlights

• Shifting the Dogma: For decades, the scientific community believed the best we could hope for was slowing down Alzheimer's progression. This new research proves that the brain is dynamically capable of recovering from advanced neurodegenerative states—even after some cell death has occurred.

• The Power of Cellular Energy: Instead of focusing purely on traditional amyloid plaques and tangles, the P7C3 compound targets the mitochondria. By restoring the brain’s energy levels, the brain is equipped to fight off damage, repair itself, and restore lost memory and learning capabilities.

• The "Aha" Moment: Dr. Chauvi describes the thrilling moment she witnessed advanced, symptomatic mice successfully navigate the Morris Water Maze test after treatment, behaving just like mice that never had the disease.

• Looking to the Future: Learn about the next steps for this research, including the formation of Glengarry Brain Health and the timeline for moving these life-changing discoveries into Phase 1 human clinical safety trials.

About Dr. Pieper

Andrew A. Pieper, MD, PhD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist whose work sits at the intersection of clinical medicine and translational neuroscience. Dr. Pieper earned his MD and PhD degrees from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where his doctoral work in neuroscience under Solomon H. Snyder focused on mechanisms of cell death.

He holds the Rebecca E. Barchas University Professorship in Translational Psychiatry and the University Hospitals Morley-Mather Chair of Neuropsychiatry at Case Western Reserve University, where he also directs the Center for Brain Health Medicines at the Harrington Discovery Institute. His laboratory is best known for pioneering the discovery and development of the P7C3 class of neuroprotective compounds. These energy stabilizing molecules have demonstrated the capacity to prevent pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease in preclinical models and to restore brain resilience such that pathology is reversed and cognitive function is recovered even with advanced neurodegenerative disease.

About Dr. Chaubey

Dr. Kalyani Chaubey, PhD, completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, followed by a PhD in Neurotoxicology in India, with her PhD focused on the impact of organophosphorus toxins on the brain.

She joined the Pieper lab for her postdoctoral work, focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of neurodegeneration, and is currently a Research Scientist in the lab working with Dr. Andrew Pieper. Her most recent discovery is

the phenomenon that restoring and maintaining energy balance in the brain is sufficient to both prevent and reverse Alzheimer’s disease in animal models. This is the first demonstration of the ability to achieve recovery and restore cognitive function in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease has prompted a new way for the field to consider this condition.

Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

Caregiver SOS On Air is a presentation of the WellMed Charitable Foundation. For more resources, tips, and past episodes, visit caregiversos.org or email your questions to radio@wellmed.net.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when a loved one begins showing signs of mental illness? For many families, identifying the warning signs, finding accessible care, and overcoming deep-rooted cultural stigmas can feel like an overwhelming, uphill battle. In this episode of Caregiver SOS On Air, hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial sit down with Maria Honigman (Director of Programs) and Olga Rodriguez (Director of Education) from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Greater San Antonio to discuss how families can navigate these complex emotional and practical challenges.

Drawing from professional expertise and deeply personal "lived experiences," Maria and Olga break down the subtle behavioral shifts caregivers should look out for, the unique stresses of the "sandwich generation," and the vital importance of prioritizing your own mental well-being while supporting someone else. They also highlight NAMI's extensive, completely free educational programs and support groups designed to ensure no caregiver ever has to walk this journey alone.

Key Takeaways & Main Topics

• Recognizing the Warning Signs: Learn how to identify early indicators of mental health struggles, including sudden mood changes, social withdrawal, increased anxiety or sadness, changes in sleep and appetite, and feelings of hopelessness.

• The "Oxygen Mask" Rule of Self-Care: Why taking care of your own mental and physical health isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. The guests share actionable advice on establishing healthy boundaries, managing caregiver guilt, and using simple grounding techniques to recharge.

• The Sandwich Generation Dynamics: An exploration of the unique communication challenges that arise whether you are an adult parent advocating for a child, or an adult child navigating the resistance of a parent experiencing mental health issues.

• Breaking the Stigma in Faith and Culture: A candid conversation on overcoming cultural barriers—such as the Hispanic proverb "la ropa sucia se lava en casa" (don't air dirty laundry)—and how faith communities can safely bridge religious beliefs with professional mental health advocacy.

• Free NAMI Resources Explained: Discover NAMI’s tailored, cost-free educational classes, including Family-to-Family (for relatives of adults), NAMI Basics (for parents of children under 17), and Home Front (for military and veteran families).

Featured Guests

• Maria Honigman – Director of Programs, NAMI Greater San Antonio

• Olga Rodriguez – Director of Education, NAMI Greater San Antonio

To find a free NAMI support group or educational program near you, search for your local NAMI chapter online or visit caregiversos.org.

Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

Caregiver SOS On Air is a presentation of the WellMed Charitable Foundation. For more resources, tips, and past episodes, visit caregiversos.org or email your questions to radio@wellmed.net.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.