Ep 113: Brain Health Journey: Empowering Patients and Providers in Alzheimer's Care

BrainStorm wants to hear from you! Send us a text.In this episode of BrainStorm, host Meryl Comer leads part 2 in a series on UsAgainstAlzheimer's newly released Brain Health Journey resources. The discussion with Dr. Diana Summanwar, a practicing family physician and implementation scientist, and Chris Miller, project manager for UsAgainstAlzheimer's Brain Health Journey, centers on the challenges facing primary care physicians in detecting and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease early. Chris Miller describes the core problem: there is no clear pathway for patients or care partners to navigate brain health concerns, and primary care physicians are often under-resourced to detect mild cognitive impairment, while specialists face overwhelming wait times of up to a year. Dr. Summanwar speaks to the realities of physician burnout and the growing demands placed on primary care. The conversation explores how a new suite of tools aims to bridge the gap between patient concern and accurate Alzheimer's diagnosis.The episode touches on practical tips for families preparing for a doctor's appointment and the complexity of mixed dementias. This episode is for anyone concerned about their brain health, or the brain health of a loved on. Brain Health Journey resources are available at mybrainguide.org/journey.Support the show