Hacking a Path Through Alzheimer’s: Phyllis Ferrell on Early Detection and Brain Health

What happens when your professional mission and your deepest personal loss become the same thing? Phyllis Barkman Ferrell — former Eli Lilly executive, global health architect, and relentless Alzheimer’s advocate — knows firsthand. Six months after taking over Lilly’s Alzheimer’s disease portfolio in 2011, her father was diagnosed. Eighteen months later, her father-in-law was too. That loss became the fuel for a 30-year career and, ultimately, the reason she walked away from a major drug launch to go fix a broken system.In this episode, Phyllis breaks down the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, explains why amyloid plaque builds up 10–20 years before symptoms appear, and shares the science-backed steps — sleep, diet, exercise, social connection — that can prevent up to 42% of dementias. She also talks about building the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative from a blank sheet of paper, launching the StartUp Health Alzheimer’s Moonshot, and why one drug will never be the silver bullet. Plus: does Wordle actually help your brain? She answers that too.In This EpisodeAlzheimer’s vs. dementia — and why getting the language right mattersThe 10–20 year preclinical window and the PET scan breakthrough that changed everythingWhy only 50% of people with Alzheimer’s ever get a diagnosisBuilding the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative across 80 sites in 19 countriesThe Alzheimer’s Moonshot: 50+ startups racing to solve the puzzle togetherThe 2024 Lancet Commission’s brain health protocol — and why sleep is the most underrated interventionJames Keach, Earth Wind & Fire, and the podcast about poisoners with cocktail recipesShow LinksPhyllis Barkman Ferrell on LinkedInDavos Alzheimer’s CollaborativeStartUp Health Alzheimer’s MoonshotAlzheimer’s Association — Find Your Local ChapterI’ll Be Me — Glenn Campbell Alzheimer’s Documentary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.