Living With Dementia: Real Stories, Early Signs, and Getting the Right Diagnosis

Dementia doesn’t show up with a warning label, and it definitely doesn’t erase the person sitting right in front of you. We’re back in Detroit to hear directly from people living with dementia and the care partners walking beside them and the honesty is refreshing, specific, and sometimes even funny in the middle of the hard stuff.First, we talk with Dick and John (with Gerry bringing the real talk as a spouse and support system) about what made them finally say, “Something isn’t quite right.” They describe early signs like repeating themselves, word-finding issues, speech clarity problems, and the tension those changes can create at home. Then we dig into what happened after diagnosis: the relief of naming the problem, the power of telling family instead of keeping secrets, and how early testing can open doors to planning and medical options.We also get into Alzheimer’s treatment realities, including infusion therapy and what it feels like to pursue treatment with a trusted care team. Just as important, we unpack why some people with dementia symptoms won’t qualify for Alzheimer’s infusions if the biomarkers aren’t there, and what it’s like to keep searching for answers. Then members of the National Council of Dementia Minds join virtually to share a wider view: executive function decline at work, REM sleep behavior disorder, getting lost close to home, misdiagnoses, and the exhausting maze of specialists and tests.You’ll leave with practical strategies that actually help: whiteboards, calendars, lists, timers, note-taking, safety planning around driving, and staying social so life stays bigger than the diagnosis. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone who’s worried about cognitive changes, and leave a review so more families can find it.Many thanks to Council of Dementia Minds and Wayne State University. For more information, visit: https://agreed.wayne.edu/community-impactExecutive Producer/Host: J Smiles ComedyProducer: Mia HallVideographer/Editor: Annelise UdoyeSupport the show"Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!"IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingupFB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingupYT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingupTEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi!Be sure to leave us a review!