Alzheimer’s Disease: Research, Prevention, and Living with the Ailment

Alzheimer’s Disease effects five million people in the U.S. and as baby boomers age that number is expected to grow. But so far there’s been little success in treating the disease and slowing its debilitating progress. Now though, researchers are taking a different approach and looking at prevention. With the help of a $33 million grant by the Federal Government, neuroscientists will test a drug on at-risk populations before they get Alzheimer’s. This hour we look at where we stand in the battle against this devastating disease. We’ll also talk about the challenges of living with Alzheimer’s and caring for someone with the disease. Guest host Tracey Matisak talks with JASON KARLAWISH, an Alzheimer researcher and Professor of Medicine, Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and LAURA GITLIN, Director of the Center for Innovative Care in Aging at Johns Hopkins University.