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Spotlighting Early-Onset Alzheimer's: Patients & Caregivers

A photo of two people leaning together, with the older of the two holding an artificial spinning flower.
Erin Smith, Courtesy
Erin Smith and her mother, Pam Smith, at the Shelburne Alzheimer's walk.

Live call in show: Millions of Americans — and about 13,000 Vermonters — suffer from Alzheimer’s. It’s a progressive disease that destroys memory and other mental functions. It changes the lives not just of the people afflicted, but their family members as well. You might have a parent or grandparent with it. Or, perhaps, you’ve been diagnosed yourself.

This hour, we look a specific part of the Alzheimer’s experience — when younger people are diagnosed with what’s often thought of as an older person’s disease. We talk with a Vermonter who has early-onset, also known as younger-onset, Alzheimer’s about her diagnosis and her daughter who takes care of her. We also explore the barriers to receiving financial support for care, and learn how Vermonters with younger-onset Alzheimer’s are trying to connect with one another.

Broadcast live on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

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Mikaela Lefrak is the host and senior producer of Vermont Edition. Her stories have aired nationally on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Marketplace, The World and Here & Now. A seasoned local reporter, Mikaela has won two regional Edward R. Murrow awards and a Public Media Journalists Association award for her work.
Lydia worked for Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS from 2019 until 2022.