All About Alzheimer's Newsletter- Monday 7th July 2024

I’ve just read Bill Gates’ latest insights on Alzheimer’s.

He lost his father five years ago, and described it as “a brutal experience… watching my brilliant, loving father go downhill and disappear.” That line hit me hard.

But what stood out most was his optimism. He says we’re making massive progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

He highlights the work of the Indiana University School of Medicine, where leading-edge neuroscience is pushing boundaries. In the future, automated machines will be running diagnostics around the world.

In fact, just last month, the FDA approved the first blood-based test for Alzheimer’s in people aged 55 and over. Until now, confirming a diagnosis meant having a PET scan or spinal tap – neither easy nor routine. But this new test could change everything. Because the disease begins 15–20 years before symptoms appear, a simple blood test could make early detection part of a standard health check-up.

That raises the big question: What’s the point of getting diagnosed early if there’s nothing you can do about it?

Turns out, there is something. The FDA has already approved two drugs that can modestly slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. And even more promising, there are Phase 3 clinical trials underway to see how these drugs work in people who don’t yet show symptoms. Results are expected in 2026, and they could be game-changing.

Gates is clearly committed to this cause. He’s behind projects like the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative and the Global Research and Imaging Platform, which make it easier for researchers and data scientists to work together. He’s also supported the Diagnostic Accelerator, helping to fund new ways to detect Alzheimer’s earlier and more accurately.

All of this adds up to something he said that really stuck with me:
“We are closer than ever before to a world where no one has to watch someone they love suffer from this awful disease.”

And honestly, I believe him.

Every week, we hear powerful, honest, and deeply moving insights from caregivers like you- and we don’t want them to sit unseen.

Thank you for sharing this. I can feel the pain and exhaustion in your words, and I want you to know that you’re not alone.

What you’ve described is, sadly, something I’ve heard many times over the years. It’s one of the hardest parts of dementia and cognitive decline, not just the memory issues, but the changes in personality and behaviour that feel so unfamiliar, even shocking, when they come from someone you’ve loved for decades.

That moment when the person standing in front of you no longer feels like the partner you fell in love with it’s heartbreaking.

And when their response to help is anger, resistance, or even childlike sulking, it can feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells, all while trying to keep them (and yourself) safe.

This isn't a failure on your part. What you’re seeing may be a result of changes happening in the brain, and when someone lacks insight into those changes (a condition called anosognosia), they genuinely can’t see that something is wrong.

To them, your concern feels like criticism. And I know how much that hurts, especially when all you're trying to do is help.

There are ways we can make things a little easier, small changes to routine, safer kitchen options, different ways of framing support that don’t feel like correction or confrontation. Don’t try to fix everything overnight, but find manageable, respectful ways forward that protect both of you.

Please don’t struggle through this alone. Support is out there, and you deserve just as much care as the person you’re caring for. You’re doing far more than most people ever see, and you’re doing it out of love, even when it’s really, really tough.

Warmly,
Harvey

If something’s been on your heart lately, let us know. We read every word. Your voice could offer comfort to someone else navigating the same journey.