Radio Curious visits with clinical psychiatrist, Dr. Betty J. Lacy, whose focus is the prevention, care and treatment of dementia, including Alzheimerâs disease. She discusses the latest science, the importance of genetic testing and preventions, in part one of a two part program.
Barry Vogel, attorney and counselor, is the host and creator of Radio Curious. Christina Aanestad is the assistant producer.
In our continuing series on dementia we visit with Dr. Betty J. Lacy, clinical psychiatrist, based in Ukiah, California, whose focus is the prevention, care and treatment of dementia, including Alzheimerâs disease. This chronic neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and worsens over time is the cause of 60% to 70% of cases of dementia.
Dr. Lacy tells the story about Alois Alheimers, a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist. Heâs credited with identifying the first published case of "presenile dementia", which would later be identified as Alzheimer's disease.
In this the first of two visits with Dr. Lacy, she shares the emotional impact of the personal experiences of her parents, both of whom suffer from Alzheimerâs disease. She and her two siblings each carry the gene called APOE4, which increases a personâs susceptibility to this disease. She also explains the benefits of being tested and identifies specific ways to retard and possibly prevent the onset of Alzheimerâs.
When Betty Lacy visited Radio Curious on July 7, 2017, we began with her description of her parentsâ conditions and their states of mind.
In part two, Dr. Lacy discusses how to deal with this disease, and provides suggestions for family and friends of a person who suffers from Alzheimerâs.
The book Betty Lacy recommends is âHe Wanted the Moon:Â The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughterâs Quest to Know Him,â by Mimi Baird and Eve Claxton.Â
Radio Curious is a half-hour, weekly, long-form interview program, now in its 27th year. We interview people on a curiously wide variety of topics about life and ideas. Our website is www.radiocurious.org. If your station airs Radio Curious please let us know curious@radiocurious.org, we will add you to our list of syndicate stations. We also welcome questions, feedback and program ideas. Radio Curious 280 N. Oak St. Ukiah, Ca 95482. (707) 462-6541.
Alzheimer's Disease: A Psychiatrist's Personal Perspective -- Part One
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