『Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s & Caregivers』のカバーアート

Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s & Caregivers

Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s & Caregivers

著者： Podcast Playground
無料で聴く

Navigating the insidious illness of Alzheimer’s is something nobody asks for. The disease sneaks up on you and your loved one, and it feels like you’ve been sucker-punched in the gut when you get the diagnosis from a doctor. So many things race through your mind: why us? What do we do? We worked so hard to get to this point in life. We just moved here after we both worked for 30 years, sold our house up North, and retired to Florida to enjoy our “golden years”. It’s not fair! Who’s going to take care of her/him? I don’t know a thing about this illness. She’s always done the cooking; I don’t even know how to boil water. He's always taken care of me and everything else, like Finances. I don’t even drive! And it goes on and on. Facing this disease will bring you to your knees. Once you get over the initial shock (GUT PUNCHED), the questions and fears take hold. Where do we turn for help? Who do I call? What do I do? How do you take care of someone with Alzheimer's? Are there support groups? And questions like these keep coming. I am a caregiver. I wasn’t before. Well, not this kind of caregiver. My wife was officially diagnosed in January of 2018. I had a sneaking suspicion that she might have something like this about 2 years earlier. So, when I brought it to my Neurologist, he sent us to a very nice Psychologist who specializes in testing patients to determine more accurately what is going on. It was a question-and-answer session, followed by a very detailed testing procedure that usually takes three or more hours. The patient must complete the test, which comprises questions, simple actions, and memory tests.

Then give them a couple of numbers or words, and move on, returning to the numbers or words a short time later. So, moving forward, I asked the same questions mentioned earlier. What are my options? So I “sucked it up”-Manned up, so to speak. It's part of the deal for better or worse, right? So began my quest for information on support groups, doctors, and anything I could get my hands on. It's been 6 years, and I am still looking for anything that will help me crawl along this uncharted path to enlightenment. I was very fortunate to live in a city with numerous resources to draw on.

Most importantly, it's a place named after someone who suffered from Alzheimer’s. His wife provided the money to start the Alvin Dubin Center: The Dubin Center for short. Their mission is to achieve caregiver health, strength, and resilience by providing education, information, hope, and compassion. And boy do they. I leaned on them for everything I could find. Took all kinds of classes to learn what I needed to do to be the caregiver I have to be. Their caregiver class took about 6 weeks. The material we learned from and the instructors were top-notch. I still go back to the notes I took and the books we used, both as a refresher and for inspiration. Hopefully, wherever you are listening to this, there will be a place like the Dubin Center. If not, don’t despair. The info is out there. That’s what this podcast is about. We want to share our resources, our experiences, our heartbreak, and our little victories. From time to time, we’d like to bring in Physicians, Nurses, Experts, and people like you and me who are going through this disease with our loved ones, willing to share their journeys. The first thing that really stuck with me, and hopefully it will be with you. If you are a caregiver, you must first take care of yourself. Because this is not a sprint, but a marathon, and if you are run down, get sick, or worse.... Who’s going to take care of your spouse, mother, father, or child? Think about that for a few seconds. It’s you, the Caregiver. It’s me, the Caregiver. That’s why we’re here. Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s & Caregivers! Thanks for joining us...now let's get going.

 心理学 心理学・心の健康 衛生・健康的な生活
エピソード
  • Gut Punched: EP 111 - Understanding the Gut-Brain Connection with Dr. Rie Aihara

    Gut Punched: EP 111 - Understanding the Gut-Brain Connection with Dr. Rie Aihara
    2026/07/06

    In Episode 111 of Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, host Jeff Edwards welcomes Dr. Rie Aihara from Revitalize for an eye-opening conversation about one of today's fastest-growing areas of Alzheimer's research, the gut-brain connection.

    Researchers are discovering that the trillions of bacteria living inside our digestive system, known as the microbiome, may play a much bigger role in overall brain health than anyone once imagined. We'll explore how an unhealthy gut can contribute to chronic inflammation throughout the body, why inflammation has become an important focus in Alzheimer's research, and how your digestive health may influence what happens in your brain.

    Does eating junk food cause Alzheimer's? No, but the foods we eat, the balance of healthy bacteria in our gut, and our overall lifestyle may all play important roles in maintaining brain health.

    Dr. Aihara explains the science in an easy-to-understand way while offering practical tips that caregivers and families can begin using today to support better gut health.

    Also in this episode:

    • Dr. John Huffaker returns with another edition of What's New with Alzheimer's.

    • We answer a listener question about managing agitation in Alzheimer's patients.

    • We begin sharing information about the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's and how you can become involved in your community.

    Whether you're caring for someone with Alzheimer's, interested in protecting your own brain health, or simply curious about the latest research, this conversation offers hope, practical advice, and a fascinating look at where Alzheimer's science is headed.

    Hashtags

    #GutPunchedPodcast #Alzheimers #Caregiver #Caregiving #GutBrainConnection #Microbiome #BrainHealth #Inflammation #Dementia #HealthyLiving #AlzheimersResearch #WalkToEndAlzheimers #HealthPodcast #FamilyCaregiver #HopeWithoutHype

    Available on The Podcast Playground: Apple, Spotify, Pandora, PodBean, iHeart, YouTube, and GUTPUNCHED.COM
    続きを読む 一部表示
    47 分
  • Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers EP 110 - Hope Without Hype

    Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers EP 110 - Hope Without Hype
    2026/06/29

    In Episode 110 of Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, host Jeff Edwards takes a closer look at one of the most important questions facing caregivers today:

    What Alzheimer's research is actually helping patients, and what may be getting oversold?

    With new studies, treatments, and headlines appearing almost daily, it can be difficult to separate genuine progress from unrealistic promises. Jeff explores the concept of "Hope Without Hype," using information gathered via AI tools such as ChatGPT and Grok as a starting point to discuss current Alzheimer's research and emerging treatment options.

    You'll also hear about a promising new copper-based drug that researchers believe may help remove toxic proteins and plaques from the brain by activating the brain's own immune cells, called microglia.

    Plus:

    • The Five Caregiver Rules that have become the foundation of GutPunched
    • Why caregiver support groups remain one of the most valuable resources available
    • An update from Dr. John Huffaker in "What's New With Alzheimer's"
    • A listener question about Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), a rare form of Alzheimer's disease that affects visual processing and perception

    As always, this episode offers practical information, encouragement, and real-world guidance for caregivers navigating one of life's most difficult journeys.

    Remember: We're all in the same river, but we're not all in the same boat.

    #Hashtags

    #GutPunchedPodcast #Alzheimers #Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #AlzheimersResearch #HopeWithoutHype #DementiaCare #FamilyCaregivers #BrainHealth #PosteriorCorticalAtrophy #MemoryLoss #DrJohnHuffaker #AlzheimersAwareness #CaregiverLife #Podcast

    Available on The Podcast Playground: Apple, Spotify, Pandora, PodBean, iHeart, YouTube, and GUTPUNCHED.COM
    続きを読む 一部表示
    29 分
  • Gut Punched: EP 109 - Early Detection, Brain Health & The Power of Support

    Gut Punched: EP 109 - Early Detection, Brain Health & The Power of Support
    2026/06/22

    In this episode, host Jeff Edwards reminds us of one of the most important caregiving lessons: you can't do this alone. Whether in-person or online, caregiver support groups can provide encouragement, education, and a sense of community during one of life's most challenging journeys.

    This week, we explore exciting developments in Alzheimer's research, including a simple blood test that may help detect and stage the disease earlier than ever.

    We'll also discuss common habits that may be harming your brain health without you even realizing it, and what you can do to protect your cognitive future.

    Plus, Dr. John Huffaker returns for another edition of "What's New with Alzheimer's," answering a listener's question about mini-strokes and their relationship to Alzheimer's disease.

    Jeff also shares updates on:

    • The upcoming 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's events

    • The continuing development of the original caregiver anthem, "GutPunched: I Still Choose You"

    • And a reminder of the Five Caregiver Tenets that form the foundation of the GutPunched community.

    Whether you're caring for a spouse, parent, family member, or friend, this episode offers practical information, encouragement, and hope for the caregiving journey.

    Because caregivers need support, too.

    GutPunchedPodcast #Alzheimers #CaregiverSupport #Caregiving #DementiaCare #BrainHealth #MemoryLoss #AlzheimersAwareness #FamilyCaregiver #CaregiverLife #DrJohnHuffaker #WalkToEndAlzheimers #HopeForAlzheimers #CognitiveHealth #Podcast

    Available on The Podcast Playground: Apple, Spotify, Pandora, PodBean, iHeart, YouTube, and GUTPUNCHED.COM
    続きを読む 一部表示
    25 分
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
まだレビューはありません