WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:06.240 It's Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm WBS Boston's. 2 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:10.080 News radio Nicole. Who is this Taylor Swift person you're 3 00:00:10.119 --> 00:00:15.240 talking about. Hi, good evening, everybody. Welcome on any and 4 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:17.320 there for the football game or what are you there for? 5 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:19.480 I don't know. I don't know. I'm not watching a 6 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:21.519 football game, that's for sure. I'm doing the show. My 7 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:23.679 name is Dan Ray, and we are here every Monday 8 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:27.199 through Friday night from eight until midnight. We start off 9 00:00:27.239 --> 00:00:31.079 the first hour talking with four guests. They're all newsmakers 10 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:35.240 of some sort. Some of them are breaking newsmakers, others 11 00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:39.640 are topics that provide very important information. My most important 12 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:43.000 information tonight, besides telling you my name is Dan Ray. 13 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:44.920 I'm the host of Nice Side with Dan Ray as 14 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:48.320 we work our way through year number eighteen here in WBZ, 15 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:51.759 Boston's news radio. But Rob Brooks, our producer, is back. 16 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:54.920 We had some nice work last week by Dan and 17 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.960 Noah who were in the booth, and Rob is always 18 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:01.920 welcome back, Rob, We always mischief. Dan and Noah did 19 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:04.920 a nice job throughout the week. Allow you the well 20 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:08.640 deserved vacation week. Rob is a big Halloween guy. In 21 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:10.719 case you haven't figured this out and that becomes sort 22 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:13.640 of his holiday week every year. You know it's going 23 00:01:13.719 --> 00:01:15.920 to be Halloween. So let us start off with our 24 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:18.560 guests tonight. Later on tonight, we're gonna talk a lot 25 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:21.840 of politics. Obviously, this is election eve, there's no question 26 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:24.560 about that. We'll be talking the first hour about the 27 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:28.799 Massachusetts ballid questions. We may hear from you on one 28 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:32.439 if you're particularly interested in one that you particularly support 29 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:34.439 or oppose. And then a little bit later on we'll 30 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:37.400 get into maybe some predictions. Maybe we'll ask some people 31 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:39.319 to tell us what the magic number will be in 32 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:42.560 which candidate will get to seventy or more. We'll explain 33 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:44.680 all of that. We have lots to talk about, and 34 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:46.879 of course tomorrow night we will have some great programming 35 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:49.239 here during nightside. We're going to be joined by the 36 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:52.799 news team. We're going to be joined by national reporters. 37 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:55.599 I've lined up some special guests, so we got lots 38 00:01:55.640 --> 00:02:01.000 going on. But first off, let's welcome doctor Janet Chortz. 39 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:05.439 Doctor Kortz, you are a psychologist who specializes in treating 40 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:09.599 patients in high pressure careers, and you're also founder of 41 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:15.840 the Boston Psychiatry Practice ASIMA welcome to Nightside. First of all, 42 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:16.479 how are you tonight? 43 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:18.639 I'm doing well. How are you? 44 00:02:19.639 --> 00:02:23.599 I'm doing great. I'm doing great at least it's but 45 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:25.919 it's early, it's only Monday. Let's let's look at it 46 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:30.759 like that, right. Tell us about Asimuth Psychological, which I 47 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:33.719 guess is your practice or you're with a group at 48 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:35.719 that at that practice. 49 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:38.800 Yeah, yes, I'm the founder of the practice and it's 50 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:41.199 a group of psychologists and we help people in high 51 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:44.599 pressure careers. So we're pretty familiar with the nuances of 52 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:46.960 a lot of different domains of a lot of high 53 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:51.599 pressure careers. You know, law, finance, consulting, certainly those are 54 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:58.240 heavy ones, but academ you a startups, biotech show hosts, 55 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:02.879 taka well, entertainment is another industry we actually see quite 56 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:06.360 a few people, and so we are able to sort 57 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:09.400 of help people navigate the nuances and stresses of those things. 58 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:11.520 But often that's about a lot of other things. So 59 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:14.919 we're also able to help with us step underneath as well. 60 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:19.919 Okay, so the subtopic is here the physical risks of 61 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:24.000 the always overachieving work life and how to avoid them. 62 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:26.879 So there are a lot of people who take their 63 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:29.759 jobs very seriously. I'm sure that you take your job 64 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:34.240 very seriously. How do you know when you have gone 65 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:37.639 over the edge and all of a sudden your job 66 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:40.960 is interfering with the rest of your life. It has 67 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:43.840 to interact with the rest of your life. At what 68 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:49.759 point do you cross that rubicon from acting and interacting 69 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:51.680 with to interfering. 70 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:56.080 Yeah, So we talk a lot about career enveashment, which 71 00:03:56.120 --> 00:03:59.159 is when people's whole identity becomes wrapped up in their 72 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:02.800 career and so they don't really have anything else. And 73 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:04.879 so the way in which we sort of have people 74 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:08.560 self identify that is by three main questions. One is, 75 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:11.759 if you go to a party or you know, meet 76 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:14.560 some friends with friends, or really go anywhere social and 77 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:17.839 people are introducing each other, what do you say about 78 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:20.000 yourself if someone asks about you? Can you come up 79 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.279 with anything that's not about your job? So that's a 80 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:27.199 big one that we talk about. Another one is how 81 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:30.279 would you feel if you lost your job today? Because 82 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:32.279 you know, a lot of times people go the way 83 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:35.360 people arrived us is their company is acquired, or they've 84 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:37.120 missed a promotion or something like that, and they no 85 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:40.199 longer have this job that they've so heavily relied on, 86 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:43.079 and so then they sort of fall apart because their 87 00:04:43.079 --> 00:04:48.279 whole identity is now in question. That's another one. How 88 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:50.439 do you spend your time when you're not really supposed, 89 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:52.279 you know, when you don't have to be working. Because 90 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:55.639 even people in high pressure careers are over two years 91 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:59.480 as you call them, there's always time in someone's day 92 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:02.240 when one does not have to be working. And so 93 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:05.040 what is happening during that time? Are people choosing to work, 94 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:07.279 do they feel compelled to work, do they like to work? 95 00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:09.639 And what's going on in that time? Is there anything 96 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:12.360 else that people are doing to spend their time. So 97 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:14.160 those are kind of the three main ways we sort 98 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:15.519 of enter into that conversation. 99 00:05:16.279 --> 00:05:18.839 Okay, now, if you talk about, for example, the people 100 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:24.600 that we know about, let's say, the successful football coaches, 101 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:30.560 the Bill Belichicks of the world. They obviously Belichick was 102 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:34.279 known for showing up at work, the first guy there 103 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:37.279 and the last guy out of the room. Dustin Pedroia 104 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:39.240 when he played for the Red Sox, he was always 105 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:41.199 the first guy in the locker room and the last 106 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:44.399 to leave. And a lot of that is the commitment 107 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:48.240 that people have to excellence. So how do you distinguish 108 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:53.920 between someone who has a commitment to excellence an an 109 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:58.000 overachiever who has gone too far? How do you draw 110 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:00.720 that line? I mean, there's a lot of people, as 111 00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:02.839 you know, who go to work, they work their eight hours, 112 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:08.120 they go home and that's it. They really turn it off. 113 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:12.120 That's one extreme, or people who have never worked could 114 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:14.160 be in one extreme, and then you have the over 115 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:18.800 achievers on the other. Look, you look at the job 116 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:22.680 of you know that will be contested tomorrow, the President 117 00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:25.879 of the United States twenty four seven, the toughest job 118 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:30.759 in the world. Yeah, I mean, don't we as Americans 119 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:34.879 always aspire to doing the best job we can, whether 120 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:39.879 we're an auto mechanic or Taylor Swift for example. 121 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:44.879 Well, you're talking about specific roles and jobs that are 122 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:48.079 sort of unique and one off, if you will. You know, 123 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:50.560 there aren't that many professional athletes, there aren't that many 124 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:53.519 football coaches. There's only one president, and so there are 125 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:56.399 certain jobs that require a lot more o. 126 00:06:56.439 --> 00:07:01.560 The lawyers you taught you mentioned lawyers, Sure, so doctors 127 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:05.279 in that situation that you always cat continuing education and 128 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:07.560 all of that. I'm sure you know of what. 129 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:10.959 I speak well, right, So The second part of what 130 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:14.199 I was going to say is that commitment to excellence 131 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:18.399 does not necessarily it does not equal more time. That 132 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:21.079 those two things are not always the same. So just 133 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:23.519 because you want to be excellent at your job does 134 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:25.959 not mean to spend twenty four hours day doing your job. 135 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:29.399 Those things don't necessarily go together, and in fact, oftentimes 136 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.600 they do not go together, because most people don't function 137 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:35.439 their best when all they're doing is one thing, especially 138 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:38.319 if that thing is extremely stressful, because aside from psychological 139 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:41.839 impacts that we know about, you know, the physical impacts 140 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:44.399 of chronic stress are well documented as well, and so 141 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:47.279 people literally fall apart from the inside out when they 142 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:50.079 work that hard that often. And so. 143 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:53.600 I started, I didn't mean to go ahead, you were 144 00:07:53.639 --> 00:07:54.040 completing No. 145 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:56.079 No, no, that's okay, go ahead, no. No. 146 00:07:57.160 --> 00:08:00.199 What I was trying to get at was I think 147 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:04.240 you've provided with us with a lot of good information 148 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:08.240 and something to think about. I'm wondering if there's a 149 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:11.040 website because a lot of people who listen to our 150 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:15.240 interviews here, which in some cases should be longer, and 151 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:17.600 maybe we'll have you back if you'd be willing to 152 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:20.639 do an hour with phone calls. This is an hour 153 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:23.759 which is for interviews, so I don't get the interaction 154 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:27.639 of my audience, which I like to do in some 155 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:31.560 with some topics including this, is there a website you 156 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:34.360 can refer people too where they could kind of follow 157 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:38.240 up on their own tomorrow or a book that you 158 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.919 that you'd suggest that people might want to also avail 159 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:42.720 themselves off. 160 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:46.840 Well, if you're interested in our website, I picked the 161 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.159 world's most difficult name of a company to spell out, 162 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.799 but as mepsyche dot com, so it's easy. I m 163 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:58.039 U t hpsych dot com. That's where all of our 164 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:02.279 central hubs. You'll find all of our clinicians, things we've written, 165 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:05.279 all of our media. Also, we have some really great 166 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:08.480 free tools, including a career meshment test, a burnout test, 167 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:10.600 and a values navigator because we do a lot of 168 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:14.120 values based work, so that's a good one. And we 169 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:16.759 have some other things coming out like apps and things 170 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:19.840 coming in the new year. But that's where the most 171 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:23.639 of our central hub of publication is to get to 172 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:28.000 figure out more about what we do and if all 173 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:30.679 of these things might apply to you. There's also some 174 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:33.919 resources there about other places books to read, things like that. 175 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:40.519 So, and asthmuth, what what brought you to that term? 176 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:44.159 I'm looking the definition up at angle between a fixed 177 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:46.519 point and the vertical circle that passes through the center 178 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:51.639 of an object. Well, I can see how you get 179 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:53.000 the site. Trust me on that. 180 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:58.919 Yeah, yeah, yes, So we kind of took a little 181 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:03.039 liberty in in the definition. But basically people often use 182 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:09.080 that mathematical calculation for navigating boats way back when before 183 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:11.440 all the GPS and all ourself ones and such, and 184 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:16.799 so basically that's right. So asthmas is basically the difference 185 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:18.960 between where you are and where you want to be. 186 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:22.120 The difference between those two things is an asthma, and 187 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:24.639 so we're just trying to help people get from where 188 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:26.600 they are to wherever it is they want to be. 189 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:32.840 That's great, doctor Janet Koritz of Asimuth Psychological A z 190 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:37.240 I m U T H psych P s y cch 191 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:40.440 dot com. Thanks so much. I really enjoyed the conversation 192 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:43.559 and it will make me reconsider how hard I'm marking. 193 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:45.559 Thanks so much, doctor, I appreciate it. 194 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:48.200 Right, You're welcome, Thank you very much. 195 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:51.639 November, of course, every month has some causes. In November 196 00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:54.919 is Alzheimer's Awareness Month, and we're going to talk with 197 00:10:55.519 --> 00:11:01.679 doctor Lakelan Ikeenburger. She's a gerontologist and a here giving expert. 198 00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:06.919 Right after the break again, this is the Alzheimer's Awareness Month, 199 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:08.879 and it's something that affects a lot of people and 200 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:12.799 a lot of families. We'll talk with doctor Eikenberger right 201 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:16.679 after this break here on a Monday night edition of Nightside. 202 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:20.080 Now back to Dan Ray Live from the Window World 203 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:23.360 nights Side Studios on WBZ News Radio. 204 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:29.720 November, amongst other things, is Alzheimer's Awareness Month, and we're 205 00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:33.600 going to talk with doctor Lakelan Iickenberger, who's a gerontologist 206 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:37.799 and a caregiving advocate. Doctor Eichenberger, welcome to Nightside. How 207 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:38.080 are you? 208 00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:40.840 By damn well? Thanks? How are you? 209 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:49.360 Which is great? How many people in America are directly 210 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:53.360 impacted by Alzheimer's not talking about familiar relations, but how 211 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:56.840 many individuals have Alzheimer's. 212 00:11:58.279 --> 00:12:02.080 Well, there's nearly six milllion people living with Alzheimer's or 213 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:04.360 another type of dementia here in the US. And you're right, 214 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:08.120 that's not even including family members that are also impacted. 215 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:12.200 Sometimes people say when one person has a diagnosis, the 216 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:16.159 family has a diagnosis because there is a lot that 217 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:20.200 impacts the family as well as the individual. So you know, 218 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.240 six million people living with the disease, and then there's 219 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:25.919 about sixteen million caring for those that are living with 220 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:26.519 the disease. 221 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:31.200 So we talk about Alzheimer's, I assume that under that 222 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:37.240 phrase or that title is dementia. Correct, you know, it's. 223 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:41.200 Actually the reverse. So Alzheimer's is a type of dementia. 224 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.960 So dementia is kind of an umbrella term, and then 225 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:47.080 there's different types, but Alzheimer's is the most common form 226 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:47.720 of dementia. 227 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:54.399 So if Alzheimer's impacts six million individuals out of a 228 00:12:54.440 --> 00:12:57.120 population of three hundred and thirty million people, that's a 229 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:01.559 little less than two percent. How much greater? How bigger 230 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:05.879 is the umbrella dementia? Just so I understand which is bigger? 231 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:09.320 You know, that's a really good question. I think as 232 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:12.919 we're learning more about the various types of dementia, we're 233 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:16.320 realizing that, you know, while there's the six million that 234 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:20.399 are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it likely also includes a lot 235 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:24.120 of the other dementias as well. A lot of people 236 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:27.320 they're living with some sort of cognitive impairment, but maybe 237 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:31.919 aren't getting that official diagnosic, So it is actually kind 238 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:36.159 of hard to pinpoint the exact number, but we are 239 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:40.360 looking in the millions, probably around the six to eight 240 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:41.320 million marks. 241 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:47.240 Is Alzheimer's a spectrum disease? And when I say a 242 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:51.360 spectrum disease, I think of something like multiple sclerosis, where 243 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:54.080 you can have people who get on a scale of 244 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:57.440 zero to ten, they get a ten and it's horrific. 245 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.679 And yet there are people who are diagnosed with multiple 246 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:06.440 sclerosis and they live a fairly normal life. I'm assuming 247 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:11.639 that with Alzheimer's the diagnosis is always progressive. 248 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:16.600 Yes, generally that is the case. So you will see 249 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:22.120 somebody progress through the various stages, and some have more 250 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:27.519 symptoms or dementilated behaviors than others. You know, some might 251 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:31.879 have no still kind of a mild manner about them 252 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:34.519 as they progress to the disease. Others will have a 253 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:39.639 severe change in their personality and perhaps get aggressive or angry. 254 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:44.440 So there are different symptoms that can show up amongst 255 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.600 different individuals. But you're right, it is progressive in nature, 256 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:52.399 meaning that over time the person will eventually experience decline. 257 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:57.240 And because there's no cure, the person will eventually pass 258 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:00.960 away from Alzheimer's disease or complications of Alzheimer's disease. 259 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:05.639 Is there any way to slow down the Has there 260 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:11.279 been any advances in slowing down the progress of Alzheimer's And. 261 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:14.879 That's what's really exciting. I think about this point in 262 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:19.759 time as we're starting to see more treatments for Alzheimer's disease, 263 00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:24.279 and most recently we're seeing treatments for the very early 264 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:29.919 stages of Alzheimer's disease, and certain people would qualify. 265 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:31.159 So you know, if you've. 266 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:35.759 Progressed far enough into the disease and that treatment likely 267 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:37.519 is it right for you? But if you're able to 268 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:40.600 get that diagnosis early on and you're a candidate for 269 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:45.120 that type of treatment, there are some treatments that are 270 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:49.000 showing a slowing in the progression of the disease. So 271 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:52.039 it's really an exciting time now. 272 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:54.240 My understanding is that there was a period of time 273 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:58.799 when Alzheimer's disease could not definitively be diagnosed except in 274 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:02.600 a post modem ought because they were looking for evidence 275 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:05.639 of I believe plaque on the brain, if I'm not mistaken. 276 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:06.720 Has that now changed. 277 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:12.919 You know, we are seeing more sophisticated methods of diagnosis. 278 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:15.519 So you're right, at one point in time, you know, 279 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:19.759 the most definitive way to diagnosis after someone has passed 280 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:22.120 away to you know, open up the brain and examine it. 281 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:27.480 But now there are various diagnostic tools like pet scams 282 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:33.320 that can help really provide a more clear image of 283 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:38.799 the brain and help identify those plaques entangles, amyloid and 284 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:42.200 how in the brains that are kind of the hallmark 285 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:47.879 symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. So we are seeing more sophisticated diagnosis, 286 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:51.080 and I think what's really exciting is and this is 287 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:55.639 not out yet for public use, but researchers are looking 288 00:16:55.720 --> 00:17:00.720 into various blood tests or other biomarkers that could make 289 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:07.160 the diagnostic process, you know, more accessible and just kind 290 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:12.240 of an easier process as opposed to having to travel 291 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:15.359 to where a pet skin is available and that sort 292 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:18.200 of thing. So I think if you if we fast 293 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:20.240 forward five years from now, we'll be having a very 294 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.640 different conversation. I think there will be a lot more 295 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:27.119 in the realm of diagnostics for Alzheimer's and other types 296 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:27.799 of dimensions. 297 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:34.839 What percentage of the Alzheimer's diagnoses are genetic, and are 298 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:40.079 any of the diagnoses non genetic? And of the ones 299 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:45.599 that are not genetic, can they be avoided by diet exercise? 300 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.480 Is that? What can anyone do either who has been told, hey, 301 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:52.720 it runs in your family, or is fearful that, even 302 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.839 though it doesn't run in their family, that they may 303 00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:57.759 feel what can I do to prevent that? Or is 304 00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:02.000 there is there any Is there any magic potion? When 305 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:07.880 I say potion, I better diet, exercise, better sleep patterns? 306 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.319 An yes. 307 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:13.319 So as far as kind of the the risk factors 308 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:15.880 i'll call them of Alzheimer's use, I don't have the 309 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:18.519 exact percentages right in front of me, but we do 310 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:21.880 know the greatest risk factor is age, so as we 311 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:27.599 get older, the risk of developing Alzheimer's for me does increase. 312 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:32.319 We also know that family history can increase your risk, 313 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:35.079 So if it runs in your families, you have a 314 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:39.960 parent or sibling, you could have an increased risk of 315 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.480 Alzheimer's or another type of dementia. There's also a gene, 316 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:48.119 the apo lea four gene that could increase the risk 317 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:52.240 of dementia. But for all of those cases that I've 318 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:55.720 just mentioned, it doesn't ever guarantee that you will get it. 319 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:59.920 It just increases your risk. And then there is a 320 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:03.640 gene that's in a very very small percentage of the 321 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:08.039 population that significantly increases your risk, if not guarantees that 322 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.640 evil develop it. But again it's a very very very 323 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:13.359 small subset of the population. But the good news is, 324 00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:16.400 and you alluded to it, Dan, is lifestyle. There's so 325 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:20.119 much we are learning about how our lifestyle can reduce 326 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:23.480 our risk of developing the mentioned down the road. So 327 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:26.160 even if you do have a family history, even if 328 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:29.240 you do have that equalia for gene, if you start 329 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:34.039 these kind of lifestyle risk reduction habits early on in 330 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:37.759 your life, you can reduce the risk. And it's actually 331 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:41.240 never too late to start these risk reduction habits, things 332 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:45.119 like diet, as you mentioned exercise. Exercise is so good 333 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:49.240 for the brain. Also making sure you're getting enough sleep, 334 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:53.880 that you continue to engage socially and to challenge your 335 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:57.480 brain to learn new things. So those kinds of lifestyle 336 00:19:57.559 --> 00:20:01.440 interventions can again help reduce the risk, which I think 337 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.799 is good news for us all. 338 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:06.440 It's always great to end on a positive and you 339 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:11.799 certainly provided a lot of clear information I just am delighted. 340 00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:18.279 We don't rehearse these interviews. You obviously know exactly how 341 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:21.240 to present yourself. You did a great job, Dr Eichenberger. 342 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:24.000 And maybe some night I can have you back and 343 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:27.119 we can do an hour and take phone calls in 344 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:30.680 this hour of the program. We specifically avoid phone calls 345 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:33.680 because the time for the interviews for separate interviews are 346 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:37.279 relatively short. But I might have my producer reach back 347 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:40.440 if possible. Is there anywhere that you'd like to refer 348 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:44.559 people to a website, a book of any sort that 349 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:48.079 people could use as an additional resource to this interview 350 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:53.720 or to just I guess at Alzheimer's website, Alzheimer's Foundation 351 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:55.000 of America, for example. 352 00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:59.160 Yeah, well, Dan, I would be happy to come back anytime. 353 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:04.160 And there are various Alzheimer's related organizations. The Alzheimer's Association 354 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:07.079 ALV dot org is a great one. And then on 355 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:09.960 our home instead dot com website, we also have some 356 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:15.839 informative resources on kind of those risk reduction lifestyle factors, 357 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:19.559 but also all types of dementia related care tips as well. 358 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:21.279 So you can visit home in said dot com to 359 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:24.160 learn about those. When that went, buy me a little 360 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:28.079 home home what dot com home instead? Like, do you 361 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:30.519 want to stay home instead of going anywhere else? 362 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:33.559 YEP, okay, H O, M E I N S T 363 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:39.119 A D dot com Dotdikenberg really enjoyed the conversation. Tough subject, 364 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:42.319 but I think you've you've made some people think tonight, 365 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.960 which is what we're all about here on Nightside. 366 00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:47.599 Thank you so much, Thank you, very welcome. 367 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:50.039 When we get back, we're going to talk with the 368 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:53.200 CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate. 369 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:56.599 It's located right over by the JFK Library. I'm going 370 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:59.400 to talk with Adam Hines, former state senator here in Massachusetts, 371 00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:02.599 who is the CEO of their effort to educate the 372 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:05.079 public about the important role of the Senate and foster 373 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:09.519 participatory democracy, civil discourse, and good government. Of course, this 374 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:13.200 on the eve of the twenty twenty four presidential election. 375 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:17.079 Timing is perfect. We'll talk with former Massachusetts state Senator 376 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:20.359 Adam Hines right after this break at news at the 377 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:21.119 bottom of the hour. 378 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:25.680 You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on w b Z, 379 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.440 Boston's news radio. 380 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:32.000 Delighted to welcome Adam Hines. He's the CEO of the 381 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:36.920 Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate, Former Massachusetts 382 00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:39.720 State Senator Adam Welcome to Nightside. How are you, sir. 383 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:44.039 Great to be here. The timing is good for talking 384 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:46.480 about elections and all things democracy. 385 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:49.920 No doubt, no doubt. One of the themes of this show, 386 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:55.039 and I think you'll identify with that, is that when 387 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:56.720 you and I were in school, and I was in 388 00:22:56.720 --> 00:23:00.799 school probably long before you, we actually look learned about 389 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:03.519 the Bill of Rights and the Constitution and the way 390 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:08.079 the government works, and the balance of power and the legislative, 391 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:10.759 the judicial, and the executive and all of that. And 392 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:13.079 I think that a lot of schools have backed off 393 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:17.079 of that. Now. I've been at the Kennedy Institute, as 394 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:20.480 a matter of fact, was able to moderate a program 395 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:25.279 there a few years ago, and tell us about the 396 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:29.000 role that this institute, which is right next door to 397 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:32.319 the JF. Kennedy Library out of Columbia Point, plans to play. 398 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:36.599 It's a beautiful facility, by the way, and the room 399 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:40.720 that is it was the epitome of the United States Senate. 400 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:43.119 You felt you were on the floor of the US Senate. 401 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:45.119