The narratives we inherited about Alzheimer's disease—that memory loss means the person is already gone, that there's nothing we can do—are outdated and actively harmful. In this episode, I break down where these old stories came from, how stigma shows up in everyday interactions, why the science has fundamentally changed what's possible, and five practical steps to break free from narratives that hurt us. This is the first episode in our "Rewriting Your Future: The New Vision of Life with Memory Loss" series.

The landscape of Alzheimer's treatment is evolving rapidly. At the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) 2025 conference, researchers presented breakthrough data on treatments that go far beyond amyloid-clearing therapies like Leqembi and Kisunla.

In this podcast episode, I break down seven treatments that could be available—or very close to available—in 2026:

1. Remternetug - Anti-tau antibody that could be combined with existing treatments

2. ALZ-801 - Oral amyloid blocker (no infusions required)

3. Masitinib - Anti-inflammatory targeting neuroinflammation

4. Fosgonimeton - Synaptic restoration therapy

5. Gantenerumab - High-dose amyloid therapy showing renewed promise

6. Semaglutide (Ozempic) - Repurposed diabetes drug with neuroprotective effects

7. Combination therapy trials - Multiple mechanisms working together

We're also seeing a major shift toward earlier intervention—treating people before symptoms appear using biomarker testing, blood tests, and PET scans.

What this means for families:

• More treatment options beyond current FDA-approved therapies

• Oral medications in development (reducing infusion burden)

• Different mechanisms for patients who don't respond to amyloid-clearing therapies

• Earlier intervention strategies that could preserve more function

What you should do now:

• Maximize current treatment options (Leqembi, Kisunla)

• Consider clinical trial participation

• Explore biomarker testing if you're at risk

• Stay informed about the treatment pipeline

• Connect with research centers and advocacy organizations

Listen to the full episode for detailed analysis of each treatment, FDA approval timelines, patient eligibility criteria, and actionable steps you can take today.

This episode is a love letter to every person who has ever said "yes" to Alzheimer's research when outcomes were uncertain. Behind every breakthrough treatment stand volunteers whose courage makes medical advances possible.

Episode highlights:

✓ Why clinical trial volunteers give "the ultimate gift"

✓ What participation actually requires (trust, time, risk, hope)

✓ My mother's 2019 decision to enroll in Leqembi trials

✓ Milestones her courage gave our family

✓ Why her gift extends to people she'll never meet

✓ How one person's sacrifice ripples across generations

✓ Concrete ways to honor and support clinical research

The numbers that matter:

• 1,795 Clarity AD participants made Leqembi possible

• 1,736 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 participants made Kisunla real

• Thousands currently enrolling in trials for future treatments

• One person's courage = changed trajectory for millions

What clinical trial participation requires:

→ Trust in uncertain outcomes

→ Frequent MRIs and brain scans → Regular multi-hour infusions

→ Cognitive testing highlighting decline → ARIA risk acceptance

→ Months or years of commitment

→ Hope for others without guaranteed personal benefit

This episode honors every volunteer—past, present, and future—who chose courage over fear.

Timeline: 0:00 - Cold open: The ultimate gift 2:00 - Why this gift matters 4:00 - My mother's decision (2019) 8:30 - What her courage gave us 14:00 - The unnamed thousands 18:30 - Science behind the sacrifice 22:00 - Gratitude in the season of giving 26:00 - How we honor this gift 28:30 - Closing: You're not alone

To every clinical trial volunteer: Thank you. Your gift is why we have hope. ❤️

#AlzheimersClinicalTrials #Leqembi #Kisunla #MedicalResearch #ClinicalTrialVolunteers #AlzheimersBreakthrough #UltimateGift #AlzheimersPodcast

Who Will Be There When I Forget? Planning Alzheimer's Care Without Traditional Family

Three in the morning. The question circles: Who will be there when I can no longer remember my own name?

In this deeply vulnerable episode, Teri shares her most personal fear as someone who has spent six years as her mother's co-caregiver through Alzheimer's disease and clinical trials—while being single, childless, and facing the same genetic risk herself.

Over 35% of Americans aged 45-64 have no children. That number is growing. Yet our entire care infrastructure assumes traditional family caregivers exist. What happens when they don't?

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The reality of planning for Alzheimer's care without children or a spouse

• Why traditional assumptions about aging fail millions of Americans

• Financial realities: $600K-$1.8M for long-term memory care

• The caregiver shortage crisis and its impact on solo agers

• Innovative care models: caregiver co-ops, intentional living communities, expanded professional options

• Concrete legal and financial planning steps you can take today

• Policy changes needed to support this growing population

• Why there's still hope despite the fear

Content Warning: This episode contains heavy emotional content about aging, progressive illness, caregiving, and end-of-life planning.

Silence doesn't serve us. If you're carrying this fear—you're not alone.

Resources mentioned:

• Free 10-minute clarity call: memorytreatmentadvisors.com/schedule

• Legal planning templates and resources: [link]

• Community care models: [link]

About the Host: Teri Youngdale is the founder of Memory Treatment Advisors and Alzheimer's Survivor. She has served as her mother's co-caregiver through six years of Alzheimer's disease, including participation in groundbreaking clinical trials like Leqembi. Teri helps families create personalized roadmaps for prevention, treatment options, and long-term care planning.

Listen with clarity, courage, and care.

Expert (Author Name):

Teri J. Youngdale