More than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. On this episode, a look at what the disease feels like from the inside. Volker is a retired professor and former president of the American Family Therapy Academy who spent decades building couple and family therapy programs at the University of Iowa and Purdue University. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2025, though symptoms first appeared in 2022. Edie, his wife, joins the conversation as his primary caregiver. (This show was originally produced Nov. 24, 2026.)
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Broadlawns Medical Center's new mobile clinic aims to increase access to dementia care and testing for underserved populations in Polk County. -
The Alzheimer's Association has released a new report on brain health and the findings are eye-opening. Nine in 10 Americans said brain health matters deeply to them — but only 9% said they know enough about how to protect their brains. Heather Snyder of the Alzheimer’s Association and dementia care specialist Dr. Yogesh Shah of the Broadlawns Memory Clinic in Des Moines discuss the findings of the report and ways to fill this knowledge gap. -
A retired therapist and professor shares what Alzheimer's has felt like for him. Volker Thomas and Edie Pierce Thomas, his wife and primary caregiver, open up about diagnosis, caregiving and the moments that still bring relief.
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Alzheimer experts give an inside look at the first Iowa Heartland Cognitive Care Collective Summit.
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Whether you provide daily caregiving, participate in decision making, or simply care about a person with the disease, there are resources available. -
Rural Iowans can face significant challenges when it comes to early detection and care access for dementia.
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Older Black and Latino people are significantly more likely to get diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease than older white people, despite recent medical advancements. Some are trying to close that gap. -
The more we learn about Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, the more experts agree that early detection and intervention are key.
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Dementia, including Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, affects Latinos at a higher rate than whites.
