Dave Good was a District Court Judge living in Cedar Rapids. In 2003, at the age of 56, he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. His wife Kathy became his caregiver while continuing to work full time. On this episode, Kathy Good, who now guides other caregivers as the Senior Director of the Chris and Suzy DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging and Dementia of Mercy, shares her story. Then Good and Michael Wagler, Iowa State Director for the AARP, will talk about the resources those who care for loved ones with dementia. (This show was originally produced July 24, 2025.)
Maura Curran
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Iowa Public Radio
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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.
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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.
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An Iowan diagnosed with Alzheimer's and a dementia specialist discuss the latest research on dementia and what people can do to treat and prevent it.
