Ringing in the New Year with Your Neurology Questions

Episode Transcript

Dr. Correa:
From the American Academy of Neurology, I'm Dr. Daniel Correa.

Dr. Peters:
And I am Dr. Katy Peters, and this is the Brain & Life podcast. Happy New Year. It's 2026. Happy New Year, Daniel.

Dr. Correa:
[foreign language 00:00:24]. I'm so excited. I'm looking forward to this new year. And for us, we always still have one more holiday that we're looking forward to, January 6th, Three Kings' Day, and a lot of the Caribbean, and at least also the Puerto Rican community is a big celebration we have coming up.

Dr. Peters:
Yeah. I always also look forward to Lunar New Year. Always find time to do lots of wonderful Asian cooking and sharing it with all my family and friends. So it's nice to ring in 2026. 2025 was a good year. I'm looking forward to 2026.

Dr. Correa:
I'm always glad to look forward.

Dr. Peters:
Always glad to look forward. And what is so great is that we're starting off this year, 2026 with hearing from our listeners with some of their great questions. And so these are questions that we got in 2025, but we're going to give you hopefully some cogent advice in 2026. So the first question is from Katy, and that's not me. It's Katy from Minnesota. I'm Katy from North Carolina, but this is Katy from Minnesota. And she writes, "My mom was diagnosed with early Alzheimer's at 58. I'd love to hear about others who've navigated this with a parent. How do I balance all of this caregiving? And when will I know if I'm out of my element and need more help?" So from one Katy to another, Katy, thank you for your question. We are lucky to have truly a treasure trove of episodes at the Brain & Life Podcast, a treasure trove of articles that have focused on caregiving with Alzheimer's.
All in all, self-care is really key. You need to set clear limits on what you can do each week. You need to protect your sleep, work, and health. You need to ask for help from family, clinicians, community services. You need to consider all those things. But don't you agree, Daniel, that we have so many wonderful articles and episodes?

Dr. Correa:
We do. And I think we're going to mention a few of those there. And a great place also to start is by reaching out to the Alzheimer's Association. They have a hotline and right there on their website, you can start to engage and they'll help connect you with local community members or just even answering some questions. And just recently in the last issue of the Brain & Life magazine, but also available online, there was a recent article on why advanced care planning is essential for caregivers. And so this really gets to really the importance of future planning. But Katy from Minnesota was asking a little bit more about some specifics about just... And as you were starting to highlight, managing the challenges and all the care needs that there are. And so along with that, there was an article back in February and March 2025 that you can find online on healthy ways to overcome caregiver burnout.
It helps you recognize possible signs of burnout, emphasizes the importance of boundaries as you just laid out, and ideas for getting help, including for dementia caregivers. So that's one of the ones that's available online. And another one is five ways to address the stress of caring for someone with dementia. This was an article that was released in October, November 2024, and really highlights some concrete strategies on building that team of support that you need and reducing caregiver stress.

Dr. Peters:
There was another article from that same issue that October, November 2024 that was advice for caregivers of loved ones with dementia. It was really a practical day-to-day caregiving what's required. And also it weaves in sort of how you can protect your own wellbeing as a caregiver. And then part of the problem is grief is going to come into play for those caregivers when they're dealing with thinking about that they may be losing someone. And so there's an article from 2023 that's on how caregivers deal with anticipatory grief, which I think that's something that is across so many different scenarios. And I think it's really important in how you can sort of be in a way proactive even with something that just can be challenging and sad.

Dr. Correa:
Yeah. And as you said, the archive of resources goes back substantially and more broadly than specific to Alzheimer's. There's an article from 2021 that I still think could be very helpful for someone in your situation titled Expert Advice for Finding the Right Home Health Aide. A lot of individuals end up needing help in the home and additional home support. So this gives you a more step-by-step guideline and suggestions on looking at bringing in paid help into the home and some things that you should consider in hiring aides. And as you mentioned, caregivers in all kinds of different settings are going to need to recharge. So even though it's back in 2017, everyone can still benefit from the idea of looking at an article on nine ways caregivers can recharge and highlights the respite needs and ideas to protect your capacity.

Dr. Peters:
Sometimes we can't take care of our loved ones in the home. So one of the articles that was from April and May of 2019 really talks about how to find the right assisted living facility. And I think this is really important. And we talked about this in one of the other episodes on the podcast about going to the facility, checking out the facility, talking to the people that are working there, because it's really important, especially when patients have something like dementia. And then also in February and March of 2018, we had an article about programs for patients that can provide sort of relief for caregivers. And this includes structured respite programs. This allows caregivers to have some breathing room and reduce burnout. I know that some of my patients' caregivers have used them and have had really good experiences with those respite programs. So definitely check all those articles out.

Dr. Correa:
And if you prefer listening, as we said, we've had many past episodes and just some to highlight on Alzheimer's or caregiving in the setting of dementia. In 2025, we interviewed Yvette Nicole Brown who shared her experience of caring for her father with Alzheimer's and how she has, this has shaped her life and moving forward and also integrating kind of technology into her care and support of her father. Then in 2025, also we interviewed Kat McGowan. She's a journalist who talks about caring for parents and how technologies might help. I think that was an episode that you did together with Kat McGowan, right, Katy?

Dr. Peters:
Yeah. And what was so cool is she actually talked about how robots are being integrated into sort of helping patients with dementia, but then also talked about where caregiving comes in. And she talked about her own experiences. We do have some really great, rich resources from all those podcasts because I feel like when I'm on a podcast, I'll mention another podcast that we did with the guest. And I kept on doing this for Kitty Norton's podcast that she taped with us. This was in January of 2025, and she's a director and is in the film industry. And she directed a documentary called Wine, Women, & Dementia. And it was really inspired by her own journey with her mother who had dementia and really highlights other caregivers and also her caregiving experience. So I remember when I interviewed both Yvette Nicole Brown and Kat McGowan that I was like, "Oh, you got to check out these other podcasts." And I know that you met with... You actually interviewed Jacquelyn Revere.

Dr. Correa:
Yeah, that's right. And so Jacquelyn Revere actually created something called Mom of My Mom and tells the story of really the caregiving internally within her family and really coming to terms with the story of hers and her families as she was younger and now bridging that gap together with her mother as a caregiver. So really an interesting perspective and helping give guidance from someone in that situation.
And along these lines, these are other storytellers that we've met with more recently, but earlier on in the podcast, we met and interviewed Kitty Eisele and I can't remember if I'm saying it right. So I apologize, Kitty Eisele, if I'm saying that wrong, but she's a journalist and has her own podcast that highlights her journey and experience with caregiving for her father and interviews other caregivers in that journey of supporting individuals with dementia. And alongside that, we interviewed filmmaker, Michelle Boyaner, who also did a different documentary interviewing other families and caregivers around the country about supporting individuals and family members with dementia. So a wide variety of different stories that you can hear if you prefer more of an audio setting and many articles that you can go back to.

Dr. Peters:
Katy, we're here for you. And it's just amazing the rich repository that we have in both the podcasts and also in the magazine that you can check out. So definitely check them out.

Dr. Correa:
Yeah. I feel like I just want to keep going and pointing to even more, but we're going to get to our next question from Lauren in North Dakota. She said, "I've been living with Parkinson's for years. Honestly, some days are harder than others. What helps people stay motivated and hopeful when symptoms start to change? Your podcast helps, and I love the magazine, but it's not always quite enough."

Dr. Peters:
Lauren, thank you so much for your question. We're so glad to be a resource to you, so we appreciate you, and it can be challenging to stay hopeful and motivated. I think the old adage strength in numbers. And when I say numbers, I mean, all the other people that are out there with Parkinson's disease that we've either interviewed or the organizations for Parkinson's disease that are just so active, we did an article on peer mentors that help navigate others through their own neurologic diagnosis. So I would definitely say check that out. And in particular to Parkinson's disease, when I interviewed Egg Begley Jr., He wrote a book and in that book he shared all about his fun life experiences, but then he weaved in what was going on with his Parkinson's diagnosis and he really had some helpful suggestions. And I think that one of the things that in reading his book and talking with him is that when he was able to share his own experience, he didn't feel alone.
And that's what we hope by getting our wonderful guests out there to sort of share their experiences is you are not alone and they can give you some advice.

Dr. Correa:
Yeah. And so many of the episodes and interviews that we've had with individuals, particularly living with Parkinson's, that's what we've heard, the importance of community and the stories of others. And there are many other stories and examples of inspiration that you can find from the Fox Foundation and other Parkinson's organizations and community members. You can find their websites online and in social media if you prefer in that direction. And also inquire from those organizations about local chapters, support groups, support communities to share with those who are closest to your own experience. Some other stories and resources from past podcast episodes and Brain & Life website articles, just taking a look and trying to pick a few. Here are some. Recently, we had an episode, both a part one and part two in January and February of 2025, where we interviewed Brendan Cusick and Pat Morrissey, who did a world record attempt in row.
And while Brendan Cusick himself is living with and managing his movement disorder and Parkinson's, he really talks about the need to keep up his hope, his coping strategies, and how he stays active. Now, it's at a level and a type of achievement and movement that is probably far beyond even what many other people would be doing, but I think I found that very inspirational. And a little farther back, we heard from the late comedian, Richard Lewis, on his experience living with Parkinson's and navigating those hard days. So I think that's another episode I find that could be helpful. And we've had two episodes now with Jimmy Choi. He competes on American Ninja Warrior and has really been a proponent of sharing his own experience of early onset Parkinson's, battling the stigma and bringing more awareness to the mental health concerns and the importance of movement and exercise for him and many people living with Parkinson's.

Dr. Peters:
And we also got to talk to author and very stylish person, stylist, Annmarie O'Connor. And she has a book that she's written about Parkinson's disease, and she's really active on social media, both TikTok and Instagram. And so that's another place to find community. So I think that's really important. So definitely check out those resources when you're looking to find support.

Dr. Correa:
And we've mentioned articles before. There was the peer mentoring side of the articles and peer resources, but as we were talking about exercise and that importance and activity, there was an article recently in September 2025 on how activity and exercise can slow cognitive decline in Parkinson's preceding that, but it can still be very helpful. There's an older article on 14 ways to get motivated to exercise, and that can be another resource to take a look back to help you.

Dr. Peters:
And you want to definitely check out those resources, those big organizations that are really beyond Brain & Life, but they interact with us and have supported us. So a shout-out to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Parkinson's Foundation Helpline, and the American Parkinson's Disease Association. All of them are great resources and definitely can provide you with some of those connections for community support.

Dr. Correa:
And I think we had one more question, right?

Dr. Peters:
Oh, yeah. It's from Jennifer from California. And she says, "Every time I go to Dr. Google to help me with my MS diagnosis, it's constant ads for probiotics or some other random supplements. I know that's not the end all, be all cure. Should I even take it into consideration at all?" So Jennifer, wow, this is such a good question and a timely one. I was just in clinic recently and one of my patients, she actually was talking to me about this. She brought this up and said, "Because I have researched my brain tumor diagnosis, I get these Facebook and social media ads, just like if I was shopping for something, they'll pop up and they'll pop up a lot of times for supplements or for special diets that really pertain to that person's diagnosis." And so it can be really confusing out there and to sort out what is reliable information.
So I would say always, always, always talk to your healthcare provider, go to them, ask those questions. I want to give a plug to our clinical pharmacist. She often will, patients will come in with a list of supplements or things that they've learned from there and she'll actually go over one by one of what those are. So I think it's really important, but we're at the Brain & Life podcast and in the magazine, we've actually explored a lot of questions about supplements, diets, probiotics. What do you think, Daniel?

Dr. Correa:
Yeah, absolutely. And I think going to those resources can be very helpful. It's also very important before considering adding a supplement or making a big dietary change that you really review how those things might impact some of your medications. We were just talking about Parkinson's and the dietary pattern can affect how you absorb some of the key medications in Parkinson's. And that can be also the case in some other conditions and/or some supplements might affect how your body metabolizes key medications, including anti-seizure medications that I work with a lot of patients on. So before big changes, it's good to have someone like a clinical pharmacist or a doctor you go to or someone that has a good reference. And on the Brain & Life website, we just have a recent article that came out and also in the last issue on the gut-brain connection, really reviewing and talking about what's most up to date on why a healthy microbiome is key to disease prevention.
And so here they talk about really a balanced discussion on what are probiotics and prebiotics and some of the notes on the evidence that's available for them. So I think that can be a helpful place to start. And in fact, actually because of this topic and it's coming up everywhere, we're actually planning an episode to talk about some of the data on nutrition and the gut microbiome and some of the different neuroinflammatory diseases, including multiple sclerosis. And we're working with, and we'll be hoping to have that episode with a Dr. Waubant. And in the meanwhile, you could take a look at some of the work. Dr. Emmanuelle Waubant does research particularly in pediatric MS, but I think there are possibilities that consider some of those findings and how they may impact all of us. A few highlights include is this suggestion of maybe considering either following a Mediterranean type diet or the MIND diet and some studies that they've seen in review showing that there's a decreased chance of getting multiple sclerosis or MS relapses with these dietary patterns.
In one of her studies, they described that there can be possible benefits of higher fiber and higher iron intake on a reduced odd or reduced rate of having a multiple sclerosis in a community or in a group of people. And they showed that for people who were eating dairy that was greater than 50% more than the recommended intake, that there was an association in those children, this was, again, pediatric studies, of a higher relapse rate by 41%. And in using a questionnaire to screen what kinds of dietary patterns someone had that's called the Healthy Eating Index, they saw that in a community of patients, again, children or pediatric, they saw that increased intake of fruit and vegetable above the recommended amounts for every five points that they scored on this healthy eating index score decreased their rate of relapse by 25%, but none of those were necessarily probiotic or prebiotic supplements.
It's really these are things that are adding to a greater gut microbiome health. So I think those are important considerations. There's other articles. We mentioned both the recent one. There's been a past article that we had that discussed the link between gut and brain health. That was back in 2021. So the more recent one will have some updates, but it can be another resource.

Dr. Peters:
And we also have stuff just about managing multiple sclerosis itself. And there's expert insights and practical tips for managing multiple sclerosis. This was published back in February and March of 2025, and it's a really wonderful article to look into. And it also points to the updated Navigating Life with Multiple Sclerosis Guide that is part of the Brain & Life Publication Family. We get this question about supplements and vitamins all of the time. It's practically almost the number one question I get. And so this is really, I would say from your as an expert in epilepsy, I do neuro-oncology for brain tumors. This is something that all neurologists, when we talk to our neurology colleagues, everybody's getting this question. And so there was a really neat article in December of 2023, January 2024, where neurologists sort of talked about what are the benefits and drawbacks of vitamins and supplements.
And so I think that's really nice because we've got to dip into talking to all of our colleagues in regards to this. And I think this is an area of research that's going to continue. This isn't going to go away and we're going to have to continue to learn about this, to learn about the microbiome. I'm excited about it because I want to use those tools. And I think this is what Jennifer wants to do. What tools out there can I do to help myself? It's not just about going to the doctor. So I would recommend that exercise, we've already touted sleep, but now we need to know what kinds of dietary and supplements should we use that can positively impact us.

Dr. Correa:
Yeah. And Jennifer, you specifically asked about probiotics. And so taking a look at the research that's available right now, there have been some people who've done clinical research studies on using probiotics, not so specifically to multiple sclerosis, a few. And even though there are some clinical studies and some of what we call systematic reviews where they take a look at lots of different research at once, what we see actually, there's a lot of limitations and a lot of variation in those studies that really limits if it's really ready to say, "Oh, we have a set recommendation for everyone to use."
There's a lot of variation in the types of probiotics that might be advertised to you, that might be available to you. There's a lot of variations on how they're used in research and which ones and how much and how often. And so that really limits how much we can say, "Oh, that there is a set probiotic that really should be the next thing that you incorporate." But healthy diets with a mix of fiber types and probiotic foods that help support your gut microbiome may very well already be plenty that you need to address many of the needs that you have.
And focusing our limited time and money and resources, because there are already so many things out there that we're told we need to be doing for our health and wellness on the healthiest combinations of food for ourselves and our family may just be the best area. And so the microbiome is definitely real and there's a lot of research ongoing on it, but there's a lot of variation. And so in some areas, we don't yet necessarily have a set recommendation of a probiotic or a specific supplement. We do know that there are clear dietary patterns that can help our brain health and our health in many other ways. And so filtering through whatever evidence and marketing that you see through a filter or perspective of what do we actually know about what it's safe, how much it might interact with other medications and other treatment and management, and whether a clinician would recommend it for your MS situation or the situation of your condition is important alongside, as I mentioned, the cost of time and money that it is on for you and your family.

Dr. Peters:
And I would say I know it's going to be in my diet today. It's going to be black-eyed peas and greens because it's New Year's. And I just want to again, thank Jennifer, thanks to all of our other questions for today. It was a lot of fun to get an opportunity to discuss these with you, Daniel, and just happy new year.

Dr. Correa:
Yes, happy new year to each of you. And hopefully we all get to just find new things and more things that will bring us better health, better brain health, and happiness together with our community. Thank you again for joining us today on the Brain & Life Podcast. Follow and subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss our weekly episodes. You can also sign up to receive the Brain & Life Magazine for free at brainandlife.org.

Dr. Peters:
Also, for each episode, you can find out how to connect with our team and our guests along with great resources in our show notes. We love it when we hear your ideas or questions. You can send these in an email to blpodcast@brainandlife.org and leave us a message at 612-928-6206.

Dr. Correa:
You can also find that information in our show notes and you can follow Katy and me and the Brain & Life Magazine on many of your preferred social media channels. We're your hosts, Dr. Daniel Correa, connecting with you from New York City and online @neurodrcorrea.

Dr. Peters:
And Dr. Katy Peters joining you from Durham, North Carolina and online @katypetersmdphd.

Dr. Correa:
Most importantly, thank you and all of our community members that trust us with their health and everyone living with neurologic conditions.

Dr. Peters:
We hope together we can take steps to better brain health and each thrive with our own abilities every day.

Dr. Correa:
Before you start the next episode, we would appreciate if you could give us five stars and leave a review. This helps others find a Brain & Life podcast. See you next week.

Ringing in the New Year with Your Neurology Questions

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