Interview with Elizabeth Smith-Boivin, Executive Director | Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern New York
WGXC, MONDAY MORNING SHOW, Monday, March 23, 2020 with Garrett Roche
Website: https://www.alz.org/northeasternny
The Northeastern New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association serves a 17-county area in the northeastern most corner of New York State. These counties cover over 15,000 square miles, representing approximately 30% of New York State, and are home to 1.5 million people. We estimate that more than 50,000 of the friends and neighbors living in this area have Alzheimer’s disease.
Elizabeth Smith-Boiven was a guest recently on the Monday Morning Show on WGXC 90.7 FM in Hudson, New York, live streamed on wgxc.org, appearing to discuss in depth many aspects of Alzheimer’s , its treatment, the role of caregivers, and even the implications for COVID19. J (Johannes) Froebel-Parker was pleased to submit interview questions for Mr. Roche to read, as the studio only allowed him to be present due to the current (as of this writing) COVID19 precautions.
The archive is accessible at: (beginning at 40:20) https://wavefarm.org/radio/wgxc/audio-archive/kca0ke
Some of the questions which Ms. Smith-Boiven explained in detail with easy to understand language included
Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and personality changes. Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of Alzheimer’s disease, developing after age 65. Many factors, including genetics, can influence a person’s chances of developing the condition. What is the significance of finding the ε4 variant in the APOE gene associated with an increased risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. What are the implications and what should one do if detected in a DNA analysis?
Lifestyle
What is the role of lifestyle in the development of Alzheimer’s and are there life changes one can do to mitigate the onset or avoid the disease entirely?
Services for Caregivers and Families
What services are there for family, friends, caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients and what are some of the common issues that they raise. How can the Alzheimer’s Association be of service to them?
Outreach for Speakers of Languages Other Than English
Are there services or sources of information and support for the members of language communities other than English? Father William Hinrichs, priest for the monthly Spanish Mass at Albany NY Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints, has, for example, given a Spanish language presentation to a well attended gathering there. Are there presenters trained in other languages and HOW can one arrange for a presentation to a particular group?
The Role of Music Therapy
(submitted by a listener in Albany, New York)
What is the newest research about Music Therapy in the treatment of Alzheimer’s? When my mother was in a nursing home and no longer conversant, I took her to a Music Evening and was astounded that she sang along with happiness and knew all the lyrics to the songs from her generation.
At end of the segment Mr. Roche reads an inspiring message from HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of the Ghassanids, and even mentions the fate of HIH Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanov, Grand Duchess of Russia, as to understand her true destiny one must filter out misinformation, disinformation, and non fact based narratives to arrive at a more reliable grasp of her historical legacy, as one must also with COVID19.