24 Year Old Cures Dementia

By Preventing it in the First Place

How We Got Here

If I could write one headline to come true about my future self, “24 Year Old Cures Dementia” would certainly be one of them. That is, since I don’t seem to be in a position to win The Masters any time soon. The feeling I have towards this headline is what some refer to as a mission, or the elusive, “passion” that we all seek…

My fascination, or contempt, rather, for dementia started long before she passed away. My grandma was sick for as long as I can remember. Always in and out of hospitals or assisted living centers before she moved in with my family, the majority of my memories with my grandma revolve one way or another around her health.

I remember coming home from college and visiting her in the hospital while she told stories to make us laugh, or in the later years when she moved in with us and was the only one in the house to eat more ice cream than me. The memories are good for the most part— we all loved her. But I can’t help but to imagine the memories that could have been if she never had dementia.

Much less selfishly, I can’t imagine what her own life could have been if there was a cure for the disease that ultimately took her.

My grandma’s long battle with Dementia ended in January of 2022 and my search for the answers that have eluded top scientists with billions (yes, with a “b”) of dollars of research budgets has reached a tipping point. How could a woman who was so smart, a true entrepreneur years ahead of her time, the life of the party, and the loving grandmother to seven grandchildren have her mind taken away from her? Why do 6 million Americans currently have Dementia and better yet, why are no scientists any closer to understanding the disease much less a cure?

Why Dementia is my Biggest Fear

For years these were the questions that plagued my mind. Personally, I have never had too many physical talents: too short for basketball, too small for football (way too small), and I could not hit a baseball for the life of me. I quickly realized that my physical abilities were never going to win any trophies, awards, or even raise an eyebrow.

On the other hand, I realized that my brain and my mind were my gifts. School came easy; I love to read; and if there was a job titled “Professional Thinker” I would be the first to apply. My brain goes a thousand miles a minute and is really all I can rely on to make a difference in this world.

For better or worse, I have always been a bit of a hypochondriac and my number one fear was always that my brain too would one day be taken from me. That I would cease to remember the names of my future grandchildren, where I live, or even what I had for breakfast.

If you are reading this and have experienced close-hand a loved one dealing with Dementia, you know how painful it is to witness these moments and how hard it is for me to even recall and write about them. You also know that you would be willing to do just about anything to make sure the same fate never fell upon you or other loved ones in your life. And that is exactly how I felt too.

I poured into all of the online studies I could find, checked out a stack of at least 10 books high from the university library, and even focused my senior year capstone dedicated to Alzheimer’s and Dementia research. Through all of this, I have learned more about the human body, the brain, and how it is all connected than I ever could have imagined. It has been a journey to get me where I am today and all I can say is that what I have discovered over the years makes me more excited than anything else on earth. The research has just begun— it’s now time to act.

Where We’re Going

Over the past months specifically, I have been implementing my research directly into my own life.

💡 Spoiler alert: dementia cannot only be cured but it can almost entirely be prevented.

Remember when I said that I would be willing to do just about anything to prevent succumbing to Dementia? I have found my answer. If you are in the same situation as me, I will be sharing my research and my journey in how I am actively preventing Dementia and how you can too. As I share, I would really love to hear your stories and how you got here as well.

By signing up you can expect regular writings, story telling, research synthesis, and turnkey guides that you can immediately apply to your own life. The vision for my life is not one of immortality. Frankly, I would get bored at 150 years old. Rather, I see a life where I wake up energized every day, excited to share it with the people I love— a long life where I can explore and expand all that my brain and this world have to offer.

If this resonates with you, join the movement that is going to eradicate Dementia from our vocabulary and replace it with the view that old age is truly a gift and a blessing to work towards.