#25 Understanding Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (Interview with Dr. Keith Josephs, Mayo Clinic Movement Disorder Specialist, Behavioral Disease Specialist, and Research Scientist)

Parkinson's Disease Caring Podcast

My guest interview is Dr. Keith Josephs, Professor of Neurology and Research Scientist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Josephs is a world expert on Parkinson's disease and related Atypical Parkinson disorders as well as Alzheimer's disease and other dementia illness.
We discuss where Parkinson's disease starts in the peripheral system of the body as well as in the brain. He shares his thoughts about the research looking into the types of pathological changes that happen in the brain causing dementia. We discuss if dementia could be a result of mixed pathological changes such as a mixture of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease or other conditions. He helps us better understand the difference between Lewy body disease and Parkinson's disease dementia.
Dr. Josephs also discusses psychosis, depression, and other non-motor symptoms related to Parkinson's disease. He shares with us some of the current research projects that he is personally working on at the Mayo Clinic. Finally, he shares some of his thoughts about a new treatment recently approved by the FDA for Alzheimer's disease.
After this episode, you will have a much better understanding of what is happening in the brain to cause your loved one to experience changes in cognitive ability due to Parkinson's disease and have hope for the future.