Doctors Reveal the EARLY Signs of Alzheimer’s (Before Memory Loss) With Dr. Melissa Murray

What if Alzheimer’s isn’t just one disease but a family of diseases? In this episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by Dr. Melissa Murray, a professor of neuroscience at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Murray’s groundbreaking research focuses on Alzheimer’s, dementia with Lewy bodies, and other neurodegenerative conditions. She leads the Mayo Clinic’s Translational Neuropathology Lab, where her team combines neuropathology, neuroimaging, and genetics to understand these diseases better.Dr. Murray is one of the recent winners of the Rainwater Prize for Outstanding Innovation in Neurodegenerative Research, which came with a $400,000 prize to further her and her colleague Dr. Dennis Dickson's research at Mayo Clinic.The Rainwater Prize honors scientific contributions to the field of neurodegenerative research that focus on diseases associated with the accumulation of tau protein in the brain, with the goal of translating discoveries into meaningful therapeutic and diagnostic innovations.Today’s discussion tackles a critical issue in brain health: treating Alzheimer’s like it’s a single disease. With advances in neuroimaging and biomarkers, we can now diagnose Alzheimer’s while people are still alive, which is a huge step forward from the past. Dr. Murray also highlights how brain donation is helping researchers like her gain deeper insights into the causes and progression of Alzheimer’s.“We can't help our genetics. We're blessed with what we were given, but we also get to play that deck of cards that we're handed, and we have a chance to make a difference.” ~ Melissa Murray, PhDIn this Episode03:47 - The power of neuroimaging and biomarkers for early Alzheimer’s detection05:58 - Alzheimer’s disease is not a single condition06:54 - Understanding vascular contributions to Alzheimer’s in younger patients12:20 - How lifestyle and genetics influence Alzheimer’s development13:32 - The future of Alzheimer’s diagnostics: Imaging modalities20:15 - Brain research and the role of brain donation in advancing research40:37 - Studying the brain for infection (viruses, bacteria, or parasites)49:44 - The connection between sleep and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s57:51 - Ongoing research about Alzheimer's and brain health1:00:18 - Key takeaways from the discussionResources:- Top Supplements for Alzheimer's Guide - https://bit.ly/drjoshguide- Book: The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons by Sam Kean - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316182354- MRI and pathology of REM sleep behavior disorder in dementia with Lewy bodies - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3812105/Connect with Melissa Murray, PhD: - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-e-murray-012a919/- Website - https://www.mayo.eduConnect with Dr. Josh Helman, MD:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/greenbrainsMD- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/greenbrainsmd/- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctorjosh- <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@greenbrainsmd" rel="noopener norefer