Juli Chenault on Recognizing the Early Signs of Dementia | Juli Chenault

Journey to Diagnosis is a Being Patient series sponsored by Eisai. As with all of our reporting, the sponsor has no role in choosing guests, shaping questions, or reviewing content before publication.Eisai: https://www.eisai.com/index.htmlJourney to Diagnosis: https://beingpatient.com/journey-to-diagnosis/Juli Chenault first began noticing memory lapses in 2008 while working as a business representative and traveling regularly across Kentucky. One of the first warning signs came when she could not remember how to get to an apartment she had visited many times and had to call her supervisor for help. After raising concerns about her memory with her primary care doctor and undergoing further evaluation, Chenault was diagnosed with early-stage dementia in her early 50s. Her mother had also lived with Alzheimer’s disease.Since her diagnosis, she has remained committed to managing her health, staying on medication, and keeping her mind active. The support of her family has played a central role, both in recognizing the early changes and in helping her move forward.In the conversation with Being Patient’s Mark Niu, Chenault discusses the relief of finally having answers, the importance of staying mentally and socially active, and the role her family has played in supporting her day to day. She also speaks about the need for more awareness in Black communities, where stigma, denial, and lack of information may keep people from seeking help. Chenault encourages others to take memory changes seriously, see a doctor, follow treatment recommendations, and stay connected to the people and activities that help keep the brain active.-----If you loved listening to this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being Patient: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Being_Patient_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingpatientvoices/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beingpatientalzheimersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/being-patientBeing Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/