Dr. Brent Beasley spent 31 years as an internal medicine physician before Alzheimer’s disease changed everything — including his understanding of early detection. In this episode, he shares what getting diagnosed at 57 taught him about the disease, the healthcare system, and the unexpected possibility of getting better.

In This Episode:

Your Host: Emily Kaplan

Our Guest:

Dr. Brent Beasley, former internal medicine physician and Alzheimer’s patient

This Episode Explores:

• What does an Alzheimer’s diagnosis look like, and what tests can confirm it?
• What role does a care partner play in navigating Alzheimer’s treatment?
• What new testing and treatment options are changing Alzheimer’s care?
• What everyday habits may help protect long-term brain health?
• What can recovery from Alzheimer’s actually look like?

Dr. Brent Beasley on His Alzheimer’s Diagnosis and the Role of Caregiver Advocacy 

Dr. Brent Beasley practiced internal medicine for 31 years, often treating Alzheimer’s patients himself. At 57, following a mild case of COVID-19, he began experiencing significant memory changes that eventually led to his own Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Today, he speaks publicly about the disease and advocates for earlier detection.

His wife, Cindy, has become his primary advocate, helping him navigate a healthcare system that, as he describes it, isn’t always designed to make diagnosis or treatment easy. Getting answers took time and persistence — ultimately requiring a referral to the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s team and Dr. Beasley’s physician, Dr. Jeff Burns.

Blood-Based Biomarker Testing and a New Path to Earlier Alzheimer’s Answers

Once in the care of the KU Alzheimer’s team, Dr. Beasley underwent specialized testing that clinicians rarely used at the time: the p-tau 217 blood test. This highly sensitive and specific Alzheimer’s test was among the earliest of its kind. MRI imaging and amyloid scans confirmed what the blood test indicated: the buildup of amyloid plaque in his brain.

Dr. Beasley believes tests like p-tau 217 could be game changers — not just for patients with access to specialist care, but for anyone whose primary care doctor might order one routinely. 

He also discusses genetic testing, sharing his own result and offering perspective on what markers like APOE4 do and don’t tell us about Alzheimer’s risk.

What Dr. Beasley’s Treatment and Recovery Reveal About Alzheimer’s Care Today

Even with a confirmed diagnosis, getting access to treatment required its own persistence.

Cindy spent weeks making calls — to pharmacists, to health system staff — until she found someone who could explain how to access the infusion treatment his physician prescribed. It wasn’t a simple process. But it was a transformative one.

About eight months into biweekly infusions, something shifted. He was serving at his church when he knew he was back. The memory that had gone dark was returning.

Dr. Beasley estimates he is now 80 to 90 percent better — a recovery he partly attributes to being identified and treated early, and to the healthier lifestyle he and Cindy had already built.

His message for others is clear. Lifestyle matters. Advocacy matters. And early action, when possible, absolutely matters.

Frequently Asked Questions About Early Alzheimer’s Detection and Treatment

What is the p-tau 217 blood test for Alzheimer’s?

P-tau 217 is a blood-based biomarker test that detects changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease with high sensitivity and specificity. It isn’t yet standard in primary care, but broader adoption in routine care is central to the future of early Alzheimer’s detection.

How is Alzheimer’s disease confirmed or diagnosed?

Diagnosis typically involves a combination of clinical evaluation, biomarker testing, and brain imaging. In Dr. Beasley’s case, p-tau 217 results and amyloid scans together confirmed the presence of amyloid plaque — a diagnostic marker of Alzheimer’s disease.

Can Alzheimer’s disease be treated?

FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimer’s exist and continue to evolve. Dr. Beasley’s experience with an ongoing infusion-based treatment illustrates what early access to emerging therapies can sometimes make possible. Individual outcomes depend on many factors, including when treatment begins.

What does a care partner or advocate do for someone with Alzheimer’s?

A care partner helps navigate diagnosis, treatment access, and the healthcare system — often on behalf of someone who can’t do so alone. Dr. Beasley credits his wife Cindy’s persistence as essential to getting his diagnosis confirmed and his treatment started.

What everyday habits may help protect brain health?

Regular physical exercise, a healthy diet, and cognitively engaging activities may support long-term cognitive health. Dr. Beasley follows a vegan diet, exercises routinely, and challenges himself daily with the New York Times puzzle suite — including Wordle.

What is APOE4, and what does genetic testing reveal about Alzheimer’s risk?

APOE4 is a genetic variant associated with elevated Alzheimer’s risk — particularly in those who carry two copies. Dr. Beasley carries APOE3, the most common variant, and discusses what genetic testing can and can’t tell us about individual risk.

How common is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent form of dementia and one of the most significant public health challenges in the United States. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, an estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 or older are currently living with Alzheimer’s — two-thirds are women. This number could reach 13.8 million by 2060.  It’s also estimated that about 200,000 Americans aged 30 to 64 have younger-onset dementia.