Ralph Carmona on Running, Research, and Life After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Ralph Carmona watched his mother live with dementia for 15 years. When he received his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2015, he knew where the disease could lead. Instead of waiting for the same future, he joined a clinical trial… and kept running.
Eleven years later, Ralph says, “I’m convinced I’ve gotten better.” In this episode, he shares how the clinical trial changed his outlook, the daily habits he pairs with his medical treatment, and how a difficult childhood in East Los Angeles built the resilience he needed to face the disease.
In This Episode:
Your Host: Emily Kaplan
Our Guest: Ralph Carmona, retired corporate lobbyist, college instructor, marathon runner, and Alzheimer’s advocate
This Episode Explores:
- What concerns led to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis?
- What happens when a patient joins an Alzheimer’s clinical trial?
- How did Ralph’s childhood prepare him for a hard diagnosis?
- Which daily habits does Ralph pair with his Alzheimer’s treatment?
- What advice does Ralph have for families who notice memory changes?
How a Spouse’s Concern Led to Ralph’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
In 2014, Ralph’s wife noticed he was forgetting things. She suspected attention deficit disorder and pushed him to get checked. Their compromise was a visit to their primary care provider, who referred Ralph to a neuropsychologist for memory testing.
The results ruled out ADD. Instead, the neuropsychologist said Alzheimer’s.
As the specialist described where the disease could lead, Ralph realized he was describing his mother, who lived with dementia for 15 years before her death at 97. “I was looking at a future where I could be old and without a brain,” Ralph says.
A neurologist confirmed dementia but explained that more definitive imaging would cost thousands of dollars, with no insurance coverage and no cure. Then he mentioned a clinical trial for a new drug, one that included diagnostic testing at no cost.
Inside an Anti-Amyloid Clinical Trial
Ralph calls the decision to enroll in the clinical trial “a no-brainer,” pun intended. As a social scientist, he trusted the research process, and his wife tracked down a trial site in Boston, two hours from home.
Every two weeks, Ralph made the drive from Portland, Maine. Each visit brought an infusion, memory tests, physical exams, regular MRIs, and PET scans.
He didn’t know whether he was receiving the drug or a placebo, but six months in, his wife felt sure the treatment was working. In 2023, the neurologist confirmed it: The FDA had approved the drug, and Ralph had been taking it from day one.
When Ralph began treatment, options were scarce. Today, blood tests like p-tau217 can flag Alzheimer’s risk much earlier, a shift Dr. Jeff Burns explains in Episode 2.
How Running and Daily Habits Support Ralph’s Brain Health
Ralph credits his treatment, but he doesn’t stop there. He walks his dog a mile or two every day, eats his wife’s Mediterranean cooking, teaches a college class, and works on books. His doctor explained that daily brain exercise is the best way to fight Alzheimer’s, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Running is part of the routine, too. Ralph ran his first marathon in 2019, and after returning to running post-COVID, he qualified for the Boston Marathon. Now he’s aiming for the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
Ralph also leans on a sense of purpose. Inspired by David Brooks’ idea of a “second mountain,” he’s turned his personal struggle into public advocacy. Ralph now speaks at marathon charity events and connects with others living with Alzheimer’s disease, including Dr. Brent Beasley.
Common Questions About Living With Alzheimer’s
What happens during an Alzheimer’s clinical trial?
Clinical trials test new treatments under close medical supervision. In Ralph’s trial, that meant infusions every two weeks plus memory tests, physical exams, and brain imaging. Many trials compare an experimental drug against a placebo, and participants don’t know which one they receive until the study ends.
How is Alzheimer’s diagnosed?
Diagnosis often starts with a primary care visit, followed by memory and thinking tests. A neurologist may order MRI or PET scans to look for changes in the brain. Blood-based biomarker tests now give primary care doctors an earlier, less invasive screening option.
Can exercise help people living with Alzheimer’s?
Ralph and his doctor see regular exercise as a key part of his care, alongside medication. Movement doesn’t have to mean marathons. Ralph points to walking, swimming, and other daily activities. Talk with a doctor before starting a new routine.
What counts as exercise for the brain?
For Ralph, brain exercise includes reading, teaching, writing, following the news, and spending time with people. Staying mentally and socially engaged keeps his mind working every day, and he considers that engagement as important as physical activity.
How can you encourage a loved one to get checked for memory changes?
Ralph recommends patience and an honest conversation. His wife’s persistence moved him to see a primary care provider, and he urges families not to accept “it’s just old age” as the final answer. Ralph also notes that more people now want to know their diagnosis, and more treatment options exist than when he first started his Alzheimer’s journey.