Podcast: Memories Are Everything: Why Alzheimer’s Research Needs Us Now

Recently, I recorded a podcast with Lainie Holcomb and Dr. Tammy Awtry from the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.

It was my first Podcast focused entirely on Alzheimer’s, not mountaineering, and it left me with a clear realization:

We’ve made real progress.

But we are not there yet.

The Moment That Changed Everything

In 2006, my mom, Ida, looked at me and asked, “Now, who are you again?”
That moment changed the course of my life.

For nearly two decades, I’ve honored that promise by climbing mountains and raising money for Alzheimer’s research.

Since 2007, I’ve supported Cure Alzheimer’s Fund—an organization where 100% of every donation goes directly to research, with all overhead covered by its board.

This is personal—but it’s also universal.

It’s about what we can do—together—right now.

Why This Matters Today

We are closer than ever to changing the course of this disease:

• Scientists can now detect Alzheimer’s years before symptoms appear
• New treatments are beginning to slow progression in the early stages
• Research is accelerating faster than at any time in history

But none of this happens without funding.

Join Me, It’s Urgent — I’ll Match Your Impact

I ask you to take one simple step:

Make a donation today to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.

I will personally match the first 50 donations with $100 each.

After donating, please add this note in the comment box:

“This donation is a result of Alan Arnette’s podcast with Lainie Holcomb and Dr. Tammy Awtry.”

And if you feel comfortable, include the name of someone you’re honoring.

I’ve also committed 10% of Summit Coach’s revenue each year to the fight.

What’s Changing in Alzheimer’s Research

If you want to understand why there is real hope, here’s what’s happening behind the scenes.

🧠 What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia—but not all dementia is Alzheimer’s

It is a progressive brain disease where cells die, causing memory loss, cognitive decline, and eventually dependence.

🧠 Alzheimer’s Begins Long Before Symptoms

By the time memory is affected, it has often been developing quietly for over 20 years.

• Amyloid-beta proteins begin to accumulate.
• Tau proteins form damaging tangles inside neurons.
• The brain’s immune system triggers chronic inflammation.

🧠 Why Memory Loss Starts the Way It Does

The disease begins with short-term memory loss due to its early impact on the hippocampus, which forms new memories.

This explains why someone may forget recent conversations but recall events from years ago.

🔬 Breakthroughs Changing the Landscape

1) “Alzheimer’s in a Dish.”

A 3D cell model now allows researchers to replicate Alzheimer’s in weeks instead of decades.

This means:

• Faster testing of potential treatments
• Lower research costs
• More rapid innovation

Traditional funders initially rejected this approach until The Cure Alzheimer’s Fund supported it.

2) New Treatments

Two recently approved drugs—Leqembi and Kisunla—are important steps forward.

They:

• Target amyloid plaque in the brain
• Help remove buildup
• Slow progression in early-stage patients

They are not cures—but they prove progress is possible.

3) Blood-Based Diagnostics

Simple blood tests can now detect Alzheimer’s-related changes.

This is a major shift:

• More accessible than PET scans
• Less invasive than spinal taps
• Enables earlier intervention

The goal: routine screening before symptoms ever begin.

⚠️ What Still Needs to Be Solved

We are not finished.

• Current treatments work after symptoms begin
• By then, tau-related damage may already be significant

We still need therapies that:

• Target tau proteins directly
• Reduce harmful inflammation
• Strengthen brain resilience

The ultimate goal is clear:

Stop Alzheimer’s before it starts.

🌟 What You Can Do Today

While science advances, your daily choices matter more than you might think:

• 🚶 Exercise – Supports brain health and blood flow
• 🥗 Diet – Mediterranean-style eating shows protective effects
• 😴 Sleep – Clears waste, including amyloid, from the brain
• 👥 Connection – Reduces dementia risk
• 🧠 Learning – Builds cognitive reserve
• 😌 Stress Management – Protects long-term brain function

🏔️ Why This Is Personal for Me?

My mom began showing symptoms in the early 2000s. Four of her sisters also died from Alzheimer’s.

Like many families, we didn’t understand it at first.

From 2006 to 2009, I stepped away from my corporate career to help care for her.

And yet, even as the disease progressed, there were moments of grace:

• She remained calm and present
• Music—especially church hymns—still reached her
• Connection was never completely lost

She passed away on August 19, 2009.

🏔️ From Mountains to Meaning

In 2007, I began working with the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.

In 2011, I completed the Seven Summits in a single year—using each climb to raise awareness and funds.

My life has become the intersection of:

• Passion — climbing mountains

• Purpose — fighting Alzheimer’s

🤝 A Final Thought

Alzheimer’s remains one of the most complex diseases we face.

But for the first time, we are seeing real progress:

We understand more.

We can detect earlier.

We are developing treatments that make a difference.

And with continued support, we can go further.

Take the Next Step

Join me. Donate today—and I’ll match your impact.

Donate today—and I’ll match your impact.

Together, we can support the work of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund and move closer to a world without this disease.