Patient-oriented research is a valuable tool in learning from individuals with lived experiences. Khushbu Patel, a Master’s student in Dr. Mari DeMarco’s lab, learned first-hand about the power of lived experiences in research, as she spearheaded the personal utility arm of the ‘Investigating the Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnostics in British Columbia’ (www.impactAD.org) study. Her research engaged patients who underwent Alzheimer’s disease biomarker testing, and their family members, to understand their experiences with testing and the role of the test results in their decision-making and future planning.

Dementia Dialogue, a podcast series supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada, provides people with lived experience a way to share their stories with each other and the broader community. Listeners who have dementia, care partners, and others gain insight and strengthen their adaptive skills. Episodes also help the broader community understand what it means to live with dementia and how they can support people.

In a two-part series on the Dementia Dialogue podcast, Khushbu shares first-of-its-kind information on the value of biomarker testing from persons with lived experience of dementia. She is joined by a patient living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregiver (in episode 2) as they share how they navigated their journey to receiving a diagnosis and living with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as their experience participating in IMPACT-AD BC.

Visit www.impactAD.org to learn more about how the IMPACT-AD study is examining the impact of Alzheimer’s disease biomarker testing on medical decision making, personal decision making, and health care economics. Details about cerebrospinal fluid testing for Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers can be found on the study website and in episode 1 of the biomarker series on the podcast.