Behind the Coat – Nicole Fowler, PhD

Image Source: Regenstrief Institute

This month, we’re learning about Alzheimer’s and brain awareness. We’re excited to introduce Dr. Nicole Fowler, an associate professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine who is making waves in this field. Below, Dr. Fowler busts myths about Alzheimer’s, shares tips on how to support loved ones, and talks about risk factors.   

Describe yourself in one word.

Direct.

Walk us through your career path.

I never expected to be in research. I was initially a health care administrator who worked in long term care and palliative care. And I realized that I had a lot of questions about why we provide care to older adults the way that we do and I wanted to study health care delivery and improve care. 

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career?

Hearing from a family caregiver that the project or product that I designed helped them provide care to an older adult family member or friend.

What do you wish people knew about Alzheimer’s and brain health?

While no one wants to develop problems with their memory and thinking as they age, it is nothing to feel ashamed by. So many people worry about being stigmatized if they admit that they are having problems with memory and thinking, but if your doctor and your family are able to know nearly, there is more we can do to help.

What is the biggest misconception about Alzheimer’s?

That it is an inevitable part of aging and that there is nothing we can do to help people who have Alzheimer’s disease.

What are the most common symptoms?

Initially, it may be problems with memory, especially short-term memory. Other early symptoms include the inability to complete higher level tasks such as following a recipe or managing your finances. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, many people experience other symptoms, such as apathy or agitation.

Do symptoms differ between races and ages?

Some studies have shown that behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia do vary by age or other characteristics such as race and other medical conditions that people may have.

Who and what types of people are most at risk for developing Alzheimer’s?

Age is the number one risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Other factors across people’s life span can increase risk such as obtaining less education, obesity, high blood pressure, excessive alcohol consumption, social isolation, smoking, diabetes, and physical inactivity.

How can people minimize their risk of developing Alzheimer’s?

Many of the same steps that we have been taught about keeping our heart healthy are the same for keeping our brain healthy. Staying active—physically, mentally, and socially. Paying attention to the food we consume and our levels of stress. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, really working to keep them stable.

What role do genetics and family history play in the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease?

There is some genetic contribution to developing Alzheimer’s disease and that has been shown to vary across different ethnic groups. Although, there is not one single genetic contribution and most scientists believe that Alzheimer’s disease is a combination of lifestyle, genetic and environmental factors that impact people’s brains, over a series of years.