Advancing Alzheimer's Care and Research with Dr. Peter Gliebus

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast • October 3, 2025
Guest: Dr. Peter Gliebus, Chief of Neurology, Director of Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology, Marcus Neuroscience Institute, Baptist Health
Host: Laura Dearda

Overview

In this episode, Dr. Peter Gliebus discusses the latest in Alzheimer’s disease care, risk factors, diagnostic advancements, and emerging treatments. He emphasizes both medical breakthroughs and the real-life impact of the disease, offering hope for future therapies while advocating for comprehensive patient and caregiver support.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Signs and Progression

• Typical Early Symptoms

  • Gradual worsening of short-term memory—difficulty recalling recent events is the most common sign.
  • Individuals may repeat questions or conversations and occasionally forget important details.
  • Some have atypical presentations, such as language issues, visuospatial disorientation, or personality/behavior changes.
  • "It's not all or nothing initially...but then you start seeing that person is realist start asking you the same questions or repeating themselves classically." (Dr. Gliebus, [00:55])

• Disease Progression

  • Alzheimer’s progresses slowly, often over 8-10 years on average, with some people deteriorating faster or slower.
  • Onset is subtle, making the exact starting point hard to identify.
  • "It's such a slow and subtle beginning, but it usually lasts years." (Dr. Gliebus, [01:52])

Risk Factors

• Non-Modifiable
  • Genetics, age, and being female (potentially due to longevity and biological factors).
• Modifiable (Up to 40% Influential)
  • Cardiovascular health: high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol.
  • Lifestyle: physical inactivity, poor diet (non-Mediterranean), cognitive inactivity, low education, social isolation.
  • Mental health: depression, chronic stress, alcohol abuse, repeated head injuries, sleep disturbances.
  • Environmental: air pollution, especially in midlife.
  • "By working on these risk factors, we can actually significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's." (Dr. Gliebus, [03:40])
  • "Mediterranean diet is really...vegetable and fruit forward...less red meat and maybe more poultry or more fish, seafood." (Dr. Gliebus, [04:41])

Diagnosis

• Stepwise Clinical Process
  • Start with clinical assessment and patient history (patterns must suggest Alzheimer’s, excluding other causes like strokes).
  • Neuropsychological testing is used to quantify deficits and specify the pattern.
  • Brain imaging (to rule out other neurological conditions).
  • Introduction of biomarkers: PET imaging for amyloid proteins, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and the emergence of blood-based biomarkers (important for future screening and confirmation).
  • "The science is moving forward, obviously." (Dr. Gliebus, [06:51])

Treatment Options

• Non-Pharmacological
  • Physical, cognitive, and social activity; sleep hygiene; controlling vascular risks.
• Pharmacological
  • New FDA-approved monoclonal antibody infusion therapies target amyloid proteins—these slow disease progression but don't stop/reverse it.
  • Older drugs still used to help maintain independence but do not modify disease course.
  • "They're not perfect treatments...but it's definitely a right step forward." (Dr. Gliebus, [07:54])

Research Breakthroughs & Future Outlook

• Increasing number of trials (>100-200) looking at amyloid, tau, and various other disease mechanisms.
• Exploration of new modalities: electrical stimulation, stem cell transplantation.
• Outlook in a decade: disease management landscape expected to be “completely different” with a variety of therapeutic targets and approaches.
• "We're very excited...the landscape of the treatment will be completely different in 10 years than what it is right now." (Dr. Gliebus, [09:00])

Impact for Patients and Families

• New therapies provide hope, extending quality time for families and potentially improving candidacy for future treatments.
• Emphasis on the importance of support systems for families and caregivers:
  • Future/legal planning, home safety, mental health resources, and support groups for caregivers.
  • "It's not only a person's disease, but it changes the whole dynamic...connecting in the groups and what we call caregiver support groups could be very helpful." (Dr. Gliebus, [11:26])

What Gives Dr. Gliebus Hope

• Momentum in research translates into innovation and optimism.
• Financial and intellectual resources are being devoted globally.
• Realistic about the slow arrival of breakthroughs but hopeful for control or arrest of progression in early stages.
• "I'm very, you know, I'm hopeful and optimistic, you know, about the future of the treatment of this condition..." (Dr. Gliebus, [12:34])

The Marcus Neuroscience Institute Approach

• Integrated, multidisciplinary team: social work, nurse navigation, participation in Medicare’s GUIDE program for care innovation.
• Engaged in research, clinical care, and education—holistic support for both patients and caregivers.
• Focus on making cutting-edge therapies and coordinated care accessible, supported by research and continuous professional education.
• "The holistic approach is not only the biological treatment of the disease, but also the social interventions..." (Dr. Gliebus, [14:15])

Notable Quotes

• On Disease Progression:
  "We give eight to 10 years with some of the survival with Alzheimer's disease, that's average." (Dr. Gliebus, [01:53])

• On Modifiable Risk:
  "These modifiable risk factors might play up to 40% role in developing the disease." (Dr. Gliebus, [03:30])

• On New Treatments:
  "The infusion medications, monoclonal antibodies...were shown to slow the disease progression. They don't stop, they don't reverse the disease, but they slow it down." (Dr. Gliebus, [07:39])

• On Research Energy:
  "I'm excited about...the good financial support for the research and that many people are trying to look out of box, look for other solutions for the disease..." (Dr. Gliebus, [12:19])

• On Caregiver Support:
  "It's also very important to feel that they're not alone...caregiver support groups could be very helpful." (Dr. Gliebus, [11:41])

Important Timestamps

• Early warning signs & progression: [00:35] – [01:45]
• Risk factors (modifiable & non-modifiable): [02:29] – [05:11]
• Diagnostic advances: [05:24] – [07:03]
• Treatment current & future: [07:12] – [09:44]
• Caregiver and patient support: [10:49] – [11:56]
• Institute’s innovative approach: [13:14] – [14:37]

Summary prepared for listeners interested in the latest in Alzheimer's care, research, and supportive resources.