Welcome to 'Journey of A Withering Brain!'

Hi! I am Dr. Akshata Almad, a neuroscientist with over 15 years of experience in understanding neurological diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinsons disease.  

I received my PhD in neuroscience from the Ohio State University and have completed her post-doctoral training at Johns Hopkins University. I am currently dedicated to developing innovative therapeutics in drug discovery.

In this episode, I share the personal story of my father, who is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and my journey to understand complexities of this disease. Through my podcast I hope to bring public awareness and bring a deeper understanding of neurological diseases by interviewing experts in each neurological disease area. 

The podcast will be coming soon, so please subscribe and share with all that may find this helpful!

Transcript

00:00:28 Hi, I'm Akshata Almad, a neuroscientist who's passionate about studying neurological diseases and working towards a cure.

00:00:37 I'm launching a new podcast called Journey of a Withering Brain.

This endeavor is not only professional. But a deeply personal one.

00:00:48 As a few years ago, my father was diagnosed. With Parkinson's disease.

00:00:54 Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disease. And it affects movements, causing tremors, slowing and stiffening of muscles. 

00:01:03 It also has non-movement symptoms that affect sleep, smell,

constipation, and many more. 

00:01:10 I want to share a little bit about my father. My father, Anand Almad, was born in a small farming village called Aland in the southern state of India. 

00:01:22 Despite limited resources, and the struggles he and his family faced; my dad went on to pursue a master's in mathematics. 

00:01:30 He moved to Mumbai, a city of dreams with little money in his pocket and where he knew no one but was eager to pursue his dreams.

00:01:41 He started his own business which flourished over the years.

00:01:45 He married my mom, and together they raised five girls.

00:01:51 Our parents have given us every opportunity to be educated and empowered. 

00:01:56 Like most dads, for me and my sisters, our dad was a superhero. Ambitious, resilient, and our guardian. 

00:02:06 With his diagnosis of Parkinson's, we all had to face a new reality. Especially my mom, who is his primary caregiver.

00:02:16 Seeing his struggles with everyday tasks has been heartbreaking. The decisions around caregiving, managing expectations from this grueling disease; all of it has been hard for our family. Just like many others.

00:02:31 For me, personally, it has been a strange place to be in as I study this disease and someday hope to contribute and make a difference.

00:02:42 However, for now, this battle with Parkinson's, of my dad has fueled my determination to seek knowledge and understanding. Not just for myself. But for all families affected by this disease.

00:02:55 With my background in neuroscience, I want to bridge knowledge gaps and seek out answers for questions that patient families may have. 

00:03:05 Whether it's about the standard of care, the treatment options, clinical trials or lifestyle recommendations.

00:03:13 Through journey of a withering brain, I hope to bring public awareness and bring a deeper understanding of these diseases, by interviewing experts in each neurological disease area.

00:03:26 My first series will be on Parkinson's in dedication to my dad and all those affected with this disease. 

00:03:34 Through engaging dialogue and insightful discussion, I hope to make the complexities of these diseases accessible to the public.

00:03:43 The experts would bring perspectives from clinical, academic, drug discovery, and patient advocacy viewpoints.

00:03:51 I want to foster a supportive community where families can find knowledge, compassion and feel empowered in their own journeys. 

00:04:00 I invite you to join me, on this journey of a withering brain. Let's embark together on this path of discovery and hope, one episode at a time. 

00:04:12 Please subscribe and share with friends and family. You can find this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. Thank you!