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Brain Talk | Being Patient for Alzheimer's Patients and CaregiversAuthor: Being Patient
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When Words Fade: Samuel and Heather Valverde on Living With Primary Progressive Aphasia
Wednesday, 25 February, 2026
This interview is brought to you in partnership with Eisai and is part of the Journey to Diagnosis series.Eisai: https://www.eisai.com/index.htmlJourney to Diagnosis: https://beingpatient.com/journey-to-diagnosis/ What are the early signs of primary progressive aphasia (PPA)?In this Being Patient Live Talk, Samuel Valverde and his wife, Heather, share their journey to a diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia, a form of cognitive impairment that affects language and communication.Samuel Valverde is a Desert Storm combat veteran and former police chief in Waelder, Texas, who built his life around discipline, service, and staying sharp under pressure. But over time, subtle changes began to appear — missed court dates, forgotten details, and increasing difficulty with focus, planning, and speech.In 2022, while being treated for PTSD, Samuel’s psychologist noticed changes that seemed to go beyond trauma. After months of testing — including cognitive evaluations, speech therapy, MRIs, and a PET scan — Samuel was diagnosed at age 53 with primary progressive aphasia (PPA).In this conversation with Being Patient’s Mark Niu, Samuel and Heather talk openly about:Recognizing the early warning signs of PPAThe road to diagnosisHow PPA affects speech and daily lifeThe emotional impact on the whole familyAdjusting roles as a couple after diagnosisFinding resilience, support, and hopeIf you or someone you love is living with PPA, young-onset Alzheimer’s, or another form of dementia, this conversation offers insight, support, and practical perspective.Visit Being Patient for more Alzheimer’s and brain health coverage: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being PatientTwitter: / being_patient Instagram: / beingpatientvoices Facebook: / beingpatientalzheimers LinkedIn: / being-patient Being Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet covering brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. Our Live Talk series features interviews with experts and people living with dementia.
