Aging Untold: Lupus looks invisible, but the fight inside isn’t
(Aging Untold) — On this episode of Aging Untold, we break down the daily realities of living with lupus, shedding light on the unpredictable fatigue, pain and invisible burdens of this autoimmune condition.
We explore the complex choices surrounding feeding tubes, helping families understand when they are recommended and what questions to ask.
Then, an in-depth report highlights a breakthrough FDA-cleared blood test that could revolutionize early Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Lupus looks invisible; the fight inside isn’t
Lupus is an autoimmune condition that others often can’t see.
“Sam” Cradduck is sharing her personal experience living with lupus.
“The weekend before I went in my first flare, I played eight softball games back-to-back in a tournament — never sat down,” Cradduck said. “And on Wednesday morning, I couldn’t walk to the bathroom. I could not get myself to the bathroom unaided.”
She said the year that followed was difficult, including time spent in a wheelchair and significant weight gain, but it led her to a turning point.
Feeding tubes aren’t a magic fix — what families need to know
If you have a loved one who loses the ability to eat normally, your family can be thrust into difficult decisions about feeding tubes, comfort and what comes next.
Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said the real decision isn’t just whether to place a feeding tube — it’s understanding what the family is hoping it will accomplish. Is it temporary until somebody gets healthy, or do they have a disease that’s progressing and they’re not going to get back to a baseline level?
Amy O’Rourke, an aging expert, shared how watching her own family changed her perspective on feeding tubes.
“I had my whole view of feeding tubes change, watching my father-in-law. He had a feeding tube for seven years. My mother-in-law cooked three meals a day, pureed the food and fed him,” O’Rourke said. “They went on cruises. They danced. He became a special cook. We went out to fabulous restaurants. You forgot he had a feeding tube.”
FDA-approved blood test offers new hope for Alzheimer’s diagnosis
The first blood test the FDA approved to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease is a significant step forward in treating a condition that affects millions of Americans.
Traditional diagnosis often involves referrals to specialists, expensive PET scans of the brain and lumbar punctures, also known as spinal taps.
However, the blood test, Lumipulse, is a “less invasive option” that “reduces reliance on PET scans and increases diagnosis accessibility,” according to the FDA.
True Friends Hall restoration aims to save Louisiana music landmark
True Friends Hall in Louisiana is a historic hall that once provided refuge for Black families and performers during segregation.
The benevolent society that operated the hall helped families in need and provided a gathering place during an era when Black Americans faced widespread discrimination.
“These organizations supported families. If you had a baby, the house burned down, they would come to the aid. These are men who were carpenters, brickmasons,” Darryl Hambrick, founder of the River Road African American Museum, said.
The hall, built in the late 1800s, is undergoing a major restoration project.
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