Seg A: NPR's Jon Hamilton

Seg B: Benefits of Art Therapy 

Seg C: CT Law Mandating Test Coverage

Doctors, researchers and patients are facing a critical moment in the care and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. This hour, we talk with Jon Hamilton of NPR’s Science Desk about new medicines available to people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. He also describes the impact federal funding cuts will have on Alzheimer’s research.

Plus, Sujata Srinivasan, Senior Health Reporter at Connecticut Public, joins to expound on the benefits of art therapy for patients and their caregivers. And, participants in the Memories @ The MATT art therapy program at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, share their experiences making art at the museum.

Finally, the Director of Public Policy at the Alzheimer’s Association, Connecticut Chapter, details the org’s crucial role in getting HB6771 passed in Connecticut’s 2025 legislative session. The new law mandates insurance coverage of tests for early detection of Alzheimer's.

GUESTS:
Jon Hamilton: Correspondent for NPR's Science Desk


Mike and Patty Quirk: Participants in the Collide Art and Memory exhibition


David Scott Gilbert and Nan Green: Participants in the Collide Art and Memory exhibition


Sujata Srinivasan: Senior Health Reporter, Connecticut Public


Christy Kovel: Director Public Policy, Alzheimer's Association, Connecticut Chapter

LEARN MORE:
See more photos from the art therapy program and read Sujata Srinivasan's series on caregivers. And, you can watch the documentary, "Caregiving" on PBS.

Visit the Alzheimer's Association, Connecticut Chapter to connect with local resources or call their 24/7 helpline: 800-272-3900.

The Alzheimer's Association, Connecticut Chapter, and the Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center, are sponsors of Connecticut Public.

Disrupted is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Doctors, researchers and patients are facing a critical moment in the care and treatment of Alzheimer&rsquo;s Disease. This hour, we talk with Jon Hamilton of NPR&rsquo;s Science Desk about new medicines available to people in the early stages of Alzheimer&rsquo;s. He also describes the impact federal funding cuts will have on Alzheimer&rsquo;s research.
Plus, Sujata Srinivasan, Senior Health Reporter at Connecticut Public, joins to expound on the benefits of art therapy for patients and their caregivers. And, participants in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mattmuseum.org/exhibition/collide/">Memories @ The MATT</a> art therapy program at the <a href="https://www.mattmuseum.org/">Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury</a>, share their experiences making art at the museum.
Finally, the Director of Public Policy at the Alzheimer&rsquo;s Association, Connecticut Chapter, details the org&rsquo;s crucial role in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABillStatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&amp;bill_num=hb6771">getting HB6771 passed</a> in Connecticut&rsquo;s 2025 legislative session. The new law mandates insurance coverage of tests for early detection of Alzheimer's.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/2100615/jon-hamilton">Jon Hamilton</a>: Correspondent for NPR's Science Desk</li>
<li>
Mike and Patty Quirk: Participants in the <a href="https://www.mattmuseum.org/exhibition/collide/">Collide Art and Memory exhibition</a>
</li>
<li>
David Scott Gilbert and Nan Green: Participants in the Collide Art and Memory exhibition
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/sujata-srinivasan">Sujata Srinivasan</a>: Senior Health Reporter, Connecticut Public
</li>
<li>
Christy Kovel: Director Public Policy, <a href="https://www.alz.org/ct">Alzheimer's Association, Connecticut Chapter</a>
</li>
</ul>
LEARN MORE: See more photos from the art therapy program and read Sujata Srinivasan's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-06-23/caregivers-take-on-unseen-exhausting-thankless-work-here-are-some-of-their-stories">series on caregivers</a>. And, you can watch the documentary, "<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/watch/pbs-programming/caregiving">Caregiving</a>" on PBS.
Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alz.org/ct">Alzheimer's Association, Connecticut Chapter</a> to connect with local resources or call their 24/7 helpline: 800-272-3900.
The Alzheimer's Association, Connecticut Chapter, and the Mattatuck Museum Arts &amp; History Center, are sponsors of Connecticut Public.
Disrupted is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrupted/id1534163465">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f8967bbf-ebf9-4abe-a31f-9363adaa2383/disrupted">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0zWn3s3Wpj3CRbYg6WnHDc">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/Disrupted-p1371247/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/disrupted-connecticut-public-radio-Mcm2UfSKxuq/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.

Visit ctpublic.org/disrupted for more! 

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.
Visit <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted">ctpublic.org/disrupted</a> for more!