U.S. Navy veteran Chris Tann, was diagnosed with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia in 2019 after his wife, Debra, noticed behavioral changes and began documenting unusual incidents at home. They began learning and raising awareness about a condition that is often misunderstood. Today, he is an active member of the Black Dementia Minds support group and a participant in a long-term clinical trial at Vanderbilt University.

In this conversation with Being Patient’s founder Deborah Kan, the couple discuss the early signs Chris exhibited prior to his diagnosis, the behavioral changes that come with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, caregiving strategies, and how faith plays a central role in how Chris copes with his diagnosis. Together, they emphasize the importance of awareness, advocacy, and research participation.

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Being Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. 

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