Laurie McGinley

Emily Domhoff, diagnosed in her late 20s with colon cancer, sits in June with a saline drip IV after having her chemotherapy infusion pump removed. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

LOUISVILLE — The five people gathered around the restaurant table do not fit the profile of colon cancer patients. They're female, and they're young. Two were diagnosed in their 20s, one in her 30s, two in their early 40s.

Robert Williford, 67, receives a dose of Leqembi at Abington Neurological Associates in Abington, Pa. (Hannah Yoon for The Washington Post)

Data on how the drugs work in Black patients is sparse — despite the fact that they develop Alzheimer’s at twice the rate of White people. That has some experts worrying that the drug won’t work as well for African Americans and may expose them to extra safety risks.

When Dennis Carr learned he had early Alzheimer's disease, he immediately thought of his older brother who had died of the illness in 2023.

Health reporter Laurie McGinley will answer your questions during a live chat on Monday at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

By Laurie McGinley Special to The Washington Post • October 14, 2024

Patients and doctors used to think there wasn’t much that could be done after an Alzheimer’s diagnoses. Things are changing.

A global consortium of doctors and researchers have created a way to map a virtual organ ahead of complicated surgeries that enables surgeons to test their actions in real time.