Journal

From Diagnosis to Determination: Why Judy Chose Action

December 15, 2025

In an interview with Dr. Manna Semby, Alzheimer's survivor Judy Benjamin described her experience after being diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease in 2011 at age 67. Fourteen years later, at age 81, Benjamin is walking 3,000 miles across the United States, raising awareness about brain health and early intervention.

During the interview, Dr. Semby contrasted Benjamin's outcome with that of British broadcaster Fiona Phillips, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in 2021 at age 61. Four years after diagnosis, Phillips requires assistance with daily activities such as dressing and bathing, according to her husband, Martin Frizell.

Both women had strong family histories of Alzheimer's disease and were diagnosed at early stages. The difference, as discussed in the interview, was how each responded following diagnosis. Benjamin pursued a comprehensive, multi-factor intervention addressing diet, physical activity, sleep, metabolic health, hormones, inflammation, stress, and cognitive training years before such approaches gained wider recognition.

The interview underscored the importance of the early-stage window in Alzheimer's disease, when the brain retains greater capacity for stabilization and improvement. According to Dr. Semby, actions taken in the months and years surrounding diagnosis may play a critical role in determining long-term outcomes.

See Dr. Semby's complete blog, Two Women: One Diagnosis, Two Strategies, Two Outcomes.