Genetic Legacies: Book Talk and Panel Conversation

How does it feel to carry the genetic blueprint for a disease that has shaped your family's story—and may shape your future and that of your children? With the increasing statistics of people living with dementia, as well as the increased accessibility of genetic testing, how do we navigate this modern dilemma to live with or without our genetic knowledge?

Join us for a panel conversation exploring this sensitive topic of genetic legacies in the context of neurodegenerative disease. Inspired by Mindy Uhrlaub's memoir, Last Nerve, this event will include a brief reading from Mindy's book, followed by a panel conversation featuring voices from the intersection of lived experience, neuroscience, genetic counseling, and art. Together, we will discuss topics of shame, stigma, and grief; the process of genetic testing for biomarkers; and future solutions. 

Whether you're navigating your own genetic legacy, supporting someone who is, working in healthcare or genetic counseling, or simply interested in the ethical questions raised by modern genetics, we hope you will join us! 

Panelists

Mindy Uhrlaub, author of Last Nerve and C9orf72 gene carrier, is a tireless advocate for genetic carriers of ALS and a founding member of End the Legacy. Her memoir chronicles her journey through genetic testing, family loss, and the search for meaning in the shadow of inherited disease.

Jennifer Yokoyama, PhD, faculty member, GBHI at UCSF; Mary Oakley Foundation Endowed Professor in Neurodegeneration, Associate Professor at the Fein Memory and Aging Center, studies how genetic variation affects risk and resilience to neurodegenerative diseases. 

Liya Rabkina, MSc, genetic counselor at the Fein Memory and Aging Center, brings expertise in the emotional, practical, and ethical dimensions of genetic testing and will help us understand how people make choices in the face of uncertainty, grief, and family planning. 

Carissa Potter, MFA, visual artist and author, transforms the human experience of connection, grief, and joy in both small and large-scale visual narratives. Don't miss Potter's current exhibition, You Don't Have to Show Up, featured in Gallery 190, on view through April 3.

Come early to enjoy Carissa's artwork in Gallery 190 and stay afterwards for a book signing with Mindy!