Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp

#127 - Anxiety + Dementia: Anxiety Treatment is Essential to Reducing Dementia Risk


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Anxiety increases dementia risk by 24% (about the same rate as diabetes) —but treatment for anxiety corrects this. Learn why early detection and treatment in older adults is critical to brain health.

In this episode, I unpack the groundbreaking connection between anxiety and dementia. You’ll learn why anxiety is not a normal part of aging—and why your role as a therapist, social worker, psychologist, or aging life care expert is critical in reducing long-term cognitive decline.

You’ll walk away with four actionable steps you can take to make a meaningful difference in the lives of older clients—and possibly prevent dementia in the process.

This isn't just about reducing symptoms. It's about restoring dignity, peace of mind, and protecting brain health—now and for years to come.

Here’s what you’ll learn:
✅ How anxiety affects the aging brain and increases dementia risk
✅ Why anxiety is often missed or misdiagnosed in older adults
✅ How to screen, normalize, and treat anxiety in therapy
✅ The importance of collaborative care and early detection
✅ How you can adapt your practice to better serve older clients

👉 Get the full list of research and clinical tools I mention here: https://www.mentalhealthandaging.com/podcast/anxiety-dementia-what-therapists-must-know/

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

👉 Want to Become an Aging Informed Therapist? Join us for our live CE course on 8/21/25 from 12-1:30pm EST. Click here to learn more.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here


Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

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Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina KoeppBy Dr. Regina Koepp

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