Dementia Untangled

Dementia is often referred to as a “family disease” because of the effect it has on not only the person living with it, but also the people who care for and about them. As the disease progresses, relationships and family dynamics can change. We connected with Dr. R. Amanda Cooper, a family communication researcher and an assistant professor at the University of Connecticut, to discuss this further. Through her research, she was able to identify four main stages of relational changes on the dementia journey and in turn, learn how to better manage them. 

The progression of dementia changes a lot in our day-to-day lives, but one of the most complicated affected areas is arguably how we communicate. We asked Dr. Michelle James, a licensed clinical psychologist at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute with specialized training in clinical neuropsychology, to help us untangle these changes and learn what we can do to be prepared for them. She explains how we formulate language in our brain and why the progression of dementia directly affects how we talk.  

Families supporting someone with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease can sometimes feel isolated because of the lack of resources and support within their community. After her husband Lorenzo was diagnosed, our guest Diana Shula Cose, the founding executive director of Lorenzo’s House, wanted to change that for all families on this younger-onset dementia journey. She discusses how she was inspired by children impacted by this experience and uses the youth as a compass to guide the group’s mission. She works to use connecting stories to bring about healing, empathy, and fight isolation. 

As researchers push to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease, there are lots of new and exciting discoveries and drug approvals being made. We enlisted Dr. Parichita Choudhury, a cognitive neurologist at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, to answer some of our most-requested questions about what all of this means. She untangles the latest drug trial results, what the names of these drugs mean, and how healthcare systems implement the use of these breakthrough treatments. 

Inspired by his own experience with a movement disorder, Dr. David Shprecher, a neurologist and director of movement disorders at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, shares with us his passion for serving the dementia community and more specifically, those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease dementia. With about 50% of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s developing dementia, concern is high for this population. Experts are working to determine what can be done to identify these changes early. Dr. Shprecher helps us untangle the unique aspects of this disease, as well as define characteristics that differentiate it from Alzheimer’s disease. We also discuss how to care for your loved one on this journey. 

Season 8 has been full of inspirational storytellers and advocates for the dementia community. Our hosts with special guest Amber Ayers once again discuss which episodes surprised them, which ones they felt a connection with, and what they took away from the entire season. Don’t miss this special revisited episode to gain insight into what made this season so unique, and which surprises you will have to revisit for yourself. 

The reactions of someone with dementia to certain situations may prove difficult for caregivers to appropriately respond. Psychologist and chief clinical officer of Taproot, Dr. Linda Buscemi, helps us untangle these situations of resistance and offers a technological solution that is like having a psychologist in your pocket. She explains her company’s app “Ella,” and how it uses artificial intelligence to deliver a person-centered approach to care with non-pharmacological solutions. 

With the majority of older Americans desiring to age in place, it becomes challenging as dementia progresses to remain at home – especially if you live alone. We wanted to find out more about successful independent living with dementia, so we turned to Harbhajan Khalsa, the Dementia Capable Southern Arizona Program director. We talk about the negative effects of social isolation, how to encourage your local community to become “dementia friendly,” and what supportive resources are available to people on the dementia journey. 

Men are less likely to participate in Alzheimer’s research and seek a diagnosis. This lack of representation extends more specifically to Black men. We enlisted Dr. Robert W. Turner II, an assistant professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, to help us answer questions about why these conversations are so important to have. We also discuss how to create a supportive community for men to talk about brain health and get involved in research. 

Managing the healthcare of older adults, especially those with dementia, requires a different approach. We connected with Dr. Nimit Agarwal, an associate professor and Chief of Geriatric Medicine at University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix to talk to him about a “new philosophy” that physicians and healthcare workers are learning in age-friendly hospitals. The initiative is driven by focusing on treating the disease and connecting on what matters to the patient, focusing on the individual.