In this episode - which is on a topic very dear to my heart - I chat with Dr Sabina Brennan – health psychologist, neuroscientist, host of the Super Brain podcast, author of Still Me, Beating Brain Fog, and 100 Days to a Younger Brain – about shifting dementia care from a disease-centered approach to a person-centred partnership.

We discuss the idea of a ‘care partner’ rather than ‘carer’ and practical strategies for maintaining brain health across midlife and into older age. We dive into cognitive reserve, modifiable dementia risk factors, and how to support both the person with dementia and those caring for them, with an emphasis on curiosity, autonomy, and joy.

Key topics 

  - Sabina’s new book Still Me blends professional knowledge with personal experience caring for her own mother with dementia.

  - The shift from “carer” to “care partner” to support autonomy and reduce paternalism.

  - The importance of allowing people with dementia to participate in decisions that affect their day-to-day life.

  - The risk of disempowerment when we do tasks for the person rather than with them.

  - Understanding different dementia trajectories and the role of family in decision making.

  - Cognitive reserve and how engaging the brain can delay symptom onset (reserves of brain function can delay symptoms even with pathology present).

  - The 14 modifiable risk factors (including obesity, smoking, hearing loss, social isolation, depression) and how lifestyle changes help brain health.

  - The brain–heart health link: heart health, diet, exercise, and the risk of cognitive decline.

  - The value of social engagement and mentally stimulating activities for a healthy brain.

  - The problematic role of isolation and the importance of meaningful social connections.

  - Don’t force diagnoses on someone who isn’t ready; plan for the future with nuance and care.

  - Encouraging curiosity about the person’s experiences and responses.

  - Advice for those newly diagnosed, including gradual acceptance, planning, finances, and power of attorney. Plus, the really lovely idea of creating a notebook of preferences to honour the person’s likes and dislikes whilst they still have agency.

Sabina’s website: sabinabrennan.ie 

Books:

  - Still Me 

  - Beating Brain Fog

  - 100 Days to a Younger Brain

Podcast: Super Brain: https://sabinabrennan.ie/super-brain-podcast/ 

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You can also find me at www.thetripleshift.org / www.managingthemenpause.com 

connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmacthomas/ 

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