Dementia Untangled

Each season we dive deeper into the dementia journey to untangle new perspectives, connections, and explanations for caregivers and the community. Season six blew away our expectations with passionate and informative conversations you won’t want to miss. Heather, Janice, and Amber talk about some of the moments that really resonated with them, and what chats inspired them to take action.

The number of people diagnosed with dementia is far outpacing the number of specialists in the field. With more than 10 million new diagnoses each year, experts are getting creative on how to provide the best level of care to patients and their families. This week’s guest is Carrie Langford, a Licensed Master Social Worker at Banner Sun Health Research Institute. She shares the creative approach she and her team have taken through Dementia Care Partners. The program strategically partners with primary care offices to provide those patients living with dementia resources, education, and skills training to family caregivers. By leveraging Health Coaches, the program can leave the clinical care to the physician but help with day-to-day concerns and provide support strategies at home, which have shown to reduce some caregiving burden and cost of health care.

The idea of marijuana being used for medical purposes has a storied past. As it becomes legal in more states, the stigma around it is being reduced and more are considering the applications to medical conditions. In this episode, Dr. Danielle Goldfarb, a double board-certified neurologist and psychiatrist at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, answers all our questions about marijuana. She even untangles possible benefits for those with dementia by reducing agitation and addressing other related issues.

Time and time again, we’ve heard how much of an impact music can have on our brains, so we’re talking to Dr. Michael Thaut, a professor in the faculty of music and the faculty of medicine at University of Toronto, to learn more about improving our brain plasticity and cognitive performance by listening to our favorite music. Dr. Thaut untangles the science behind this method and shares with us his experience as a professional musician and how it crossed with his passion for brain processes that are connected to music to help people with dementia and their quality of life. We learn how music-based interventions can retrain some brain function and support neurodevelopmental brain function.

Creating a safe environment for someone with dementia is a top priority, especially when your loved one wishes to stay in their own home while they can. Jennifer Reeder, LCSW, the Director of Education and Social Services at Alzheimer’s Foundation of America helps us identify simple, helpful ways to make your home more dementia-friendly. She shares some key elements to be mindful of that make it easier for someone living with dementia to stay safe and comfortable as their cognition declines.

In this special bonus episode, playwright Steven Drukman untangles his soon-to-be world premiered play, Pru Payne. Exploring the experience of Prudence, a woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Steven shares his inspiration for creating his vibrant characters and their story, as well as his own personal journey with dementia in his family. He encourages us to “live in the moment” with this inspirational play and why representation matters in our artistic experiences.

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community deal with health disparities and discrimination, even from health care providers. This creates challenges when it comes to education around dementia, and access to resources and support. Dr. Jason Flatt, an Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Public Health, is our guest to help untangle these common issues and recognize opportunities for support and care for older LGBTQIA+ people. Jason also reinforces the importance of representation for this group and encourages everyone to get involved in research, especially if you identify as a part of a minority community.

Dr. Pallavi Joshi, Geriatric Psychiatrist at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute helps us better understand the connection between substance use and dementia in older adults. Sometimes considered a taboo topic, she breaks down the different types of substances that can increase one’s chance of cognitive decline, gives us updated terms to better understand the topic, and how intervening early can change the trajectory of the outcome of substance use disorders.

After visiting five different doctors to finally get an accurate diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), our guest Laurie Scherrer found herself feeling lost and hopeless. She felt invisible, alone, and unsure about the rest of her life. That is, until she took her diagnosis into her own hands and found resources, support, and a new outlook on her life. This conversation with Laurie will inspire anyone on the dementia journey to stop wasting time and start having a happy life.

After a diagnosis of dementia, people are often told to “get your affairs in order.” Our guest Emily Kile, an Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney, helps us untangle what that refers to and how to start planning now for legal concerns that we may have in the future on the dementia journey. It’s never too early to develop an estate plan, and Emily helps us understand where to start, what questions to ask, and why it’s so important to have a plan in place as dementia progresses.

You can begin to feel a bit alone after receiving your dementia diagnosis. You may feel a loss of purpose and your ability to stay connected to others around you becomes more challenging as the disease progresses. Our guest this week is a social worker with Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center (RADC) who talks to us about the realities of feeling loneliness. Expert Susan Frick helps untangle not only the feelings as a person living with the disease, but also the caregiver who is supporting their loved one. She paints us a picture of what this may feel like and how caregivers and community members can help alleviate some of these feelings. She also encourages people to talk about their situation and reduce stigma around the disease.

Every season of “Dementia Untangled” often reveals and underlying theme and this one was no different. This time, we revisit some of our favorite moments from Season 5 with our editor/producer Amber Ayers and discuss our theme of hope. It’s been said “hope is a survivor trait” and the stories we heard have reassured us that there IS hope for the future, ways to live well with dementia, and the approaching day when we have our first survivor of Alzheimer’s disease.

Traveling can provide many benefits to our well-being, but also may create anxiety and stress, even without cognitive changes happening. Jan Dougherty joins us this week to share practical strategies to help alleviate some of the stressors that can be created by traveling with dementia and reinforces the benefits of travel for one’s mental health. She untangles how, even though symptoms may be managed well at home, that a change in location or routine may be upsetting - even with short trips to the store or doctor’s office.

As memory and cognitive changes progress in people with dementia, some can experience a delusional belief that a person or object has been replaced by an imposter – a syndrome known as Capgras. Our guest Dr. Ganesh Gopalakrishna, a Banner Alzheimer’s Institute dementia specialist, helps us identify this behavior and offer helpful suggestions on how to re-establish trust and comfort your loved one. He shares with us how auditory connections can help avoid the anxiety that accompanies the confusion that is experienced, as well as what can be done to support and encourage caregivers that are experiencing the effects of this syndrome.

As a loved one’s dementia diagnosis progresses, caregivers will face a change in behaviors that can sometimes be hard to manage and even overwhelming at times. In this episode, our guest Kathleen Buckwalter, a geriatric mental health nurse, teaches us about the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold (PLST) model and how to use it to minimize some of those challenging behaviors. She untangles the effect that stress has on us all, and how she worked to identify opportunities as a caregiver to minimize it and move through most situations.

The Asian American and Pacific Islander population is the fastest growing ethnic group in America, highlighting the need for health education and dementia support. Our guest this week is Edie Yau, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, helps us understand the cultural beliefs and ideas around dementia that affect the perspective, care process, and barriers to getting a diagnosis for members of the AAPI community. She speaks to the importance of person-centered care, getting involved in research studies, offering resources in native languages, and considering cultural context when providing care and support for people with dementia and their families.

Recognizing signs of dementia isn’t always easy and complications like delirium can make it even more difficult. In this episode our guest, Helle Brand, a physician assistant and dementia expert, dives into the complexities of each, helping us untangle the differences and what questions to ask. We discover why delirium happens, if it can turn into dementia, and how to help our loved one experiencing symptoms.

Driving means so many things to us: freedom, independence, responsibility – but is it safe to drive with dementia? Jenny Nordine, an expert with Driving to Independence, helps us untangle the complicated feelings and decisions that must be made when it’s no longer a good idea to get behind the wheel. She speaks to evaluating one’s cognition and defensive driving techniques to determine one’s ability to continue driving after a diagnosis, as well as what steps to take when it’s time to give up the keys.

The dementia journey is incredibly unique for each individual, including the more than 11 million caregivers in the United States. This week, Katharine Halpin joins the conversation to share her experience as a caregiver for her wife living with Alzheimer’s disease. She untangles the early signs of the disease that she later connected to the beginning of her wife’s cognitive decline and how they now share in enrichment programs designed to benefit not only the person with the disease, but also the caregiver. She gives us insight into participating in clinical trials to help contribute to the research side of the disease, and how much joy they’ve been able to find on their journey.

There is always an opportunity to find new ways to live well with dementia. This week our guest, Eyleen Braaten from Giving Voice Initiative gives us insight on the benefits of using our voices to sing and sing together for a myriad of enrichment opportunities. She untangles the cognitive benefits of participating in a choir for both participants and their families, creating a deep sense of value and contribution to the community. Her own experience as a member of the “Sandwich Generation,” a phrase coined for those caring for children and an older loved one, created feelings of isolation. But she found hope and community as a caregiver and was also inspired to start a career with the Giving Voice Initiative.

Is there a way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease? We asked our guest, Dr. Mike Malek-Ahmadi, a Bioinformatics Scientist at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, this exact question. He carefully untangles the biology behind the disease, what scientists have identified as the cause of cognitive problems that occur, and how they hope to identify people before they show symptoms and intervene earlier to delay or prevent Alzheimer’s. He shares his goals of changing from a clinical to a biological diagnosis for Alzheimer’s by identifying the presence of a bio marker for disease before seeing any cognitive decline – eventually leading to the first survivor of Alzheimer’s disease.

We look back and revisit some of our favorite moments from Season 4, as well as dive a little deeper and untangle the podcast experience of our hosts and editor/producer Amber Ayers. Learn more about how our experiences help shape the conversations we have with our guests and how each episode offers new knowledge and perspectives on the disease, the community, and the resources available. Is there a topic you're interested in learning more about? Email us at DementiaUntangled@bannerhealth.com

There’s no denying the ability music has to meet us where we are, brighten our mood, or even comfort us in our sadness, so it’s no surprise that it can have a dynamic effect on people with dementia. We get to chat with Grace Meadows, the campaign director for Music for Dementia and a music therapist, about how music can connect people at all stages of the disease and create a sense of community and comfort. She explains how even if a person is non-verbal, they can participate and often show signs of happiness and understanding, enriching lives through music.

Early delivery of palliative care for our person with dementia can reduce the number of unnecessary hospital admissions and the use of health services, delivering a comfort approach to care. We talk with Dr. Matt Malone, a geriatric psychiatrist at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute to learn more about this approach and why it’s so important to consider goals of care for our person. We learn that palliative care isn’t just for life-limiting illness, but something that can be a part of a disease process. He talks about how to help families make the least-worst decision to balance risks vs. benefits to meet an individual’s goal for care.

Individuals within the black community are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as their white counterparts, but it is less commonly acknowledged and diagnosed, creating large disparities in education, support, and care. We chat with Dr. Fayron Epps, an Assistant Professor at Emory University and founder of Alter, about her inspiration to research the impact of dementia on the black community, and how she took on the responsibility of educating and supporting those people in it. She acknowledges what she calls “Black Superwoman Syndrome” that some caregivers feel, refusing help from others, adding additional stress and burden to them, and encourages them to activate their community, including their faith community for support. She talks about the “Caregiving While Black” course she helped develop, focused on empowering black caregivers to properly advocate for their person when they interact with the health system, educate them about insurance and coverages, and provide resources.

While we hope to avoid emergency situations with our loved ones, it’s a reality that is best to be prepared for – not only as a caregiver, but also as a person working as a first responder.  We talk with Tracey Wilkinson, a Crisis Intervention Specialist with Scottsdale Police Department, about the special training program she has helped develop for public safety officers and first responders to be more prepared in situations that require a different approach for someone with cognitive impairment. She also offers helpful tips and actionable steps to make sure you are prepared as a caregiver in an emergency, to ensure your person is cared for in the best possible way.

Older adults often have multiple medical conditions, requiring more than one medication – add dementia to the list and all of those interactions can get confusing and complicated. We talk with Dr. Jaclyn Robinson, a geriatrician at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, about how to have conversations with our doctor about our medications, both prescribed and over the counter, to ensure we are utilizing them properly and safely. She has a special interest in medication management and deprescribing medications, focusing on whole patient care and support. She also discusses medications used to treat people with dementia and what expectations patients and families should have around them.

About 83% of caregivers are family members, friends, or neighbors taking care of someone, with about half of those caring for someone with dementia. Our guest Lori Nisson, Banner Health’s Family & Community Services Director, helps us untangle the difficult topic of managing conflicts that inevitably arise throughout the dementia journey. She gives us tangible actions to take and feel supported through the emotional, physical, and financial strain caregiving may create. If left unaddressed, these stressful situations can result in emotionally charged altercations and feelings of guilt or depression.

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a leading type of progressive dementia behind Alzheimer’s disease. But this condition still isn’t well understood and can be difficult to diagnose. We chat with Dr. Gary Schmidt, a retired primary care physician who is living with LBD, and he shares his unique perspective and insight on thriving with this disease. He provides strategies that have helped him face the changes that come with the disease, as well as his passion for continued education and sharing his experience with everyone. He is currently working to reduce stigma by encouraging open communication and involving his community in his journey. He also uses his unique experience as a doctor to encourage medical professionals to listen to their patients, their symptoms, their history, and not simply “checking the boxes”.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most critical public health issues in America. This week Dana Marie Kennedy, the Arizona State Director of AARP, joins the conversation to share her perspective and how we can be encouraged to speak up, share our story, and advocate for our loved ones and ourselves. She talks about efforts she’s seen come to fruition at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as ongoing efforts. Dana reminds us that advocacy is non-partisan - elected officials are here to serve us and make efforts toward initiatives that are important to their constituents.

More than 11 million Americans are caring for an aging parent while raising their own children at home. This is what experts* call “Sandwich Caregiving” where the adults are providing for both their parents and own young families.  Our guest, Deanne Poulos with Duet: Partners in Health and Aging, shares what you should think about as you develop a plan for becoming a caregiver to someone with dementia while also caring for children. She offers practical advice to caregivers about managing expectations and utilizing your family and friends to share some of the responsibilities as you redistribute roles and communicate goals of care. We discuss maintaining a sense of home for each family member as 3 different generations blend together, creating new traditions, and focusing less on minute details. *National Alliance for Caregiving and Caring Across Generations, 2019.

We look back and revisit some of our favorite moments from Season 3, as well as dive a little deeper and untangle the podcast experience of our hosts and editor/producer, Amber Ayers. We discuss the overlying themes of our episodes and our intentionality as we invite guests to share with us, and you, how they came to be a part of the dementia community and what advice, strategies, and overall support they can offer to caregivers.

As we notice changes in our loved one, how can we identify normal progression of the disease apart from warning signs for something more serious? We asked Dr. Jeremy Pruzin, a neurologist from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute to help us untangle depression and apathy and identify behavioral strategies to help our person if they’re dealing with either one. We learn the difference between the two, some common signs of depression in an elderly person, and how to encourage less apathy without causing more conflict. Don’t miss his comments about how untreated depression as a younger person is a risk for developing dementia in the future.

Experiences of dementia and aging are grounded in Indigenous knowledge and culture, often resulting in memory loss being considered part of the natural lifecycle. That, and other barriers have made the work of Dr. Blythe Winchester, the Director for Geriatrics Services at Cherokee Indian Hospital & Chief Clinical Consultant in Geriatrics & Palliative Care with Indian Health Services, that much more important and impactful. She helps us untangle the alarming rate at which Indigenous peoples are projected to develop cognitive decline over the next 40 years and what efforts are being made to care for, support, and educate rural communities about this disease. While there are no specific words for “dementia” in Indigenous languages, her passion for this community helps bring the reality of this disease to light and connects people with the resources they need.

Reduce stigma and encourage acceptance – it’s become the mission for Barbara Mason, the Vice President of Home and Community-Based Services with Sun Health, and she’s found a way to do it through the Dementia Friendly America initiative. Our conversation with Barbara untangled just how detrimental it is to give into stigma surrounding dementia and how it can keep people from seeking treatment, deny them much needed socialization, and delay an overall feeling of acceptance. Her passion to educate, inform, and engage communities has helped the Dementia Friendly movement thrive not only in her city, but the state of Arizona. Learn more about the work she’s doing and how you can become a Dementia Friend.

It’s the question we’re all asking – is there a way to avoid developing cognitive impairment? We turn to Dr. Pierre N. Tariot for answers, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute director and a renowned researcher and clinician. No topic is off-limits as we untangle recent scientific findings on the benefits of diet, exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle actions that can help us get healthy, stay healthy, and possibly avoid diseases of the brain, like dementia. He also implores us to try a 6-week challenge to create a habit and take manageable steps toward better brain health.

Don’t wait. Make a plan now for your end-of-life care needs while you’re able to express your wishes. We chat with Barbara Klauser, a licensed clinical social worker with Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, to better understand why it’s so important to have a conversation with our family and make choices about what we want for our health care in the future. Barb helps us untangle exactly what advance directives are, which forms we need to complete, and how to have these sometimes-uncomfortable talks with our loved ones about what we want our legacy to be.

If you’ve ever searched the web for “diet and dementia”, you were probably overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting information in the results. You’re not alone. We asked Dr. Pallavi Joshi from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute to help us untangle it all. She breaks down the difference between eating to help prevent cognitive impairment and eating to slow cognitive decline, and shares with us the single most important dietary factor for both. She also explains the popular diets you have likely heard of and if there really are supplements that can be taken to prevent dementia. Get ready to try some kitchen experimentation to find the best way to incorporate small changes into your lifestyle after this one!

Have you ever thought about donating your body to science? It may seem like a futuristic thought, but not for Dr. Tom Beach, Director of the Banner Sun Health Research Institute Brain and Body Donation Program, and his team. This unique program allows researchers to study the brain and other body tissues after death, looking for the cause of disease, starting with alterations in chemical reactions. Listen in to hear more about the research behind scientific discoveries that propel the search for a cure forward and how you can get involved.

It’s not always easy to talk to children about health concerns or topics we may consider to be “grown-up”, so we asked Geriatrician Dr. Corinne Self & Nurse Practitioner Melissa Koon from ElderHealth to help. We discuss the most common concerns like, the best way to explain dementia to children, when you should talk about it, and what types of emotions and feelings you can expect from your child. Learn how to create a safe space for conversation and how to encourage more meaningful interactions between children and their loved one.

We often talk about ways to live well with dementia, but Roger Marple is doing it every day. Roger is living with Alzheimer’s disease and has reignited his passion for advocacy, using it to spread the word about reducing stigma with empathy and kindness. He works with many organizations across Canada, as well as the World Health Organization to help doctors create a more positive and supportive environment for those who are newly diagnosed by planting a seed of hope and connecting people with community resources. He lovingly reminds us that it is possible to live a meaningful life for some time to come after a diagnosis, and to live the best life you possibly can for as long as you can.

We look back and revisit some of our favorite moments from Season 2, as well as dive a little deeper and untangle the podcast experience of our hosts and editor/producer Amber Ayers. Join Heather, Janice, and Amber as they offer insight into the inspiration behind Dementia Untangled and how our listeners continue to guide our topics and conversations with guests. The team also shares their most inspiring conversations of the season, as well as uncover an underlying theme of “heroes” throughout each episode.

When someone has dementia, it’s fairly common to see changes in their behavior in the late afternoon or early evening, often known as “sundowning”. Dr. Allan Anderson from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute helps us understand the what & why of this syndrome, and how to help alleviate some of the challenging behaviors caregivers may face because of it. He untangles the effects of changes in sleep patterns, degeneration of the brain, and a decrease in neurotransmitters that contribute to the agitated behavior associated with this syndrome. Dr. Anderson also encourages us to share our successes when helping loved ones through it, so that other caregivers and family members can be aware of the issues and the plan of action.

Unique cultures and traditions surround us, built on passion which create a bond that celebrates heritage and history. For the Hispanic and Latino populations, this can often be celebrated with food, family, and music. But they’re also connected by the disproportional rate in which they face Alzheimer’s disease - more than 50% times more likely than non-Hispanic white counterparts. Dr. David Coon and Berta Carbajal from the Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging at Arizona State University join the podcast to help untangle the challenges impacting the health disparity and efforts to improve it. Their efforts with the Promotores and fellow educators who assist with outreach, invite community members in to discuss options and learn about the vast support systems that exist.

Scientists are working tirelessly to help find answers to better treat or even prevent Alzheimer’s disease for the millions of Americans facing this devastating illness. Inspired by colleagues, his community, and his passion for science, Dr. Eric M. Reiman set a goal to focus on the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease – but recognized the challenges of tackling it alone. In this episode, he helps us untangle the need for collaboration that manifested through scientific desperation, and partnerships began to form allowing the field collectively to push beyond barriers of any single institution. The new wave of collaboration helped launch a new era of prevention research, giving us a real chance at finding an effective therapy within the next five years.

The common fear of “when will my loved one with dementia forget me?” makes us all question just how our memory works.  We asked Dr. Po-Heng Tsai, a Behavior Neurologist at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, to help us untangle the issue of time confusion and why people with dementia tend to revert to the past. He explains that memory is not one single entity, but different systems of memory that we have and how the emotional context of memories makes them stronger, causing it to last longer in our brain. Don’t miss his explanation of delirium and how to identify when something else may be going on with our loved one, besides memory issues.

Caregivers face many struggles as they navigate the dementia journey, but there is hope out there. Angela Lunde, a co-director for the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core in the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Mayo Clinic, talks with us about how to identify one’s own unique struggles and create a path of resilience, not resistance, through practicing mindfulness. She shares how she was able to untangle the feeling of acceptance and how she incorporates that into mindful practices, giving our full attention to whatever is happening now, leading to many health benefits. She also teaches us a quick and easy way to practice mindfulness by paying attention to the present moment and focusing on our own breath.

What if you could gain some insight into your loved one’s journey with dementia? That’s exactly what our guests Arthena Caston and Jay Reinstein are hoping to offer in this episode. They are currently living with early onset Alzheimer’s disease and members of the National Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association. They share their stories and how they have embraced this next chapter of their lives. You’ll be inspired to hear how they have found new purpose, a way to reinvent themselves and offer perspective and support to anyone on this journey. They warn against social isolation and choosing activities that do not offer stimulation; instead, they encourage others to keep communicating, exercising, accept help, take your prescribed medications, and work with your health team to ensure a higher quality of life. Stay positive and you can live well with this disease.

With endless amounts of information at our fingertips, we have quickly evolved into a self-diagnosing society where knowledge is power. Dr. Jessica Langbaum is the director for the Alzheimer's Prevention Registry (www.endALZnow.org), and she helps us untangle the risk and reward of genetic disclosures. She explores potential risks by choosing at-home DNA kits instead of teaming up with a healthcare provider or genetic counselor, who are better equipped to guide you on what the results mean and how to integrate them into your life. We also discuss The Registry, a program that works to support Alzheimer’s disease research and to educate the public by sharing reliable information about Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s prevention efforts.

Agitation aggression can be distressing for those living with dementia and those who care for and about them. In this episode, we talk with Piper Frithsen, Administrator at Casa de la Luz, about her efforts in building a toolbox for caregivers to manage unwanted behaviors through non-pharmacological means. She helps us untangle the triggers for agitated behavior, how to identify them through focused efforts, and then how to use proven interventions to help meet your person’s basic needs and provide comfort. She reminds us that “there is hope and there is help.”

Every superhero has an origin story, and most caregivers can identify with the idea of coming from a place of challenge; “not one that they asked to be in, but one they must face.” In this episode our guest Katie Brandt shares with us her experiences as a care partner turned caregiver, and how that helps guide her professional and advocacy efforts for others who are faced with challenges from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. She helps us untangle how to take the necessary steps toward caregiver self-care, and exactly who we need to lean on in order to consider all avenues of support by employing the “Caregiver Trifecta.” She shares stories of meaning, hope, and empowerment for anyone affected by these diseases.

It’s been nearly two decades since there has been an approved drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. In an exciting development, Biogen’s drug aducanumab (Aduhelm) received conditional approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Alireza Atri, director at Banner Sun Health Research Institute and leader in clinical research for the past 20 years, joins the conversation to help us untangle the renewed hope in the field and the complexities surrounding this decision. Dr. Atri acknowledges that this is an important step forward in our fight to end Alzheimer’s before losing another generation, but it’s one step in a complex process ahead. Hear him discuss what steps care partners and those with the disease should take with their physician, and just how soon this treatment may be available to qualified candidates. Disclosures Dr. Atri disclosed relevant relationships with Biogen.

We look back and revisit some of our favorite moments from Season 1, as well as dive a little deeper and untangle our hosts and editor/producer, Amber Ayers. The team shares what led them to connect to the dementia community and just how the idea for this podcast came to be. Don’t miss their “light bulb moments” from the first 9 episodes and which ones you should go back and re-listen to. Listeners are also in for a treat when Heather & Janice give some insight into Season 2 and what to expect.

There is a totally treatable risk factor for dementia: hearing loss. Our guest this week is Dr. Briana Auman, a Clinical Neuropsychologist from Banner Sun Health Research Institute, who helps us untangle the stigmas and myths about both hearing loss and dementia. She helps us connect the dots between these two issues, stating a case for addressing both. She defines just what hearing loss is, why it happens, and how it affects the brain as we age. Dr. Auman recommends tools and strategies that can help with communication, including what we can do to address these issues before it’s too late.

Our guest, Susy Favaro, a social worker from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, shares with us her connection to the term coined by Dr. Pauline Boss, ambiguous loss, and how the implementation of her guidelines can help caregivers understand the emotions around their person’s presence & absence simultaneously. Susy helps us untangle the confusion around grief, guilt and a myriad of emotions that caregivers can feel at any time about their loved one with dementia. She creates a safe space for caregivers, reminding us that “it’s not you that is messed up, it’s the situation that’s messed up,” and how striving for perfection is no longer useful, that “good enough is good enough.” She assures listeners that once you embrace this idea of ambiguous loss and share it with others, you won’t look back.

Michele Grigaitis-Reyes, a nurse practitioner from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, shares with us her passion for addressing a commonly avoided topic of intimacy and sexual needs for people affected by dementia. She helps us define these topics and untangles the misconceptions and frustrating feelings around the inability to communicate needs around intimacy and sex with partners or caregivers. She helps us breach a difficult topic that isn’t always discussed when necessary or brushed off by those we may confide in for assistance. Listen in for her practical suggestions for creating moments of intimacy and how what some may deem as inappropriate sexual behavior, may just be an effort to communicate a different need by someone without the ability to do so.

Dr. David Shprecher from Banner Sun Health Research Institute shares with us his experience as a Neurologist specializing in movement disorders this week. He takes us through the basics, helping us untangle dementia and the less common forms, reminding us how important a specific diagnosis is. With treatable causes of memory loss like vitamin deficiency, sleep problems, or side effects to medications, the help of a specialist creates an opportunity to impact cognitive issues early and often. In addition, an accurate diagnosis of dementias like Lewy body, frontotemporal, and vascular are important to identify for treatments, family knowledge, and preparation for future stages to help improve quality of life.

This week is focused on how Alzheimer’s disease research is progressing, moving us closer to finding a cure or even preventing the disease. Dr. Alireza Atri, director at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, helps us untangle the complicated world of research by breaking down how far we’ve come, what renewed interest and dollars mean for advancement, and why it’s so important for people to get involved. He discusses current research efforts, new drug studies, and how multiple angles of focus will affect goals of ending Alzheimer’s without losing another generation.

Our guest, Helle Brand from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, shares with us her experience as a Physician Assistant, working various age groups and specialties, currently working with persons with cognitive impairment and their families. She helps us untangle the common issue of repetition in people that are dealing with memory issues and how it can be a red flag in a loved one that may not have received a diagnosis yet. She takes us through how repetition is the key to learning when we are young but can be frustrating for caregivers as their person’s disease progresses and it is a sign of deterioration of the brain’s hippocampus. Her clear explanation of the science behind the issue and practical strategies for caregivers to deal with it, make this episode highly valuable for anyone in contact with the dementia community.

Our guest, Michelle Faddoul, a social worker for Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, shares with us her thoughtful strategies for easing anxiety in a person with dementia, but also in general for anyone experiencing those emotions. Her experience as a therapist for over a decade helps us untangle the stressors and contributing factors that can intensify anxiety and worry, as well as practical resources and strategies to ease anxious feelings and concerns. Recent current events that amplify those behaviors can increase caregiver frustration and disturb a person’s need for rest and calm. She outlines how avoiding common practices or behaviors and replacing them with compensatory strategies and grounding techniques can help you and your loved one to stay more in the moment.

Our guest, Mary Lou Hernandez, a social worker for Banner Alzheimer’s institute, shares with us her practical strategies for helping care partners avoid arguments. She helps us untangle what instigates these interactions and how you can validate the emotions of your loved one with dementia in order to move forward. She reminds us of the obvious triggers that create uncomfortable situations and how to promote an environment that’s more conducive calm, instead of conflict. Understanding that caregiving is a learning process, she implores us to find the positivity in our efforts and be kind to ourselves as we navigate the dementia journey.

Our guest, Lori Nisson, the Director of Family & Community Services for Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Banner Sun Health Research Institute, shares with us her expertise on the lack of awareness that most people with dementia can exhibit and the empathic strategies that can be used. She helps us untangle how someone with an ailment like dementia isn’t in denial but has an actual lack of awareness due to the deterioration of the frontal lobe of the brain. She reminds us that as people lose their awareness, it changes the way we communicate and how as caregivers, we must be aware of our own behavior and not force the reality of the disease onto our person. Lori also tackles the stigma around the word dementia and addresses common worries for caregivers like communication, driving, and making big decisions around transitions.

We invite you to join Heather Mulder & Janice Greeno from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Banner Sun Health Research Institute to listen and subscribe to our new podcast, Dementia Untangled. Our show explores unique topics related to dementia through conversations with specialized physicians, experts, and community leaders. Each episode will offer innovative ideas, practical strategies, and proven methods to guide caregivers along a supportive path. Inspired by our world renowned, comprehensive model of care, this podcast creates a unique environment to untangle the complex world of Alzheimer’s and related dementias.