In this special Season 11 Revisited episode of Dementia Untangled , we sit down with our editor and producer, Amber Ayers, to reflect on the powerful conversations and insights shared throughout the season. Together, we explore the themes, stories, and expertise our guests brought to the table—and how these experiences have shaped our own perspectives both professionally and personally. From innovative care approaches to deeply human stories of resilience, we untangle what resonated most and how...
Jun 25, 2025•25 min•Season 11Ep. 110
Helping us explore a transformative approach to dementia care grounded in creativity, empathy, and presence, is Dr. Anne Basting , Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the visionary founder of TimeSlips. She shares her groundbreaking work using creative care techniques that help professional and family caregivers build meaningful connections with people living with dementia. We dive into the power of "beautiful questions," improvisation, and storytelling as tools to en...
Jun 11, 2025•32 min•Season 11Ep. 109
In this deeply moving and insightful episode, we sit down with Dr. Rebecca Chopp—renowned author, former university president, activist, and theologian—who is now navigating life with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Chopp shares how she continues to nurture her spirit on the dementia journey, using spiritual practices, theological insight, and a deep commitment to living with presence and purpose. Together, we untangle how to find your story and reframe your identity after a dementia diagnosis, ways to...
May 28, 2025•37 min•Season 11Ep. 108
Understanding the convergence and divergence of Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging, so we talked to Dr. Crystal M. Glover , an applied social psychologist and mixed methodologist, to untangle this complicated topic. We learn how it affects different communities in different ways, and what that reveals about the broader landscape of health and aging. We dive deep into the individual determinants of health—from genetics and environment to socioeconomic status—and how these factors influence th...
May 14, 2025•35 min•Season 11Ep. 107
We talk with Stephanie Brown, LMSW, a hospice and palliative care expert, to explore the delicate and compassionate world of dementia care. She helps us untangle the differences between home health care, palliative care and hospice care, and unpack the philosophies guiding these services. She sheds light on holistic approaches to dementia care, emphasizing the importance of addressing the emotional, psychological, and physical needs of both patients and their families. Learn how to navigate thes...
Apr 30, 2025•27 min•Season 106Ep. 9
We welcome back to the podcast Dr. Jeremy Pruzin , a cognitive behavioral neurologist, to explore the modifiable lifestyle factors that can significantly reduce your risk of dementia. From exercise and nutrition to sleep hygiene and mental stimulation, he shares practical, evidence-based strategies to boost cognitive health and protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Whether you're looking to improve brain function, slow cognitive decline, or take preventive steps to lower d...
Apr 16, 2025•36 min•Season 105Ep. 10
We’re joined by Cyndy Luzinsk i, an advanced practice nurse and the executive director of Dementia Together , for an enlightening conversation about dementia care. Cyndy introduces us to the SPECAL Method, a groundbreaking approach to dementia care that focuses on person-centered care and views dementia as a simple disability, rather than a complex and intimidating condition. We explore the concept of the SPECAL Photograph Album , a tool designed to enhance understanding, as well as the Three Go...
Apr 02, 2025•36 min•Season 11Ep. 104
In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Martin, an experienced adult geriatric nurse practitioner, to discuss how to be the best advocate for your loved one with dementia and ensure they receive the best care possible. She shares invaluable advice on how to prepare for emergency situations and why it’s essential to start planning immediately after a dementia diagnosis. We dive into practical strategies for building a strong care team, reducing the risk of falls, and offering essential tips for fa...
Mar 19, 2025•29 min•Season 11Ep. 103
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Nicholas Ashton , senior director of Banner Research's Fluid Biomarker Program, to dive deep into the cutting-edge world of Alzheimer's biomarker research. We explore how advancements in diagnosing Alzheimer's without directly touching the brain are revolutionizing the field. Dr. Ashton breaks down the significance of clinical symptom analysis paired with innovative biological testing methods—ushering in a new era of Alzheimer's diagnosis. Breakthrough blood...
Mar 05, 2025•34 min•Season 11Ep. 102
We connected with Jim Taylor , President and CEO of Voices of Alzheimer's, to discuss his personal journey as a care partner for his wife, Geri, who has Alzheimer's disease. Jim opens up about the challenges, triumphs, and the deep emotional bond that sustains him and Geri as they cope with the complexities of a new life with Alzheimer's. He shares his powerful advocacy for reducing stigma, emphasizing the importance of telling their story, and finding ways to create a "new normal" as a couple. ...
Feb 19, 2025•37 min•Season 11Ep. 101
In this milestone 100th episode, Heather and Janice take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey of the podcast over the past ten seasons. This special episode brings a heartfelt look back at the conversations, insights, and stories that have shaped the show, with guest Amber Ayers joining them for an inspiring discussion. We celebrate all the shared voices, experiences, and knowledge, and look ahead to what’s next as we continue exploring, educating, and untangling the complexities of dem...
Dec 04, 2024•26 min•Season 10Ep. 100
We have a lot of questions about brain health supplements and we knew that inviting Dr. Jaclyn Robinson back to the podcast was the best way to get them answered. Join us as we delve into the latest research on substances and strategies designed to boost brain function, improve memory, and enhance focus. Dr. Robinson, a geriatrician at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, shares insights on natural and synthetic options, including the potential benefits and risks. If you’re curious about brain health a...
Nov 20, 2024•36 min•Season 10Ep. 97
In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Jan Riggs, a dedicated caregiver navigating the transitions of caring for her husband, who is in the late stages of Lewy Body Dementia. Jan shares her deeply personal journey, offering insights into the emotional and practical aspects of caring for someone with advanced-stage dementia. She opens up about the joys and struggles of maintaining connection, prioritizing quality of life, managing her changing role, and finding resources in the community. Wh...
Nov 06, 2024•29 min•Season 10Ep. 98
At just 16 years old, Jaelyn Smith, a daughter and advocate, has been a pillar of support for her mom and dad, demonstrating incredible maturity and strength as she helps her dad manage the challenges of younger onset dementia. This journey, while deeply rewarding, also brings unique challenges and emotional struggles that many young caregivers face. She was able to find support through an online network that has given her the opportunity to shine a light on her dad’s disease and make connection...
Oct 23, 2024•27 min•Season 10Ep. 97
Dementia can lead to a host of cognitive challenges, including disorientation and confusion. Among these symptoms, delusions—false beliefs that are strongly held despite evidence to the contrary—are particularly distressing for both the person diagnosed and their loved ones. We welcome Dr. Alvin Burstein , a psychiatrist renowned for his work in dementia care and mental health, to help us explore the complex interplay between dementia and delusions. Whether you’re a caregiver, a family member, o...
Oct 09, 2024•29 min•Season 10Ep. 96
Becoming a caregiver to someone with dementia isn’t always a smooth, planned process. Sometimes strained dynamics in a care relationship can be difficult to overcome, so we connected with Dr. Sheri L. Yarbrough, a former policy analyst turned family caregiver, to learn more about navigating this. She talks about her experience with her mother and offers her three lessons for caregivers, reminding us that “you may not have a choice in what you are experiencing, but you do have a choice in how you...
Sep 25, 2024•25 min•Season 95Ep. 10
When Charnele Brown ’s mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Charnele knew that as an actress, director and producer at the height of her career, she had a decision to make. Choosing to be her mother’s caregiver to ensure her comfort and happiness became her new priority, and like so many other caregivers, it consumed her. After her time caring for her mom, she chose to channel her experience into her play, “For All We Know,” sharing her stories and lessons learned about the journey and he...
Sep 11, 2024•29 min•Season 10Ep. 94
Physical activity not only helps improve mood, increase energy levels, and decrease depression and anxiety, but could it be the most transformative thing you can do for brain health? After feeling the need to add more physical activity in her own life, Dr. Wendy Suzuki , dean of the College of Arts & Science at New York University, became interested in how powerful exercise could be for people with all levels of cognition. We explore the science behind her findings and how her personal exper...
Aug 28, 2024•30 min•Season 10Ep. 93
Exploring socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural effects on a person’s health can help us identify some of the contributing factors to what ails us. We investigate this topic further with medical anthropologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Dr. J. Neil Henderson, to learn more about connecting non-biological factors like stress to dementia and other diseases, as well as cultural perspective on aging and cognitive changes. We learn about health disparit...
Aug 14, 2024•31 min•Season 10Ep. 92
Join us for an inspiring conversation from life partners on a shared dementia journey, Leonard Chayrez and Mark Garrity. When Leonard was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, the process was so long that once he had an answer about his health issues, he was ready to empower himself and get active in the community. Their experience led them to become local and national advocates for people living with dementia and their care partners, and led Leonard and Mark to embrace their decision to live ...
Aug 07, 2024•36 min•Season 10Ep. 91
Season 9 has revealed interesting themes along with inspirational and educational stories. 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.
Jun 26, 2024•32 min•Season 9Ep. 90
When Kathy Norris-Wilhelm's wife, Jean, was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, they knew how vital connecting with the dementia community would be for them to find their way. Kathy quickly became an Alzheimer’s ambassador and advocate, discovering the importance of building their own community of support and publicly sharing their story to raise awareness. Her inspirational story continues in her advocacy work as she honors Jean’s legacy.
Jun 12, 2024•32 min•Season 9Ep. 89
In the second part of our conversation with Richard Lui , a veteran journalist, filmmaker, author, and family caregiver, we untangle the challenges and joys of being a working professional while caregiving for someone with dementia. His unique perspective creates an amazing storytelling experience for listeners. His advice for caregivers, and emphasis on acknowledging your role as one, give invaluable insight for balancing and managing those responsibilities....
May 29, 2024•29 min•Season 9Ep. 88
In this two-part conversation with Richard Lui , a veteran journalist, filmmaker, author, and family caregiver, we first discuss his documentaries “Unconditional” and “Sky Blossom,” in which he explores real stories of caregiving and mental health. Focused on closing a cultural gap and finding joy despite difficulty, he takes us through his evolving journey to bring these stories to the world, all while exploring his own caregiving experience for his father....
May 15, 2024•32 min•Season 9Ep. 87
As we age, safety becomes a growing concern – not only at home, but also out in the world. Creating a safe environment while maintaining our independence can be challenging, but not impossible. We invited back Lori Nisson , a social worker for Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Banner Sun Health Research Institute, to talk about how important considerations can be made for someone with dementia whose ability to assess risk and danger decreases as the disease progresses. She helps identify the top ...
May 01, 2024•31 min•Season 9Ep. 86
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 deme...
Apr 17, 2024•33 min•Season 9Ep. 85
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....
Apr 03, 2024•32 min•Season 9Ep. 84
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....
Mar 20, 2024•31 min•Season 9Ep. 83
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....
Mar 06, 2024•34 min•Season 9Ep. 82
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...
Feb 21, 2024•30 min•Season 9Ep. 81
