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 co...
Dec 08, 2021•36 min•Season 3Ep. 21
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 ...
Sep 29, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 20
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 agitat...
Sep 22, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 19
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 Un...
Sep 15, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 18
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 partnership...
Sep 08, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 17
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 br...
Sep 01, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 16
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...
Aug 25, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 15
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...
Aug 18, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 14
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 h...
Aug 11, 2021•34 min•Season 2Ep. 13
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 pro...
Aug 04, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 12
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 ca...
Jul 28, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 11
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 ack...
Jun 17, 2021•36 min
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 expe...
May 26, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 10
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 c...
May 19, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 9
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 ca...
May 12, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 8
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 thos...
May 05, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 7
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 ...
Apr 28, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 6
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 wi...
Apr 21, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 5
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 b...
Apr 14, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 4
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 beha...
Apr 07, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 3
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 care...
Mar 31, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 2
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...
Mar 24, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 1
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, comprehe...
Mar 09, 2021•58 sec
