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- Preventing Dementia: Genes Matter. Good Habits Matter More.
Preventing Dementia: Genes Matter. Good Habits Matter More.
In this edition: prevention methods that can drastically reduce your risk, even with a family history of dementia; promising treatments and test results (great news this week!); my breakdown of a video that shows a real-life example of an elopement and redirection.
Ben Couch
April 15, 2025
News and resources in this edition: |
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• 📰 This Week in Dementia News 📰 |
📰 This Week in Dementia News 📰
An Ounce of Prevention…
Doing this activity just twice a week is a ‘strong ally against dementia’ — even if you’re high-risk (New York Post): this exercise strengthens, stretches, improves bone mass and density, and now is shown to help prevent dementia!
Study reveals this breakfast staple may slash Alzheimer’s risk by nearly 50% (The Economic Times): turn your breakfast into a delicious preventative measure.
Drinking This Much Alcohol Could Double Your Dementia Risk, Scientists Warn (Parade): It may not take a scientist to guess that drinking alcohol isn’t exactly great for you—but sometimes, it does take a team of them to figure out just how much can harm your health over time.
And a pound of “cure” (or at least treatment):
D is for Dementia: Can Cannabis Bring Calm in the Storm? (Senior Savvy): this is a hotly debated topic. Do you own research and come to your own conclusions. I found this to be a balanced and informative article.
What Is Reminiscence Therapy? (WTOP News): lots of details here about this effective care technique.
‘Amazing’ reduction in Alzheimer’s risk verified by blood markers, study says (CNN): a different kind of approach to Alzheimer’s risk reduction.
Promising breakthrough: Widely-used diabetes drugs reduce dementia risk by up to 43%, sparking hope for Alzheimer's care (MSN): another hopeful development, and we can’t get too many of those!
All in the Family:
Paddling with a purpose: A couple’s 50-state journey will culminate on Kauai (Hawaii News Now): this husband and wife team have crossed the country in a purple canoe to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
If Your Dad Had Alzheimer’s, Your Brain Could Be At Risk Too, Study Finds (Times Now): is this a new factor to consider when looking at preventative measures?
Talk to your mom about Alzheimer’s risks (Cleveland): 2/3rds of people living with Alzheimer’s disease are women. How can we create open dialogue?
What do you know about APOE4 and Alzheimer’s Disease?
"One of the most significant genetic risk factors [for Alzheimer's disease] is a...gene called APOE4....APOE4 is the strongest risk factor gene for Alzheimer’s disease."
👇️ If you want to know more, The Phoenix Community has answers for you. 👇️
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Caregiver’s Corner
I want to share my new favorite video with you from Debra Kostiw’s YouTube channel: @answersaboutalzheimers.
This video demonstrates a perfect example of redirection, and Debra managed to catch it live! She breaks it all down at the end, but here are some things I noticed that I’d like you to pay extra attention to.
Notice how Debra asks questions. She shows curiosity and interest in what her mom is thinking. She listens and responds, and doesn’t resort to telling her what she has to do.
She validates: “yes, you’re right! Tennessee is south of here.” She’s understanding of her mom’s desire. She doesn’t tell her that “you can’t possibly walk to Tennessee from New York!” She doesn’t contradict her mom or say “no” at any point.
She asks permission: Is it ok if I come with you? Can we go back to the house for a minute to get something? Her mom is allowed to be the boss: Debra is just tagging along. This gives her mom a feeling of control and autonomy.
Did you see the facial expressions throughout: there wasn’t any aggression or anger on her mom’s face. Did you notice the smiles and laughter at the end? That resolution is only possible when you frame things in a way that is curious, validating, and promotes dignity.
If you aren’t satisfied with the results you’re getting in your interactions with your loved ones, try emulating some of these ideas. If you want to get more tips from her, don’t forget the resources on her YouTube Channel. (That’s not a paid advertisement, just a personal recommendation.)
🌟 Featured this Week: Master the Most Difficult Conversation 🌟
If you’re struggling with how to get your loved one to stop driving, you aren’t alone. More than anything else, driving is usually the most difficult thing for people with dementia to give up.
If you’d like some help with how to walk through this minefield as you talk with your loved one, this training has you covered. I’ll give you easy steps to set up the conversation, ways to talk constructively and negotiate effectively, and techniques to recover your emotional balance afterwards.
If you feel stuck and don’t know how to move forward, this course was created to help you.
'“Wow! Thanks so much for this course. It not only affirmed so many things I have been reading in other places but, more importantly it helped me reflect on some things going on with my spouse, as well. Isn't it interesting how some truths are universal?”
Want to connect 1-on-1?
If you want to chat, I’d love to get to know you. Book a free 20-minute slot on my calendar. We’ll talk about what’s going on for you and brainstorm, or I’m happy to just provide a listening ear. If you think you might like to develop a more targeted plan specific to your needs, we can talk about what’s a good fit. Don’t be shy! Grab a slot.
P.S. Was today’s newsletter useful to you? Have ideas on what I should publish next? Take the poll below or reply to this email to give me feedback. I read every response personally.
How did you like today's newsletter? |
Hi! I’m Ben, and I’m the author of this newsletter as well as a new book on Amazon: Creating Purposeful Engagement.
Caring for a loved one with dementia can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to keeping them engaged in daily life. In my new book, Creating Purposeful Engagement, I’ll guide you through practical, reliable strategies to spark meaningful moments of connection—whether through conversation, activities, or shared experiences.
Available now on Amazon—click to get your copy today!
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I’ve been a dementia professional for over 20 years, but the fight against this disease has become much more personal for me as I am engaged in my mother’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease. I started The Dementia Newsletter as well as it’s parent company, elumenEd, to help caregivers — specifically home and family caregivers — gain access to the very best training and information available at an affordable price.
At The Dementia Newsletter, we’re dementia professionals but we’re not medical doctors or lawyers. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for medical diagnosis, treatment, or any health-related concerns and consult with a lawyer regarding any legal matters.
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