December 10, 2025 • 28 mins
In this episode, Lisa breaks down the most widespread myths and misunderstandings surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Each myth is paired with the real truth—clearly explained—to help families and caregivers better understand what dementia is, what it isn’t, and how to respond with confidence and compassion.
Key Takeaway:
Understanding the truth behind these myths empowers families, caregivers, and communities to provide better care, plan effectively, and reduce fear and stigma around dementia.
About the Host:
Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.
Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.
So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.
Thanks for listening!
Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.
Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!
Subscribe to the podcast
If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.
Leave us an Apple Podcasts review
Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lisa Skinner (00:00):
Hello everybody. Welcome to a new episode of the
(00:03):
truth, lies and Alzheimer's showwith Lisa Skinner, your host, I
am going to talk about somethingthat just is very unnerving for
me, and it's all of themisinformation, the
(00:23):
disinformation, the myths thathave been circling around,
living with Alzheimer's diseasefor as long as I've been around,
and it dates back 50 years to myfirst experience with my
grandmother. So that's a longtime to be hearing these myths
(00:46):
that circulate around knowingthat they're all untrue. And I
think what it has ended up doingis really putting blinders on
the situation for understandingthe truth about what people go
(01:08):
through when they haveAlzheimer's disease or related
dementia. So I'm busting some ofthose myths today. We're
actually going to do this in twoparts, because there are so many
of them. So here's what I haveto share with you for part one
of myth busting dementia andAlzheimer's Disease Information.
(01:37):
First one, memory loss is just anormal part of aging and nothing
to worry about. Well, the truthis, while aging can bring some
natural changes in memory,significant or progressive
memory loss that interferes withdaily life is not normal and can
(02:00):
be a sign of dementia, includingAlzheimer's disease. Now other
disorders such as depression,thyroid issues, medications,
sleep disorders can also causememory problems and should be
evaluated. So why is thismisleading? Because it confuses
(02:23):
age related changes withpathological decline. So the key
point to this is seek medicalevaluation if memory loss
progresses or if it impacts aperson's independence, or if it
includes significant confusionor difficulty in planning or
(02:50):
getting lost in familiar places.Another myth, Alzheimer's
disease is caused by a singlegene or is purely genetic? The
truth, most cases are notdirectly caused by a single
gene. There are rare early onsetfamilial forms caused by
(03:15):
specific genetic mutations. Forexample, the A, P, P, the PSE
and one, and the PSE and two.But the majority of cases are
sporadic and influenced by acombination of genetic risk
factors like the A, P, O, e4,gene or lifestyle factors and
(03:40):
environmental factors. So why isthis one misleading? Because it
over simplifies the causes andcould also create a situation
for people where they're feelingundue guilt or fatalism, like
(04:00):
you know, why should they botherliving because they're going to
get Alzheimer's disease anyway,and that's completely far from
the truth. The key point to thisis genetics can influence risk,
yes, but lifestyle and vascularhealth also play a major role in
(04:22):
determining a person's risk fordeveloping Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is not fatalor is just an old age brain
decay. Truth to that,Alzheimer's is a progressive
(04:43):
neurodegenerative disease thatultimately leads to severe
cognitive and functional declineand is usually fatal. Well, it
is fatal complications such asinfections, falls and
malnutrition. Nutritioncontribute to the mortality of a
(05:03):
person. So why is this onemisleading? Because it downplays
the severity and the prognosisof Alzheimer's disease and the
other brain diseases that causedementia. There's no going back.
There's no cure, there's notreatment yet, there's no
reversing it. So the key pointhere is early planning and
(05:28):
symptom management are extremelyimportant. Here's number four,
only older people getAlzheimer's disease. The truth
to that matter is the vastmajority of cases occur in
(05:49):
people age 65 or older, but asmall percentage occur in people
under the age of 65 we call thatearly onset Alzheimer's disease.
Other forms of dementia canaffect younger individuals as
well. Why is that misleading? Itignores younger onset forms and
(06:11):
the broader spectrum ofdementia. So the key point is
that early onset forms are rare,but they are very, very real,
and the risk increases as we agenumber five, Alzheimer's disease
progresses. The same foreveryone? Well, that is a total
(06:35):
mistruth. The diseaseprogression varies widely among
individuals, in rate and inpattern, some have a relatively
slow decline over years. Othersexperience faster progression.
Symptoms can vary in the way oftheir memory loss, language
(06:56):
Visio, spatial skills, behavior,all of these can fluctuate
between people. And why is thismisleading? Because a one size
fits all expectations arecompletely inaccurate. Key Point
personalized care plans are veryessential and extremely
(07:18):
valuable. Myth number six, ifthere's no family history, you
won't get Alzheimer's disease.That's not true. Family history
does increase risk, but is not aprerequisite. Most people with
Alzheimer's disease have noknown family history, non
(07:41):
genetic factors such as age,cardiovascular health, diabetes,
smoking, exercise and dietsignificantly influence the risk
for a person to developAlzheimer's disease. So why is
that misleading? Because itignores non genetic risk
(08:03):
factors. Key Point, healthylifestyle reduces risk and can
delay onset. For many people,there is a cure or a single pill
that will stop Alzheimer's? No,no, no, no, no. There currently
(08:28):
is no cure. Some medications canhelp with symptoms, to
temporarily and modestly slowthe progression down in some
people, but unfortunately andsadly, they do not halt the
underlying disease. Research isongoing with several therapeutic
(08:49):
approaches under study. It'smisleading because it creates
false hope about a quick fix.And the key point to this myth
is that treatment focuses onsymptom management, quality of
life and safety. Next one,Alzheimer's disease only affects
(09:15):
memory while memory problems areprominent. Alzheimer's affects
multiple cognitive domains,language, reasoning, Visio,
spatial skills and behavior,behavioral changes, mood
changes, sleep disturbances andfunctional impairment are also
common symptom to dementia,
(09:38):
and that's misleading because itnarrows the expectation of
symptoms. I have said so manytimes that the majority of
people that I have known in thepast 30 years really associate
Alzheimer's disease with shortterm memory loss and confusion,
(09:59):
and as I. Have discussedmultiple multiple times. It is
so much more complicated thanthat, but people fall prey to
these myths. So the key point isthat a comprehensive assessment
covers cognition, coversfunction, behavior and daily
(10:20):
living. The next myth, dementiais just a part of a normal part
of aging and cannot beprevented. Well, dementia is not
an inevitable part of aging,though risk does increase with
age, some risk factors aremodifiable, like cardiovascular
(10:45):
health, obesity, physicalactivity, smoking, diabetes and
depression, prevention or delaymay be possible through risk
reducing strategies. That'smisleading, because it implies
that nothing can be done, whichis not true, and the key point
(11:06):
is healthy lifestyle choices canand do influence our risk of
developing Alzheimer's disease.Next one, if someone has
dementia, there is nothing youcan do to help Well, the truth
of that matter is that whiledementia is progressive, many
(11:30):
interventions can improve thequality of life, also improve
safety, mood, Sleep and dailyfunctioning, non pharmacological
approaches such as cognitivestimulation, physical activity,
social engagement and structuredroutines, as well as appropriate
(11:52):
medical treatment, can all helpcare planning and caregiver
support are crucial, and that'smisleading, because it implies
passivity. And the key point tothis myth is that there is such
a thing, and I'm certified inthis called person centered care
(12:17):
and adaptable routines andsupport services that all matter
greatly in the dementia world.Next myth, memory tests in
doctors offices are definitivediagnoses. No The truth is
(12:39):
routine screening or briefcognitive tests are initial
tools, but a definitivediagnosis typically requires
comprehensive assessment,including history, repeated
testing, medical evaluation,imaging and sometimes genetic or
laboratory tests. Dementia canbe caused by multiple conditions
(13:03):
needing differential diagnosis,and that's misleading because it
overstates the decisiveness ofinitial tests. So what's the key
point here? The diagnosis is aprocess, not a single test. Next
myth medicines for Alzheimer'sare addictive or dangerous with
(13:27):
no benefits whatsoever. Truth tothat is that most approved
medications have been studiedfor safety and can be beneficial
for some people in symptommanagement, especially in the
early to mid stages. Like allmedications, they have potential
(13:49):
side effects and require medicalsupervision. They are not
generally addictive. That'smisleading, because it confuses
side effects with dependence orlack of efficacy. What's the key
point? Discuss risks andbenefits with a clinician and
(14:11):
tailor it to each individualperson next. Dementia only
affects memory and is notrelated to other health issues.
Again, dementia is linked withbroader health factors,
including cardiovascular health,diabetes, obesity, sleep
(14:32):
disorders, depression, hearingloss and lifestyle factors.
These things can influence riskprogression and overall well
being. That's misleading,because it isolates cognitive
symptoms from physical health.So what's the key point here?
(14:55):
Holistic Health Management isvery important next. People with
dementia cannot learn new thingsor engage in complex activities.
That's not true. People withdementia can often learn and
engage in meaningful activities,especially with tailored
(15:16):
approaches, with repetition andwith support, remaining engaged
can help quality of life and mayslow functional decline. There's
many studies out there that haveshown a correlation to that, and
that's misleading, because itunderestimates a person's
(15:40):
retained abilities, people justassume they can't do anything
anymore, and that's not true. Sothe key to this is to use a
scent a person centered approachsimple, enjoyable activities
that are focused for each personand provide adequate support to
(16:02):
their skill level. Next,dementia automatically leads to
aggressive or violent behavior.Now, most people with dementia
are not violent. Behavioral andpsychological symptoms can
occur, yes, such as agitation oraggression, but these are often
(16:27):
due to them being uncomfortableor for environmental reasons or
unmet needs that cannot becommunicated to us, but can be
managed with proper carestrategies. So that's
misleading, because itstigmatizes people living with
(16:49):
dementia. I totally agree withthat. The key point here is we
want to assess for triggers thatcause these reactions, we want
to provide calm environments andseek professional strategies
when behavior changes arise,tests like brain scans can
(17:15):
diagnose Alzheimer's With 100%accuracy. Well, the truth to
that is imaging and biomarkerscan support a diagnosis and help
distinguish between types ofdementia, but no single test is
definitive in all cases, it iscertainly not with Alzheimer's
(17:39):
disease, a diagnosis typicallycombines clinical evaluation,
imaging labs and sometimesbiomarker data. That's
misleading because it overclaims certainty to formulate an
accurate diagnosis. The point tothat is that a diagnosis is
(18:05):
multimodal and contextdependent. Next only older
people get diagnosed withdementia under 65 never has it.
Well, don't forget, early onsetdementia that's diagnosed before
(18:25):
the age of 65 does exist. It'svery, very real, though less
common. It can significantlyimpact families and work and may
involve different symptompatterns. That's misleading
because it can often ignore areal minority group. So the key
(18:48):
point is to seek evaluation whenpersistent cognitive changes
occur at any age. Next myth,there's nothing we can do to
reduce our risk once we noticemild cognitive changes. Well,
that's not true. Early attentionto cardiovascular and metabolic
(19:10):
health, physical activity,cognitive engagement, sleep and
social connection, can and doesinfluence progression and
potentially reduce the risk ofrapid decline. Early
interventions may delay onset ofsevere symptoms.
(19:30):
That's misleading because itimplies inevitability, and the
key point is to proactivelymanage matters at any stage next
one dementia is contagious orcan be transmitted like an
infection, that one is kind ofout there. I have heard this for
(19:55):
years and years and years, butthe truth is that dementia is
not. Contagious. It is not aneurodegenerative condition with
biological causes, such as aninfectious disease, and of
course, why is that misleading?Because it spreads and continues
(20:17):
to spread misunderstandings andstigma, so you don't have to
worry about getting it fromsitting on a toilet seat. As my
mother used to say, the keypoint is, education reduces
stigma and fear. Education isour power. There's no doubt
(20:38):
about it. The next one. If youhave dementia, you should stop
trying to communicate orinteract. No people with
dementia often benefit fromcontinued social interaction,
tailored communicationstrategies and meaningful
(21:02):
engagement, patience, simplelanguage and supportive cues
will help maintain connection.That's misleading, because it
can so easily lead to socialwithdrawal and isolation, and we
know for a fact that that canspeed up a person's decline. The
(21:27):
key point is communication,adaptations do enhance quality
of life. This has been shown tobe factual. Couple more. Here's
one, that dietary supplementscan prevent or cure Alzheimer's
(21:50):
What do you think about thatone? Well, I'll tell you, there
is no conclusive evidence thatmost supplements prevent or cure
Alzheimer's disease. Fact, somemay be helpful in certain
contexts, but not universallyproven, but they can interact
(22:14):
with prescription medications. Iwonder if you actually knew that
always consult a clinicianbefore starting any supplement,
and that is misleading becauseit promotes unproven cures and
(22:36):
potential harm. The key pointis, evidence based approaches
are obviously preferred. Sodiscuss anything new with a
healthcare provider that makessense. Next one people with
dementia should never livealone. The truth is, some people
(22:59):
with dementia can live safely athome with appropriate supports,
like home safety adaptations,caregiver support, community
resources, others may requireassisted living or memory care,
but to determine that really,you've got to do individual
(23:21):
assessments on each person, eachcase is different. That's
misleading, because it's overlyprescriptive and not person
centered. I agree with that. Thekey point, safety plans and
regular reassessment are key.Next to last, myth that I'm
(23:45):
going to share with you in partone, caring for someone with
dementia must be done by afamily member. There's no need
for professional help. The truthis, a combination of formal care
services that could include homehealth aides, memory care,
(24:06):
people, social workers, andinformal caregiving often
provides the best outcomes.Caregiver support reduces
burnout and improves carequality, and that's misleading,
because it undervaluesprofessional resources, and in
(24:30):
my experience, it justperpetuates being in that state
of reaction if you have not beentrained on effective
communication strategies, andyou just, you know, it's like
being the hamster on the wheel.So that's an important point. So
(24:55):
what should we do in thatsituation? Build a care team
that includes. Health careprofessionals and community
services if possible, and thelast one, in part one, a busting
myth, Once diagnosed, there'snothing that can be done, and
(25:15):
the disease will inevitablyworsen quickly. The truth is
that while dementia isprogressive, the trajectory
varies person to person, symptommanagement, medical treatment,
environmental adjustments andcaregiver planning can improve
(25:38):
quality of life and functionalindependence for much longer
periods of time in a lot ofpeople. And I think this is a
really good point for why thisis so misleading, and I've seen
it because it promoteshopelessness. That doesn't have
(26:00):
to be the case. Key point tothis is that early, ongoing
planning and care optimizationcan be so beneficial to our
loved ones and the folks that weare caring for living with
Alzheimer's disease anddementia. So there are 24 myths.
(26:23):
So far that I have shared withyou. That's a lot of
misinformation out there, and Istill have part two to go over
with you, which will bepublished and aired the
following week. After this one,they're going to go back to
back. So that concludes theepisode today for the truth,
(26:46):
lies and Alzheimer's show.Again, I'm Lisa Skinner, your
host, and don't forget if youwant to check out our website
for updated information and newresources, please go to minding
dementia.com. I hope all of youhave a happy and healthy week
ahead of you, and as always, Iwill be back next week with part
(27:12):
two of busting myths aboutliving with Alzheimer's disease
and dementia. So hope to see youthen, bye. Bye.
Hello everybody. Welcome to a new episode of the
(00:03):
truth, lies and Alzheimer's showwith Lisa Skinner, your host, I
am going to talk about somethingthat just is very unnerving for
me, and it's all of themisinformation, the
(00:23):
disinformation, the myths thathave been circling around,
living with Alzheimer's diseasefor as long as I've been around,
and it dates back 50 years to myfirst experience with my
grandmother. So that's a longtime to be hearing these myths
(00:46):
that circulate around knowingthat they're all untrue. And I
think what it has ended up doingis really putting blinders on
the situation for understandingthe truth about what people go
(01:08):
through when they haveAlzheimer's disease or related
dementia. So I'm busting some ofthose myths today. We're
actually going to do this in twoparts, because there are so many
of them. So here's what I haveto share with you for part one
of myth busting dementia andAlzheimer's Disease Information.
(01:37):
First one, memory loss is just anormal part of aging and nothing
to worry about. Well, the truthis, while aging can bring some
natural changes in memory,significant or progressive
memory loss that interferes withdaily life is not normal and can
(02:00):
be a sign of dementia, includingAlzheimer's disease. Now other
disorders such as depression,thyroid issues, medications,
sleep disorders can also causememory problems and should be
evaluated. So why is thismisleading? Because it confuses
(02:23):
age related changes withpathological decline. So the key
point to this is seek medicalevaluation if memory loss
progresses or if it impacts aperson's independence, or if it
includes significant confusionor difficulty in planning or
(02:50):
getting lost in familiar places.Another myth, Alzheimer's
disease is caused by a singlegene or is purely genetic? The
truth, most cases are notdirectly caused by a single
gene. There are rare early onsetfamilial forms caused by
(03:15):
specific genetic mutations. Forexample, the A, P, P, the PSE
and one, and the PSE and two.But the majority of cases are
sporadic and influenced by acombination of genetic risk
factors like the A, P, O, e4,gene or lifestyle factors and
(03:40):
environmental factors. So why isthis one misleading? Because it
over simplifies the causes andcould also create a situation
for people where they're feelingundue guilt or fatalism, like
(04:00):
you know, why should they botherliving because they're going to
get Alzheimer's disease anyway,and that's completely far from
the truth. The key point to thisis genetics can influence risk,
yes, but lifestyle and vascularhealth also play a major role in
(04:22):
determining a person's risk fordeveloping Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is not fatalor is just an old age brain
decay. Truth to that,Alzheimer's is a progressive
(04:43):
neurodegenerative disease thatultimately leads to severe
cognitive and functional declineand is usually fatal. Well, it
is fatal complications such asinfections, falls and
malnutrition. Nutritioncontribute to the mortality of a
(05:03):
person. So why is this onemisleading? Because it downplays
the severity and the prognosisof Alzheimer's disease and the
other brain diseases that causedementia. There's no going back.
There's no cure, there's notreatment yet, there's no
reversing it. So the key pointhere is early planning and
(05:28):
symptom management are extremelyimportant. Here's number four,
only older people getAlzheimer's disease. The truth
to that matter is the vastmajority of cases occur in
(05:49):
people age 65 or older, but asmall percentage occur in people
under the age of 65 we call thatearly onset Alzheimer's disease.
Other forms of dementia canaffect younger individuals as
well. Why is that misleading? Itignores younger onset forms and
(06:11):
the broader spectrum ofdementia. So the key point is
that early onset forms are rare,but they are very, very real,
and the risk increases as we agenumber five, Alzheimer's disease
progresses. The same foreveryone? Well, that is a total
(06:35):
mistruth. The diseaseprogression varies widely among
individuals, in rate and inpattern, some have a relatively
slow decline over years. Othersexperience faster progression.
Symptoms can vary in the way oftheir memory loss, language
(06:56):
Visio, spatial skills, behavior,all of these can fluctuate
between people. And why is thismisleading? Because a one size
fits all expectations arecompletely inaccurate. Key Point
personalized care plans are veryessential and extremely
(07:18):
valuable. Myth number six, ifthere's no family history, you
won't get Alzheimer's disease.That's not true. Family history
does increase risk, but is not aprerequisite. Most people with
Alzheimer's disease have noknown family history, non
(07:41):
genetic factors such as age,cardiovascular health, diabetes,
smoking, exercise and dietsignificantly influence the risk
for a person to developAlzheimer's disease. So why is
that misleading? Because itignores non genetic risk
(08:03):
factors. Key Point, healthylifestyle reduces risk and can
delay onset. For many people,there is a cure or a single pill
that will stop Alzheimer's? No,no, no, no, no. There currently
(08:28):
is no cure. Some medications canhelp with symptoms, to
temporarily and modestly slowthe progression down in some
people, but unfortunately andsadly, they do not halt the
underlying disease. Research isongoing with several therapeutic
(08:49):
approaches under study. It'smisleading because it creates
false hope about a quick fix.And the key point to this myth
is that treatment focuses onsymptom management, quality of
life and safety. Next one,Alzheimer's disease only affects
(09:15):
memory while memory problems areprominent. Alzheimer's affects
multiple cognitive domains,language, reasoning, Visio,
spatial skills and behavior,behavioral changes, mood
changes, sleep disturbances andfunctional impairment are also
common symptom to dementia,
(09:38):
and that's misleading because itnarrows the expectation of
symptoms. I have said so manytimes that the majority of
people that I have known in thepast 30 years really associate
Alzheimer's disease with shortterm memory loss and confusion,
(09:59):
and as I. Have discussedmultiple multiple times. It is
so much more complicated thanthat, but people fall prey to
these myths. So the key point isthat a comprehensive assessment
covers cognition, coversfunction, behavior and daily
(10:20):
living. The next myth, dementiais just a part of a normal part
of aging and cannot beprevented. Well, dementia is not
an inevitable part of aging,though risk does increase with
age, some risk factors aremodifiable, like cardiovascular
(10:45):
health, obesity, physicalactivity, smoking, diabetes and
depression, prevention or delaymay be possible through risk
reducing strategies. That'smisleading, because it implies
that nothing can be done, whichis not true, and the key point
(11:06):
is healthy lifestyle choices canand do influence our risk of
developing Alzheimer's disease.Next one, if someone has
dementia, there is nothing youcan do to help Well, the truth
of that matter is that whiledementia is progressive, many
(11:30):
interventions can improve thequality of life, also improve
safety, mood, Sleep and dailyfunctioning, non pharmacological
approaches such as cognitivestimulation, physical activity,
social engagement and structuredroutines, as well as appropriate
(11:52):
medical treatment, can all helpcare planning and caregiver
support are crucial, and that'smisleading, because it implies
passivity. And the key point tothis myth is that there is such
a thing, and I'm certified inthis called person centered care
(12:17):
and adaptable routines andsupport services that all matter
greatly in the dementia world.Next myth, memory tests in
doctors offices are definitivediagnoses. No The truth is
(12:39):
routine screening or briefcognitive tests are initial
tools, but a definitivediagnosis typically requires
comprehensive assessment,including history, repeated
testing, medical evaluation,imaging and sometimes genetic or
laboratory tests. Dementia canbe caused by multiple conditions
(13:03):
needing differential diagnosis,and that's misleading because it
overstates the decisiveness ofinitial tests. So what's the key
point here? The diagnosis is aprocess, not a single test. Next
myth medicines for Alzheimer'sare addictive or dangerous with
(13:27):
no benefits whatsoever. Truth tothat is that most approved
medications have been studiedfor safety and can be beneficial
for some people in symptommanagement, especially in the
early to mid stages. Like allmedications, they have potential
(13:49):
side effects and require medicalsupervision. They are not
generally addictive. That'smisleading, because it confuses
side effects with dependence orlack of efficacy. What's the key
point? Discuss risks andbenefits with a clinician and
(14:11):
tailor it to each individualperson next. Dementia only
affects memory and is notrelated to other health issues.
Again, dementia is linked withbroader health factors,
including cardiovascular health,diabetes, obesity, sleep
(14:32):
disorders, depression, hearingloss and lifestyle factors.
These things can influence riskprogression and overall well
being. That's misleading,because it isolates cognitive
symptoms from physical health.So what's the key point here?
(14:55):
Holistic Health Management isvery important next. People with
dementia cannot learn new thingsor engage in complex activities.
That's not true. People withdementia can often learn and
engage in meaningful activities,especially with tailored
(15:16):
approaches, with repetition andwith support, remaining engaged
can help quality of life and mayslow functional decline. There's
many studies out there that haveshown a correlation to that, and
that's misleading, because itunderestimates a person's
(15:40):
retained abilities, people justassume they can't do anything
anymore, and that's not true. Sothe key to this is to use a
scent a person centered approachsimple, enjoyable activities
that are focused for each personand provide adequate support to
(16:02):
their skill level. Next,dementia automatically leads to
aggressive or violent behavior.Now, most people with dementia
are not violent. Behavioral andpsychological symptoms can
occur, yes, such as agitation oraggression, but these are often
(16:27):
due to them being uncomfortableor for environmental reasons or
unmet needs that cannot becommunicated to us, but can be
managed with proper carestrategies. So that's
misleading, because itstigmatizes people living with
(16:49):
dementia. I totally agree withthat. The key point here is we
want to assess for triggers thatcause these reactions, we want
to provide calm environments andseek professional strategies
when behavior changes arise,tests like brain scans can
(17:15):
diagnose Alzheimer's With 100%accuracy. Well, the truth to
that is imaging and biomarkerscan support a diagnosis and help
distinguish between types ofdementia, but no single test is
definitive in all cases, it iscertainly not with Alzheimer's
(17:39):
disease, a diagnosis typicallycombines clinical evaluation,
imaging labs and sometimesbiomarker data. That's
misleading because it overclaims certainty to formulate an
accurate diagnosis. The point tothat is that a diagnosis is
(18:05):
multimodal and contextdependent. Next only older
people get diagnosed withdementia under 65 never has it.
Well, don't forget, early onsetdementia that's diagnosed before
(18:25):
the age of 65 does exist. It'svery, very real, though less
common. It can significantlyimpact families and work and may
involve different symptompatterns. That's misleading
because it can often ignore areal minority group. So the key
(18:48):
point is to seek evaluation whenpersistent cognitive changes
occur at any age. Next myth,there's nothing we can do to
reduce our risk once we noticemild cognitive changes. Well,
that's not true. Early attentionto cardiovascular and metabolic
(19:10):
health, physical activity,cognitive engagement, sleep and
social connection, can and doesinfluence progression and
potentially reduce the risk ofrapid decline. Early
interventions may delay onset ofsevere symptoms.
(19:30):
That's misleading because itimplies inevitability, and the
key point is to proactivelymanage matters at any stage next
one dementia is contagious orcan be transmitted like an
infection, that one is kind ofout there. I have heard this for
(19:55):
years and years and years, butthe truth is that dementia is
not. Contagious. It is not aneurodegenerative condition with
biological causes, such as aninfectious disease, and of
course, why is that misleading?Because it spreads and continues
(20:17):
to spread misunderstandings andstigma, so you don't have to
worry about getting it fromsitting on a toilet seat. As my
mother used to say, the keypoint is, education reduces
stigma and fear. Education isour power. There's no doubt
(20:38):
about it. The next one. If youhave dementia, you should stop
trying to communicate orinteract. No people with
dementia often benefit fromcontinued social interaction,
tailored communicationstrategies and meaningful
(21:02):
engagement, patience, simplelanguage and supportive cues
will help maintain connection.That's misleading, because it
can so easily lead to socialwithdrawal and isolation, and we
know for a fact that that canspeed up a person's decline. The
(21:27):
key point is communication,adaptations do enhance quality
of life. This has been shown tobe factual. Couple more. Here's
one, that dietary supplementscan prevent or cure Alzheimer's
(21:50):
What do you think about thatone? Well, I'll tell you, there
is no conclusive evidence thatmost supplements prevent or cure
Alzheimer's disease. Fact, somemay be helpful in certain
contexts, but not universallyproven, but they can interact
(22:14):
with prescription medications. Iwonder if you actually knew that
always consult a clinicianbefore starting any supplement,
and that is misleading becauseit promotes unproven cures and
(22:36):
potential harm. The key pointis, evidence based approaches
are obviously preferred. Sodiscuss anything new with a
healthcare provider that makessense. Next one people with
dementia should never livealone. The truth is, some people
(22:59):
with dementia can live safely athome with appropriate supports,
like home safety adaptations,caregiver support, community
resources, others may requireassisted living or memory care,
but to determine that really,you've got to do individual
(23:21):
assessments on each person, eachcase is different. That's
misleading, because it's overlyprescriptive and not person
centered. I agree with that. Thekey point, safety plans and
regular reassessment are key.Next to last, myth that I'm
(23:45):
going to share with you in partone, caring for someone with
dementia must be done by afamily member. There's no need
for professional help. The truthis, a combination of formal care
services that could include homehealth aides, memory care,
(24:06):
people, social workers, andinformal caregiving often
provides the best outcomes.Caregiver support reduces
burnout and improves carequality, and that's misleading,
because it undervaluesprofessional resources, and in
(24:30):
my experience, it justperpetuates being in that state
of reaction if you have not beentrained on effective
communication strategies, andyou just, you know, it's like
being the hamster on the wheel.So that's an important point. So
(24:55):
what should we do in thatsituation? Build a care team
that includes. Health careprofessionals and community
services if possible, and thelast one, in part one, a busting
myth, Once diagnosed, there'snothing that can be done, and
(25:15):
the disease will inevitablyworsen quickly. The truth is
that while dementia isprogressive, the trajectory
varies person to person, symptommanagement, medical treatment,
environmental adjustments andcaregiver planning can improve
(25:38):
quality of life and functionalindependence for much longer
periods of time in a lot ofpeople. And I think this is a
really good point for why thisis so misleading, and I've seen
it because it promoteshopelessness. That doesn't have
(26:00):
to be the case. Key point tothis is that early, ongoing
planning and care optimizationcan be so beneficial to our
loved ones and the folks that weare caring for living with
Alzheimer's disease anddementia. So there are 24 myths.
(26:23):
So far that I have shared withyou. That's a lot of
misinformation out there, and Istill have part two to go over
with you, which will bepublished and aired the
following week. After this one,they're going to go back to
back. So that concludes theepisode today for the truth,
(26:46):
lies and Alzheimer's show.Again, I'm Lisa Skinner, your
host, and don't forget if youwant to check out our website
for updated information and newresources, please go to minding
dementia.com. I hope all of youhave a happy and healthy week
ahead of you, and as always, Iwill be back next week with part
(27:12):
two of busting myths aboutliving with Alzheimer's disease
and dementia. So hope to see youthen, bye. Bye.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.