Still me. Still you.
How can we prevent dementia and if we or someone we love does get it what can we do about it?
If you want to know how to prevent dementia, or what to do if you or a loved one does get it, listen to my guest this week on the Brave New Girls podcast: Dr Sabina Brennan, top neuroscientist and bestselling author of Still Me. In her book, Sabina weaves professional expertise with her lived experience caring for her mother, offering a compassionate, practical guide through a subject that can feel overwhelming.
Dementia is devastating. Almost a million people in the UK live with the disease today, and this figure is expected to triple by 2050. With family members often thrust into the role of carer, the journey can feel daunting and lonely. Yet, as Sabina reminds us, there is life after diagnosis.
She reframes caregiving not as a one-way duty, but as a partnership built on mutual dignity and respect. Both the person with dementia and the care partner matter. Both deserve support, purpose, and a chance to enjoy the small pleasures that still exist.
What we can learn from Sabina’s journey
Sabina is clear that while we cannot yet prevent Alzheimer’s disease itself, we can reduce our risk of developing symptoms, slow progression, and build brain resilience through lifestyle. Her research shows that up to 45% of cases may be linked to modifiable risk factors such as midlife high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, diabetes, depression, social isolation, and lack of physical activity. Small changes across a lifetime can add up to big protection.
But Sabina also reminds us that prevention is only one side of the story. If a diagnosis does come, caregiving is not about perfection. It’s about presence. In Still Me, she shares how her own relationship with her mother softened and deepened during the dementia years. By focusing on moments of joy, whether singing songs, laughing at babies on YouTube, or simply wandering the aisles of Aldi, she discovered that love and connection endure even when memory fades.
Her central message: dementia may rob us of many things, but it doesn’t have to erase humanity. Your loved one is still them. And you, as their care partner, are still you.
Brave New Girl- How to Be Fearless.
10 Actionable Steps for a better future.
Adopt a brain-healthy lifestyle – Exercise, eat well, sleep enough, and challenge your mind with new learning.
Address modifiable risks – Manage blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight. Quit smoking, reduce alcohol, and treat depression.
Stay socially connected – Isolation increases risk. Nurture friendships, join groups, keep conversations alive.
Stimulate the brain – Lifelong learning, reading, puzzles, music, or learning a new skill all help build cognitive reserve.
Live in the moment – Don’t argue about what’s forgotten. Focus on the present and enjoy the now.
Observe and adapt – Agitation often signals discomfort. Be a detective: check clothing, environment, or noise as possible triggers.
Support independence – Encourage your loved one to keep doing what they can, even if it takes longer. Shared tasks create dignity.
Create joy – Use music, laughter, and familiar routines. Tailor activities to your loved one’s preferences rather than imposing “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
Look after yourself too – Caregivers face chronic stress. Prioritise your own wellbeing and allow others to help.
Remember the person, not just the disease – Speak with respect, assume awareness, and acknowledge that they are still present, even if they cannot always respond.
Dementia can change lives, but as Dr Sabina Brennan shows, love, dignity, and presence can still light the way forward.
PS. Listen HERE to SABINA’S journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us create well beings on a well planet.
