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In this episode, Dr. Mia and Dr. Christina Hugenschmidt discuss their insights from the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC 2025) this summer, and the importance of early diagnosis and lifestyle interventions. They explore the gut-brain connection, innovative drug research, and the impact of nutrition and environmental factors on cognitive health. The conversation emphasizes the need for social engagement and support for caregivers, highlighting the multifaceted approach required in managing dementia and promoting brain health.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dementia Caregiving and Research

02:01 Personal Journey in Caregiving

03:51 Understanding Dementia: A Personal Journey

15:57 Lifestyle Interventions for Brain Health

27:57 The Impact of Hormones on Caregiving

39:53 Research Innovations in Dementia Treatment

45:47 Environmental Factors and Brain Health

Christina Hugenschmidt, PhD, MS, LCMHC, is a Associate Professor, Director of Wake Forest Memory Counseling Program. She is a neuroscientist and a counselor. Her experiences in clinical practice led her to question how support groups can be used to improve brain health. She began working with the Memory Counseling Program (MCP) after joining Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine and the Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention at Health/Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem North Carolina in 2012 and was recently appointed MCP director following Dr. Shaw’s retirement. Her experiences leading and developing a support group for people with dementia have profoundly shaped how she views dementia and her research into how positive experiences like this group can support the well-being of people living with dementia and their care partners. Her research uses brain imaging to explore how common aging-related changes in the body, such as mobility, obesity and diabetes affect brain health, and how these effects on the brain can be modified by everyday lifestyle, like engaging in exercise and arts practices. https://improvment.wfu.edu/about/improvment-team/

AXS-05 dextromethorphan and bupropion for AD agitation

US version of world wide FINGER- US POINTER study

MIND diet slows cognitive decline with aging

Other AAIC 2025 press conferences or highlights: https://aaic.alz.org/releases-2025/highlights-aaic-2025.asp

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