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All things dementia

Dementia
Women Are Twice as Likely to Suffer Dementia as Men

Anthea Rowan on October 18, 2023

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from dementia. Age is definitely a factor, women live an average of five to seven years longer than men, but it's not the only reason.

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from dementia. Age is definitely a factor, women live an average of five to seven years longer than men, but it's not the only reason.

Dementia
How to Make Positive Memories After a Dementia Death

Anthea Rowan on October 12, 2023

A Personal Perspective: When my mother died, I struggled to remember her as well. I worried that I'd lost her to dementia in life and might lose happier memories of her in death.

A Personal Perspective: When my mother died, I struggled to remember her as well. I worried that I'd lost her to dementia in life and might lose happier memories of her in death.

Dementia
The Choice of Care for a Loved One Is Personal

Anthea Rowan on July 19, 2023

I never thought I'd need to look after my mother. The choice of care my siblings and I made was loosely based on what she'd said, largely based on circumstances when the time came.

I never thought I'd need to look after my mother. The choice of care my siblings and I made was loosely based on what she'd said, largely based on circumstances when the time came.

Dementia
How to Celebrate a Birthday in the Face of Dementia

Anthea Rowan on June 11, 2023

A Personal Perspective: My mother won't remember that we celebrated her birthday. Why did I still feel compelled to make an occasion of the day?

A Personal Perspective: My mother won't remember that we celebrated her birthday. Why did I still feel compelled to make an occasion of the day?

Appetite
How to Feed a Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Patient

Anthea Rowan on May 27, 2023

A Personal Perspective: I began with such good intentions and fed my mother a diet packed with goodness. What she eats now is anathema to me.

A Personal Perspective: I began with such good intentions and fed my mother a diet packed with goodness. What she eats now is anathema to me.

Dementia
How Not to Get Dementia

Anthea Rowan on May 19, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Daily exposure to my mother's Alzheimer's disease makes me mindful of the risks of dementia. Perhaps that will protect me.

A Personal Perspective: Daily exposure to my mother's Alzheimer's disease makes me mindful of the risks of dementia. Perhaps that will protect me.

Dementia
The Most Important Conversation to Have With a Parent

Anthea Rowan on May 7, 2023

A Personal Perspective: I could not conceive of my brilliant mother succumbing to dementia. Denial and the difficulty of the subject meant we never had this conversation.

A Personal Perspective: I could not conceive of my brilliant mother succumbing to dementia. Denial and the difficulty of the subject meant we never had this conversation.

Dementia
The Dreadful Physical Symptoms of Dementia

Anthea Rowan on April 30, 2023

A Personal Perspective: When my mother presented with a few senior moments, we had no idea her loss of cognition would quickly be hamstrung by a growing list of physical handicaps.

A Personal Perspective: When my mother presented with a few senior moments, we had no idea her loss of cognition would quickly be hamstrung by a growing list of physical handicaps.

Dementia
How Some Common Drugs Can Increase the Risk of Dementia

Anthea Rowan on April 21, 2023

If she had known the dementia risks of some of the common drugs she was prescribed for years, would my mother have agreed to take them? Would her doctor have prescribed them?

If she had known the dementia risks of some of the common drugs she was prescribed for years, would my mother have agreed to take them? Would her doctor have prescribed them?

Dementia
What Are the Reasons for My Mother’s Alzheimer’s Disease?

Anthea Rowan on April 14, 2023

Personal Perspective: Dementia does not strike entirely randomly. Were my mother's long, treatment-resistant depressions to blame? Or her stroke? Or just her gender?

Personal Perspective: Dementia does not strike entirely randomly. Were my mother's long, treatment-resistant depressions to blame? Or her stroke? Or just her gender?

Dementia
Why I Pretend to See What My Mother Sees

Anthea Rowan on April 9, 2023

Personal Perspective: Some believe it's wrong to buy into the fabrications of dementia. I think not doing so is to exacerbate an already alienating and distressing disease.

Personal Perspective: Some believe it's wrong to buy into the fabrications of dementia. I think not doing so is to exacerbate an already alienating and distressing disease.