Inside Health Dementia: Your questions answered and lion's mane mushrooms in the lab
Apr 8, 2025
Professor Tara Spires-Jones, a leading expert at the University of Edinburgh, answers pressing listener questions about dementia. She discusses the impact of lifestyle choices on dementia risk and the balance between genetics and societal interventions in prevention. The episode also explores the fascinating potential of lion's mane mushrooms in combating cognitive decline, revealing both the excitement and skepticism tied to their benefits. Insights into various dementia types and the urgent need for research funding round out this enlightening conversation.
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Maintaining Connection with Dementia Patients
- Focus on what people with dementia can do and enjoy, not their limitations.
- Remind them of cherished stories and make them laugh to engage their preserved abilities.
Preserved Abilities in Dementia
- Early dementia affects memory formation, but other brain functions remain intact.
- Humor, skills, and long-term memories can be preserved, offering opportunities for engagement.
Singing and Dementia
- Singing may not directly prevent Alzheimer's, but its social and cognitive aspects offer indirect benefits.
- Social interaction and cognitive stimulation are linked to reduced dementia risk.