The Dementia Perspective

Ep 15: The Dementia Game That Brought a Mum and Daughter Back Together

🧠 Communication is one of the hardest things to maintain when a loved one goes through dementia. But one woman discovered a game that transformed her relationship with her mum in a way she could never have imagined. ⚡ Glenna Hecht is the author of a beautiful book titled How Old Are You Today? It tells the story of her mother’s dementia journey and a time-travelling game that brought them back together after years of estrangement. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ The feeling of learning your estranged mother has been diagnosed with dementia ➡︎ Why dementia shouldn’t be looked at as something you fix - but something you face ➡︎ What Glenna’s game is and the incredibly profound moments it produced ➡︎ How you can keep communication open even when a loved one loses their speech 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. Find Glenna’s book here: https://a.co/d/0glM3Yur 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by OG Podcasts.

Ep 14: The Filmmaker Who Brought Her Parents’ Dementia Story to Life

🧠 It’s hard to know what’s going on inside the mind of a person with dementia - often making it a tough journey for their loved ones. That’s why Kimberley Littlemore set about a major project, to see through the eyes of her parents. ⚡ Kimberley is a filmmaker, and in this episode she explains how she captured her parents’ lives using specialist eye tracking equipment and fly-on-the-wall filming techniques. All with the aim of sharing the knowledge with others, to make their dementia journeys that little bit easier. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ How dementia can make putting on a shirt or pouring a cuppa much more difficult ➡︎ Why a person with dementia might make up scenarios ➡︎ Why anger or fear might become intensified for those with dementia ➡︎ How the truth isn’t always the kindest option for someone with dementia 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. Watch Kimberley’s films here: https://pocketmedic.org/carers-community/ 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by OG Podcasts.

Ep 13: Surprising New Alzheimer’s Discovery - Plus the Race for a Cure

🧠 New research is upending what we think we know about Alzheimer’s. It might start in the body, not the brain. Our best treatments currently target amyloid and tau in the brain - but what if we’re looking in the wrong place? ⚡ In this episode, researcher Cesar Cunha explores his surprising new research which shows your gut, lungs and even skin might be driving Alzheimer’s risk. We explore what this means for potential future treatments. We also meet an incredible charity working at the cutting edge of dementia research. Mollie Huggins from Race Against Dementia explains their “Formula 1” mindset to searching for a cure. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ Why your immune system might be the missing Alzheimer’s link ➡︎ How the shingles vaccine may protect you from dementia ➡︎ The moving story of Sir Jackie Stewart and why he set up Race Against Dementia ➡︎ Some of the innovative new research Race Against Dementia is funding 👥 With thanks to guests Cesar Cunha, postdoctoral researcher at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Basic Metabolic Research and Mollie Huggins, research manager at Race Against Dementia. 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. Read Cesar’s paper here: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.09.26344392v1 Find out more about Race Against Dementia: https://www.raceagainstdementia.com/ 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by OG Podcasts.

Ep 12: The Foods That Protect Your Brain - And Why Music Matters

🧠 Eating the right food can play a massive role in improving your brain health. And surprisingly so can listening to music! So what should you be eating - and listening to - to protect your brain from dementia? ⚡ In this good brain health guide, we tackle food and music with practical advice on things you can start doing today - whether that’s upgrading your fibre and omega-3 intake, to listening to old songs from your teenage years. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ Why you don’t need to learn an instrument to protect your brain with music ➡︎ What low-AGE eating is and why it’s so good for brain health and longevity ➡︎ The diet switches you should consider making to avoid cognitive decline ➡︎ The link between coffee and better brain performance 👥 With thanks to guests Dr David Cox and Professor Joanne Ryan. 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. Read Joanne’s paper here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41088732/ Pick up David’s book here: https://amzn.eu/d/04nQTwjn JAMA Article on coffee: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2844764 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by OG Podcasts.

Ep 11: Preparing For Your Future - No Matter What Happens

🧠 Have you ever considered what would happen to you if you were to get dementia? For many this isn’t something we’d want to think about - let alone make a plan for. But by planning for our future, we can protect it - and ensure our freedom, dignity and autonomy are kept in check. ⚡Dementia, like many other life-altering conditions, can reduce a person’s ability to make decisions about their life and how they’re cared for. So in this episode we discuss what you can do ahead of time to prepare for that. Guernsey’s Capacity Law is in the process of being rolled out in the island - and serves as a way into this sensitive and difficult conversation. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ Why people as young as 16 can - and should - plan for their future ➡︎ What meaningful decisions the law allows you to make about your life ➡︎ About lasting power of attorney, advance care plans and more 👥 With thanks to guest Emma Pearce. 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 💡Learn about the Guernsey Capacity Law: https://gov.gg/capacitylaw 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

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Ep 10: Why You Should Try “Smell Training”: The Sensory Side of Dementia Explained

🧠 Have you ever heard of smell training? Well, if you want a new tool in your arsenal to stave off dementia - you might want to get sniffing! Your sense of smell is more closely connected to your brain health than you realise - and protecting it is crucial. ⚡As we’ve discovered in this series, dementia affects more than just your memory - it’s a full-body, sensory experience. And in this episode we explain exactly what that means. Not only do we tackle smell, but we learn how the other senses are impacted too - including touch, vision and hearing. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ How to do “smell training” and why smell loss is so closely linked to brain health ➡︎ How dementia can distort a person’s vision ➡︎ Why attention is such an important element of brain health 👥 With thanks to guests Professor Thomas Hummel and Professor Andrea Tales 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

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Ep 9: Dementia Simulation Suit: What It’s Really Like to Have Dementia

🧠 How can you truely understand what it’s like to have dementia, without experiencing it for yourself? Well, there is in fact a way to get a glimpse into life with dementia - and Ollie has experienced it first-hand. ⚡ Dementia simulation suits mimic the sensory issues that are associated with both dementia and old age. The suit is made up of a mix of heavy clothing, restrictive neck and hand wraps, gloves, special glasses and headphones. And as Ollie finds out, it makes navigating even the most simple of tasks very, very difficult. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ Why this simulation suit is being used to enhance empathy and understanding ➡︎ Just how difficult ordinary tasks, like pouring water or making a puzzle, can be ➡︎ Why every day routines can take much longer for someone with dementia 👥 With thanks to guests Lottee Bonner, Michelle Martel and Gill Evans. 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

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Ep 8: Hope For a Cure: Emerging Science of Treating Dementia

🧠 Three new anti-amyloid drugs are some of the latest innovations providing us more in the arsenal of our fight against Alzheimer’s. But Alzheimer’s is just one form of dementia - have we unlocked the same tools for the others? ⚡ Promising trials are showing surprising brain health benefits of weight-loss drug Ozempic, AI drug detection is getting better and better every day, and stem-cell therapy may be the next game-changer…but are any of these bringing us closer to a cure? 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ The pros and cons of the 3 new anti-amyloid drugs - and why some are skeptical ➡︎ Why we’re further in treating Alzheimer’s than frontotemporal dementia ➡︎ Where AI can help in early detection and drug discovery 👥 With thanks to guest Lottee Bonner, Dr Sarah Morris and Dr Rahul Bhintade. 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

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Ep 7: AI and Tech - Improving Dementia Care In Surprising Ways

🧠 Robot seals, virtual reality and GPS - some of the surprising and clever ways AI and technology are improving dementia care. And with advancements coming thick and fast, the future of care is unfolding right before our eyes. The question is; what’s coming next? ⚡ From the simple data points a smart-watch can gather, to a future where we can speak to dead loved ones, this episode focuses on the tech innovations that are benefitting the lives of people with dementia and their carers. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ The simple but crucial impact of tools like ChatGPT and Alexa smart speakers ➡︎ Why robot seals are a great comfort - but may never replace human touch ➡︎ How virtual reality is proving a powerful tool to evoke memories and reduce anxiety 👥 With thanks to guest Victoria Lyons from Dementia UK. 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

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Ep 6: Pip Looijenga - How Life and Loves Goes On Through Dementia

🧠 Life radically changes when a loved one is diagnosed with dementia. Parts of life you often take for granted, that never cross your mind, are suddenly brought into view. Easy tasks become harder, the way you love and are loved shifts - and the promises you’ve made throughout your lives together take on a much bigger significance. ⚡ But through the grief and the tough days, Pip Looijenga says there is a process of rediscovery that happens - a simplifying of life that reminds you of what is really important. And there is great joy and connection to be found through dementia. Pip Looijenga is wife to Jan, who we met in episode 2, and here she shares her side of the story. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ How dementia makes you learn to appreciate the little things in life ➡︎ Why you never stop relying on or needing your partner, even when dementia has set in ➡︎ What dementia teaches you about love, resilience and self-reliance 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

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Ep 5: Love, Touch, and the Power of Connection in Dementia

🧠 Dementia is a sensory illness - when someone’s brain begins to fail them, tapping into their senses of touch, taste and smell can bring much-needed connection to their lives. Understanding this can help loved ones communicate, even when connection feels impossible. ⚡ This is just one of the many insights shared in this episode, to help carers and loved ones manage the difficult journey of life with dementia. With 1 in 2 people expected to be affected by dementia in some way, we aim to fully equip you with the tools needed to support carers and patients in the best way possible. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ The surprising intricacies of the dementia grieving process ➡︎ Why a person with dementia is not “challenging” ➡︎ What “I want to go home” or “I want my mum” really means for a dementia patient 👥 With thanks to guests Lottee Bonner, Pip Looijenga, Victoria Lyons and Michelle Kohlschein. 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

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Ep 4: Eat, Sleep, Drink... and Think: Habits That Shape Brain Health

🧠 Alcohol, food and sleep - these are some of the biggest things you can address to improve your brain health now, and in the long-term. And if you want to know why they are so impactful, this episode is a deep dive into the science. ⚡ From the gradual damage that alcohol does to your brain, to the memory problems associated with poor sleep, to the importance of protecting your gut health, this episode focuses on practical insights you can take away and use today. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ How alcohol can produce dementia-like symptoms, and even directly causes the disease ➡︎ The important role sleep plays in memory formation ➡︎ All about the gut-brain axis, and how gut health impacts brain health👥 With thanks to guests Dr Rahul Bhintade and Dr Jonathan Swann. 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

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Ep 3: 45% of Dementia Cases Could Be Prevented: Do These 14 Things Now

🧠 Cutting your risk of dementia starts when you’re young. The action you take now is crucial. And the best part? What you do to stave off dementia will make your brain run optimally throughout life. Want to be smarter, have more energy and boost your memory? This is what you have to do. ⚡ A 2024 report by the Lancet Commission found that 45% of dementia cases could be prevented through lifestyle changes alone. They even listed the 14 things you can improve to make prevention possible - and this is your step-by-step guide through each of them. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ Why “brain workouts” and lifelong education are so important in staving off dementia ➡︎ Exactly how the food you eat impacts your brain health - and how to optimise it ➡︎ The true impact of loneliness and isolation - and how to save a life👥 With thanks to guests Paul Corcoran and Dr Rahul Bhintade. 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

Ep 2: Jan Looijenga: Facing Dementia with Dignity, Humour and Hope

🧠 What is it like to actually live with dementia? How do you navigate life through such a difficult time? Well, it turns out, to adapt you need courage, hope - and some fantastic people in your corner. ⚡ In this deeply moving and inspirational conversation, Guernsey resident Jan Looijenga shares his journey, after being diagnosed with early-onset frontotemporal dementia. From frustrations, to laughter, to hope and optimism - Jan’s reveals a picture of dementia that is rarely shared. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ How Jan finds hope and joy, even after losing access to his emotions ➡︎ How Jan adapts to memory loss, from setting up his camera to planning for events ➡︎ Why support from carers and loved ones truly is a life-line for those with dementia 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

Ep 1: What Dementia Really Is - And Why Memory Loss Isn’t Inevitable

🧠 Your memory doesn’t need to get worse as you age; “Cognition is a lifelong process”. Brain health is on everyone’s mind at the moment - and if you’re keen to keep yours operating at full capacity, this is for you. ⚡ Dementia is on the rise, with cases expected to soar by 61% over the next few decades. Fortunately we understand the science of dementia and brain health better than ever before. The world is waking up to the impact of dementia on society - and now it’s time to do something about it. 💡 In this episode of The Dementia Perspective you will learn: ➡︎ The difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, and the many forms it can take ➡︎ Just how much genetics influences dementia risk - and why there’s always hope ➡︎ How hormones and many other factors may cause dementia-like symptoms👥 With thanks to guests Dr Rahul Bhintade, Dr Sarah Morris, Lottee Bonner & Paul Corcoran 🎙️ A podcast from the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association - your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. Your host is Ollie Guillou. 👍 Please like, comment and subscribe to this podcast - and consider supporting the good work of the GAA: https://alzheimers.gg/ 📱 Get in touch: Email: info@alzheimers.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guernseyalzheimersassociation/ 🎙️ Production by Phillippa Guillou and OG Podcasts.

Trailer: The Dementia Perspective

Brain health is more mainstream than ever. Yet by 2043, dementia cases are expected to soar by 61%. The good news? Scientists now know how we can take preventative measures to reduce the risk of dementia - and if the time comes, how to best support someone with it. Guiding you through the science, this podcast is your essential guide to brain health, now and for the future. The series goes live during Dementia Action Week, on the 19th May.