#112- 5 Groundbreaking Insights on Mental Health and Aging from 2024

A few days ago, I was interviewed for NPR’s Here & Now, and the host asked me about my “aging journey.” I felt a little flustered—not because it was a bad question, but because I’m 50. And when people ask me about aging, my mind goes straight to older adulthood: 65, 75, 85, 95 and beyond. So my answer didn’t land the way I wanted it to. I left the interview thinking, I wish I’d said that differently. What I wish I’d said in the moment is this: when I talk about aging, I’m usually t...

When someone is living with both dementia and PTSD, their needs are complex—but support is still possible, and it can make a world of difference. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned as a geropsychologist working with veterans and older adults navigating both cognitive impairment and trauma. You’ll discover: When trauma therapy can still be effective in the early stages of dementia.How dementia progression changes what’s possible for PTSD treatment.The importance of identifying and mini...

Can Unresolved Trauma Increase Dementia Risk? Trauma doesn’t just leave emotional scars—it can change the brain. And when post-traumatic stress goes untreated, the risk for dementia later in life rises. In this episode of my mental health and dementia series, I explore how trauma and PTSD intersect with brain health. Drawing from decades of research and my years working with older veterans, I break down why unresolved trauma increases vulnerability to dementia disorders and what clinicians ca...

Last week, a therapist told me about her client, an 82-year-old woman who hadn’t had more than 6 hours of sleep in years. “It’s just part of getting older,” the woman sighed. But here’s the truth—fatigue isn’t a normal part of aging, and chronic sleep problems may be quietly raising her risk for dementia. As professionals, we can no longer shrug off insomnia in older adults. The stakes are simply too high. In this episode, I reveal the powerful connection between chronic sleep problems...

If you’ve ever been told that “a little wine is good for you,” you might want to hear what the latest science says—especially when it comes to the aging brain. In this episode, I share compelling new research showing that even moderate alcohol use in midlife and later life may significantly increase the risk of dementia. I’ll walk you through why alcohol use in older adults often goes undetected, how it impacts brain health, and the exact screening tools and questions I use—and that you can u...