There are many disorders that can cause memory problems, which fall under the category of “dementia” when those memory problems interfere with daily living. The most common dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which afflicts more than seven million people in the U.S. As Dr. Kristina Zdanys, geriatric psychiatrist at UConn Health, explains, we can’t cure dementia; our best bet is to try to slow its progression, or even delay its onset with healthy habits in our younger years. Dr. Zdanys, who co-directs the James E. C. Walker Memory Assessment Program in our UConn Center on Aging, also discusses with Dr. Anthony Alessi how genetics factor into dementia, the “mind diet,” the challenge of taking away a loved one’s car keys, and what drew her into the field of geriatric psychiatry.
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