Dementia in Practice

Dr Rachel Jones is a geriatrician based in Lismore, northern NSW. She shares her personal story of growing up as a daughter of a small-town GP and school music teacher, and granddaughter of the owners of Lismore’s main department store. She reflects on how her upbringing continues to impact her role as a geriatrician in a regional centre. Show Notes  Beating Hearts of Lismore...

In this episode, Bec speaks with Ai Lian Lee from Dementia Training Australia’s pharmacy team. Ai Lian outlines how pharmacists can be of assistance to GPs who care for people with impaired cognition. They also discuss which drugs may impair cognition, and which drugs can assist.    Show Notes  Dementia Training Australia – Common Medicines That May Affect...

During our workshops and webinars, we are often asked about the impact of ADHD, Autism (ASD), PTSD and marijuana (THC) use on cognition and their association with dementia. In this episode, Pete poses these tricky questions to Dr Kailas Roberts, psychiatrist and psychogeriatrician, who answers them with great clarity, based on most recent research and his extensive experience.&...

Associate Professor Stephen Macfarlane, Head of Clinical Services at Dementia Support Australia, joins Hilton to discuss the causes of changed behaviour in dementia. Drawing on extensive clinical experience, Stephen outlines evidence-based strategies to understand and respond to behavioural and psychological symptoms in a person centred way. Show Notes ● Dementia Training Australia – General...

In this insightful episode, Bec speaks with Tasmanian geriatrician Professor David Dunsbabin about less common dementias, including Frontotemporal Dementia and Lewy Body Disease. The conversation focuses on key clinical features, symptom patterns, and practical tips for differentiation in everyday practice. Show Notes Mild Behavioural Impairment (MBI) Diagnostic Criteria - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih...

In this episode, Hilton is joined by Professor Kaarin Anstey from UNSW’s Ageing Futures Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia. Together, they explore how memory is stored and retrieved, and unpack the critical distinctions between normal cognitive ageing, Subjective Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia. Show Notes  Mild Behavioural Impairment (MBI) Diagnost...

  In this special bonus episode, familiar guest Dr Steph Daly returns for a cameo conversation with Hilton. Drawing on her involvement in an ongoing clinical trial, Steph shares emerging insights into the role of blood-based biomarkers in assessing people presenting with cognitive symptoms in general practice, and what this evolving evidence could mean for future clinical pathways.  &nbs...

Cognitive impairment is complex, nuanced, and far more than a simple memory issue. In More Than a Memory Problem, Dementia Training Australia’s expert clinicians, Dr Peter Silberberg, Dr Rebecca Moore, and Dr Hilton Koppe, explore the practical recognition, assessment, and management of people presenting with possible impaired cognition. Show Notes  Dementia Training Australia – G...

In this episode we hear from Mardi, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease a few years ago, Mardi talks about her symptoms, diagnosis and how she approached and continues to approach a life living with Alzheimer’s disease. We very much appreciate Mardi being involved in our podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Hilton Koppe talks to Suraj Samtani a researcher from the centre for healthy brain ageing, about social isolation and loneliness. We learn that reducing the impact of these factors can have the same benefit as stopping smoking on our health. Suraj talks and inspires us all to think about interactions with each other and how even the simplest of interactions may be reducing the impa...

In this episode, Steph talks to Rowena Mobbs - a cognitive neurologist with a special interest in CTE and concussion, something that has been gaining interest in mainstream media and research. She talks about the theory and impact that multiple micro traumatic head injuries can have on the brain and what we can do to identify people who may have CTE, as well as talking about strategies for risk re...

In this episode Hilton talks to Paul Yates, Associate Professor and geriatrician and researcher from the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) and Austin Health. Paul describes the landscape of Alzheimer’s research in relation to biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease and the use of this to assist with treatments that may be available in the future. Paul talks about some of the limitat...

In this episode Steph talks to Madeline Healy a geriatrician from Melbourne who received a Churchill Fellowship to travel internationally and research the services for people living with dementia who also have Down syndrome. Down syndrome is associated with a significant risk of Alzheimer’s disease and there are limited specialist services for this population in Australia. Madeline talks abo...

In this episode Hilton interviews Mark Yates a Geriatrician from Ballarat. Mark introduces some simple principles to use when assessing capacity particularly in relation to the person living with dementia. He talks about the URUC model, which stands for understanding, retain, utilise and communicate information for which they are being assessed.  Mark is able to break down what can be a very...

Join Dr Stephanie Daly and her GP colleagues, Drs Hilton Koppe and Rebecca Moore for a fascinating exploration into dementia risk reduction. In light of the 2024 Lancet Commission Report in which it was announced that approximately 45 percent of dementia is attributable to modifiable risk, there are several simple lifestyle modifications which people can institute which may help mitigate their ris...

A very special episode of Dementia in Practice where one of our own GPs, Dr Steph Daly talks with her GP colleagues Drs Hilton Koppe and Rebecca Moore about the challenges she experienced as a doctor and a daughter when one of her parents was diagnosed with dementia. Resources Providing person centered care - About me document Dementia Support Australia – for assisting in creating informatio...

In this, the first episode for Season 4, Dr Hilton Koppe interviews Occupational Therapist and Professional Practice Advisor for Aged Care, Christina Wyatt. Occupational therapists are considered underutilized in the post-diagnostic care of people living with dementia and Christina explains the important role an occupational therapist can play. OTs apply an individualized, strength-based approach...

Dr Marita Long speaks with neuropsychologist and researcher, Prof Caroline Gurvich about the interplay between gender and dementia, with a particular focus on what happens during the menopause. Australian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/images/stories/infosheets/docs/AMS_Oestrogen_and_cognition_in_the_perimenopause_and_menopause.pdf     Brain fog in menopause: a health-care professi...

Our team of Dementia Training Australia’s GP Educators, Steph Daly, Marita Long and Hilton Koppe discuss the strengths and weaknesses of cognitive assessment tools, and how they can be optimally used in the assessment of people with possible cognitive impairment.  Standardised Mini Mental State Exam (SMMSE) The test: https://www.ihacpa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-08/smmse-tool-v2.pdf   Guideli...

In this episode, Dr Hilton Koppe speaks with Spencer Ratliff whose father died from younger onset dementia. We hear about the challenges his family overcame and how they were able to create a legacy as a result of their experiences. Able Foods Ready made foods for people living with disabilities  https://ablefoods.com.au/     Dementia Australia – About younger onset dementia https://yod.dementia.o...

Dr Steph Daly speaks with speech pathologist Kim Torresi about her insights into how implementing strategies for improving communication can result in improved quality of life for people living with dementia. Dementia Training Australia Providing education for GPs and other health practitioners GP resource page - https://dta.com.au/general-practitioners/   DTA home page - https://dta.com.au/   Dem...

Dr Marita Long speaks with Prof Nicholas Ashton from Sweden about the development of blood tests which may be able to detect changes of Alzheimer’s Disease before a person develops symptoms. Australian Dementia Network A network of leading scientists and researchers working to establish a dementia registry, guidelines for memory clinics and screening for clinical trials https://www.australiandemen...

Our roving reporter, Dr Marita Long spoke with Prof Maria Eriksdotter from Sweden and our good friend Prof Kaarin Anstey at the 2023 Australian Dementia Research Forum. Prof Eriksdotter explained the benefits of having a national register for people with dementia and other chronic conditions, while Prof Anstey discusses ways in which we can use the CogDrisk an evidence-based tool to help identify...

In our first episode of Dementia in Practice for Season 3, Dr Marita Long caught up with Prof Henry Brodarty and A/Prof Michele Callisaya at the 2023 Australian Dementia Research Forum. They discuss the role of training for the brain and the body, and a re-enablement approach to assisting people with dementia or cognitive impairment. Australian Dementia Network A network of leading scientists and...

In many ways dementia in younger people is similar as in older age, however there are differences the GP needs to consider.  Hilton, Steph and Marita meet with Professor Amy Brodtmann to discuss the similarities and differences in the identification and post-diagnostic care of younger onset dementia.           SHOW NOTES: Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m) Administration and Scoring...