All About Alzheimer's Newsletter- Monday 15th December 2025

Memory Air brings this science backed olfactory enrichment approach to your house in an easy-to-use device that works while you sleep.

Developed in partnership with Professor Emeritus of Neurobiology at the University of California Irvine, Dr Michael Leon is one of the world’s leading neuroscientists.

Memory Air was designed using proven science:

Only available in the USA

Irish neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan has highlighted three everyday lifestyle habits that could help delay — or even prevent — the onset of dementia. They’re simple, accessible, and backed by what we know about how the brain changes as we age.

Here’s a closer look at the three areas she recommends:

What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.

Regular exercise helps support healthy blood flow, boosts oxygen, and strengthens the systems that keep the brain functioning well. A healthier brain is better equipped to resist decline as we age, and movement — at any level — plays a big part in that.

This doesn’t have to mean joining a gym. Brisk walking, swimming, dancing in the kitchen, gardening, or gentle stretching all count.

Social interaction is one of the most effective (and often underestimated) defences against cognitive decline.

As we grow older, our social circles naturally shrink — friends move, family gets busy, and sadly, we begin to lose people. This can lead to social isolation, which increases dementia risk.

Dr Brennan emphasises the importance of intergenerational friendships. Conversations with younger people can stimulate new perspectives, challenge our thinking, and keep the mind active.

Even small daily interactions — a chat with a neighbour, joining a local group, or catching up with family — help nourish the brain.

Your brain thrives on novelty.

Trying a new skill, hobby, or language encourages neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to rewire and adapt. It’s never too late to start. In fact, just two weeks ago in our newsletter, we shared the example of Ivor Baddiel, who began learning guitar and life drawing at age 62 after decades without picking up a paintbrush.

The key is stepping outside your comfort zone.

Whether it’s photography, crochet, puzzles, or an app-based language course, the goal is to gently stretch the brain.

These three steps may be simple, but together they form a powerful routine that strengthens brain resilience:

✔ Move
✔ Connect
✔ Learn

Small changes today can help support clearer thinking, stronger memory, and better long-term brain health.

What’s one new step you can bring into your week?

Every week, we share an honest story from a caregiver — the things most people are too afraid to say out loud.

This is something many carers face during the festive season, and it can leave you feeling pulled in two directions, wanting them to be part of the family, while also wanting to shield them from sensory overload.

Crowded rooms, multiple conversations and background noise can feel chaotic and frightening for someone living with dementia. Their withdrawal isn’t rejection, it’s self-protection.

You could try breaking the celebration into smaller moments:

Let family know ahead of time that shorter, quieter interactions may be best. Setting boundaries doesn’t exclude them, it allows them to take part in a way that feels safe.

And please remember: you don’t have to shoulder the guilt.
You’re not choosing between them and your family, you’re choosing a version of the day that preserves dignity, comfort and connection.

That’s real care.

Harvey

If something’s been on your heart lately, let us know. We read every word. Your voice could offer comfort to someone else navigating the same journey.