When you’re caring for someone, that puts you in the role of advocate and I’ve found that the best way to understand the options for the person you’re caring for is to educate yourself.

You can’t rely on a neuropsychiatrist who disregards everything in a patient’s history that could explain some or all of their symptoms and relies on intimidation tactics to enforce compliance in a testing process they haven’t explained in a way that ensures the patient understands the task, then promptly diagnoses Alzheimer’s and sends you on your way with no explanation or follow up… But I digress.

As a carer, you’re entrusted to make the best decisions for the person you’re caring for, decisions that align with their values and are made alongside them; decisions that are made with and/or for them, not at them. You need to know what questions to ask and when, and you need to be able to weigh up the costs and benefits of treatments, and you need to somehow find a way to look after yourself in the process.

I’ve read a bunch of books about dementia but this is the first one I’ve wanted to talk about. It actually answered questions I’ve had that other books skirt around but ultimately raise more questions.

This book explains dementia in a way that’s easy to understand. This is the first time I’ve had someone explain why there isn’t medication that can reverse or at least stop the progression of dementia and it made sense. I particularly liked the way the symptoms are explained.

“Dementia occurs when a disease or progressive processes cause damage, and brain function is impaired enough to impact everyday life. The symptoms of dementia are the result of a brain that is no longer able to correctly take in information, interpret it, and act on it. Dementia is a “syndrome," or a collection of symptoms, and it can be caused by many different diseases.”

Having something like this to hold onto when symptoms lead to frustration provides much needed perspective.

I learned a lot of useful information, things that should be explained by doctors but aren’t. For example, I didn’t realise that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) doesn’t automatically mean someone will progress to dementia. In fact, most don’t. It’s also made clear that memory loss doesn’t automatically equal dementia; other factors that may contribute to this are “lack of sleep, medications someone is taking, or anxiety, which can be fixed.”

One of my favourite things about this book is that it highlights that dementia risk isn’t equal. Racism, poverty, stress and whether you have access to education and preventative healthcare all have a bearing on your risk, despite the lifestyle strategies you may be employing. It’s clear that systems have a role to play in prevention.

“Understanding health through an equality lens means considering gender, race, and disability, and how they intersect. It means integrating poverty, discrimination, and healthcare access as central when developing models of healthcare.”

I’m not sure if this was a test or not but the list of ten brain healthy foods only had eight bullet points, which could be stretched to nine foods if “fish, poultry” are counted as two.

If your future health planning looks pretty lazy overall with a dash of it ain’t broke yet, I have good news for you. Many of the tips, especially around lifestyle decisions, in this book that could help prevent dementia are also good for a bunch of other conditions so a single good choice is a protective measure for many.

This book is intended to be read before someone you love is diagnosed with dementia. Given the prevalence and, let’s face it, how busy you are, it’s likely you won’t even look for this book until after you meet someone living with dementia. This has a lot of good information and it does cover some of what to expect after a diagnosis but I and I’m sure many others would benefit from a sequel, After Dementia.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HCI Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Good education and knowledge on dementia. Whether you work with dementia patients or have a loved one or loved ones with dementia, this book will help you understand a lot of the undertakings of the disease and how to deal effectively with what it entails and also to accurately help your patients or loved ones. At least it tries to help as best it can. The author does a great job trying to explain and provide help.

In her new book, “Before Dementia: 20 Questions You Need to Ask About Preventing, Preparing, Coping" Dr. Kate Gregorevic focuses on preparing, preventing, and coping with dementia through a series of practical questions that people like me, patients and caregivers often face. Dementia has deeply affected my family, with both my grandmothers and my paternal grandfather experiencing its challenges. Before discovering this book, I had countless questions—what exactly is dementia, is it hereditary, and can dementia be prevented? Dr. Gregorevic not only addressed these concerns but also provided me with the knowledge and strategies to approach the subject with confidence rather than fear. Dr. Gregorevic, a geriatrician with extensive clinical experience, addresses complex and sometimes uncomfortable topics such as how to know if you have dementia, the ethics of consent in dementia patients, and ways to delay its onset. Her approach combines the biological, social, and psychological aspects of dementia, deepening our understanding of it and its impact on society.
It is an engaging and insightful read that not only answers tough questions but also empowers readers with practical advice. Whether you’re personally affected by dementia or simply want to better understand it, I highly recommend this book. Dr. Gregorevic’s thoughtful approach will leave you feeling informed, prepared and more compassionate.

Succinct, readable and informative

Charting your way through dementia is huge. Knowing what to do, what questions to ask is a minefield. Microbes in the gut, anxiety, stress, social isolation, and so much more are discussed calmly and scientifically.
The effect on family, on caregivers who are often family members is sensitively approached.
Questions about diet, about driving, about powers of attorney are raised.
Overall Dr. Kate Gregorevic gives us a much appreciated empathetic discussion on a debilitating illness that is assaulting many.

An HCI Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I worked in care facilities, thus I really valued this enlightening manual. Before Dementia is organised around twenty essential questions that shed light on dementia prevention, dementia preparation, and dementia management. In order to comprehend this complicated illness, Dr. Kate Gregorevic takes a kind and knowledgeable approach, looking at both its biological and social aspects. This book is a priceless tool for anyone affected by dementia; it offers helpful suggestions and techniques that I wish I had known while I was receiving treatment. It's an essential resource for anyone wishing to manage the difficulties of dementia with understanding and expertise, as well as carers.

A good book about dementia and everything that comes with it. Really liked the structure of the book with the questions and how the answers were written. I got a much better insight into the topic. It goes into the science of dementia but also into the living conditions and the effects on the family and friends. Really got me thinking. The writing is very palatable and not too scientific. Would recommend to anybody that wants to get an introduction to dementia to get a better understanding of the sickness and its effects.

"Before Dementia" has the kind of information I've been searching for, as I have a parent with this disease. I would recommend anyone who loves someone with dementia or who works with dementia patients read this book.Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Pub Date: Sept 3, 2024

#BeforeDementia

Thank you net galley for the early copy .This was a very informative book for me .I am a nurse and I still learned a lot .My mother is at beginning stages and this is helping me cope with what us to come .It is sad that my mom was normal a few years ago and now this ugly disease is appearing.I would recommend this to anyone that knows one with dementia or has a family member going through this horrific disease.