Brief Description:
As we age, subtle shifts in mental, social, and sensory well-being can quietly contribute to cognitive decline. Clues to these problems may go unnoticed until memory impairment is quite advanced and management of these underlying problems become more complex. Approximately 45% of dementia cases are preventable over our lifespan. Early intervention and building long-term healthy habits can significantly minimize the detrimental effects of unchecked vascular risk factors that accelerate cognitive impairment and dementia of all causes. We will review the link between hypertension, high cholesterol and dementia risk reduction. This talk will also highlight emerging data on healthy gut microbiome–brain axis and importance of nutritional choices. This talk reviews the evidence linking depression, social isolation, and hearing/vision loss with an increased risk for dementia. Participants will learn to recognize the red flag signs that signal these concerns, with special attention to the intersection of these risk factors and oral health and manifestations that might be noted by dental professionals. Actionable steps to take after the identification of early warning signs and collaboration opportunities across disciplines will be covered.
Learning Objectives:
Presenter Bios:
Kristen M. Childress, DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC,AGNP-C,CWCN-AP
Dr. Childress is an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Washington in the School of Nursing and works as a Nurse Practitioner in community-based primary care. For nearly 30 years she’s worked with older adults and has a passion for providing high-quality dementia care and supporting care partners. She is a core faculty member in the Dementia Palliative Education Network, part of the Dementia Action Collaborative of WA state, and is a Co-Director for the Palliative Care Training Center at the University of Washington.
Elif Sozeman, MD, PHD
Dr. Sozmen is a Cognitive Neurologist at the Swedish Medical Center, Center for Healthy Aging, specializing in the evaluation of various forms of cognitive decline. She earned a PhD in Neuroscience and MD from UCLA followed by residency training in Neurology at UCSF. Before joining the Swedish Medical Group, she worked on how vascular health and cerebral inflammation contribute to neurodegeneration.