In today's episode, I had the pleasure to speak to Dr. Anila Medina, a board-certified internist and geriatrician from UMass Memorial Health. This episode was very meaningful to me as I was able to first-hand learn from a physician and hear about her unique insights and perspectives regarding dementia care, a field I am longing to pursue. Dr. Medina shared with us her remarkable journey into medicine and geriatric care extending all the way back from Pakistan. She highlighted the existing stigma surrounding dementia care, and the importance for our society to work together to reduce that stigma. She also emphasized the importance of early dementia diagnosis as that could open our door to numerous diagnostics, testing, and treatment options. Last but not least, she offered us numerous healthy and lifestyle changes to take better charge of our brain health today!

It is incredible physicians like Dr. Medina that inspires and gives me so much hope for the future of geriatric care.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Anila Medina
03:14 Inspiration Behind a Medical Career
05:03 Understanding Dementia: A Personal Perspective
06:24 Stigma and Misconceptions Surrounding Dementia
10:21 Cultural Awareness and Diagnosis of Dementia
11:35 Navigating the Emotional Landscape of Dementia
13:17 Tailoring Care Approaches for Individuals
16:03 The Role of Non-Pharmacological Interventions
19:20 Hope for a Future Cure
22:05 The Multi-Specialty Aging Brain Initiative
25:10 Advice for Brain Health and Dementia Prevention
29:16 Changing the Approach to Dementia Care
30:02 Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts