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Truth, Lies & Alzheimer's

Truth, Lies & Alzheimer's

By: Lisa Skinner
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The Truth Lies and Alzheimer’s Podcast features Lisa Skinner, a highly recognized expert and media host. Lisa Skinner’s original thinking and counter-intuitive solutions provide family members, spouses, children, caregivers, and others with a concise guide and the tools they need to effectively manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. She is an International Speaker and Author. The Podcast features conversations that provide Tips for all caregivers navigating the heartbreaking challenges of having a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. Everyone has a story about Alzheimer’s. It’s time to start the conversation about Alzheimer’s and stop treating it like it’s only a “Family Business.” #starttheconversation To book an appearance on our Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s, contact: Lisa Skinner at dementiawhisperer1@gmail.com2023 Lisa Skinner Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • A Conversation With Dr. Johnson On “Time Travel” Based Memories

    A Conversation With Dr. Johnson On “Time Travel” Based Memories
    Jun 24 2026

    In this episode of Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s, Lisa Skinner welcomes Dr. Christopher J. Johnson, PhD, Clinical Professor of Sociology in Dementia Studies at Texas State University.

    Dr. Johnson talks about his work in dementia care and shares insight into using “time travel” based memories as part of a person-centered approach. Through life stories, familiar moments, meaningful objects, photos, music, and personal history, caregivers can create opportunities for connection, comfort, and dignity.

    This conversation reminds us that dementia care is not only about symptoms or behaviors. It is about seeing the person, honoring their life experiences, and finding meaningful ways to connect with who they are.

    In This Episode

    Lisa and Dr. Johnson discuss:

    • Dr. Johnson’s work in dementia care
    • How “time travel” based memories can support connection
    • Why personal history matters in dementia care
    • The importance of dignity, identity, and emotional connection
    • How caregivers can use familiar memories to better support the person living with dementia

    Key Takeaway

    When we take time to learn and honor a person’s life story, dementia care becomes more compassionate, personal, and connected.

    Visit our Website - https://www.mindingdementiasummit.com/

    About the Guest:

    Christopher J. Johnson, PhD is a Clinical Professor of Sociology in Dementia Studies at Texas State University. His work focuses on dementia care, aging, and approaches that support individuals living with dementia through dignity, connection, and person-centered care.

    About the Host:

    Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

    Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

    So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.

    Thanks for listening!

    Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

    Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

    Subscribe to the podcast

    If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

    Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

    Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.
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    28 mins
  • Are We Diagnosing Dementia All Wrong? Part 2

    Are We Diagnosing Dementia All Wrong? Part 2
    Jun 17 2026
    In Part 2, Lisa continues the conversation about Alzheimer’s disease, dementia diagnosis, and why the brain may be more complex than we once believed.This episode looks at amyloid plaques, tau tangles, inflammation, vascular health, and other factors that may all play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. Lisa also explores an important question: Are plaques and tangles always the problem, or could they sometimes be part of the brain’s attempt to protect itself?Lisa also touches on Lewy body dementia and why it is often mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or even psychiatric illness. She explains why symptoms like fluctuating thinking, visual hallucinations, acting out dreams, movement changes, and blood pressure or bladder issues are important clues families should not ignore.In This Episode, Lisa Talks About:Why Alzheimer’s may not have one single causeThe role of amyloid plaques and tau tanglesWhy tau may be more closely linked to symptomsHow inflammation and vascular health may affect the brainThe idea that plaques and tangles may sometimes be a protective responseWhy early detection and personalized care matterHow Lewy body dementia differs from Alzheimer’s diseaseImportant symptoms families should watch forKey TakeawayDementia is not always simple or easy to define. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias may involve several changes happening in the brain and body at the same time. The future of diagnosis and treatment may depend on looking at the whole person, not just one protein, one symptom, or one label.Closing ThoughtPart 2 reminds us that dementia care must continue to evolve. The more we understand about the brain, the more important it becomes to ask better questions, look for patterns, and support each person with care that is thoughtful, informed, and individualized.Visit our Website - https://www.mindingdementiasummit.com/About the Host:Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • Are We Diagnosing Dementia All Wrong? Part 1

    Are We Diagnosing Dementia All Wrong? Part 1
    Jun 10 2026
    Lisa begins a thought-provoking two-part conversation inspired by the well-known Nun Study of Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease. This landmark research followed 678 Catholic nuns from the School Sisters of Notre Dame and offered rare insight into aging, memory, brain health, and Alzheimer’s disease.In Part 1, Lisa explores why the findings of the Nun Study were so surprising then and remain important today. The study revealed that some individuals showed significant Alzheimer’s-related brain changes, such as plaques and tangles, yet did not display obvious dementia symptoms during life. This raises an important question: Are we looking at dementia and Alzheimer’s disease too narrowly?Lisa discusses how early-life education, language ability, writing complexity, positive emotional expression, physical activity, vascular health, and cognitive reserve may all play a role in how dementia symptoms appear, or sometimes do not appear, even when disease-related changes are present in the brain.This episode helps listeners better understand that Alzheimer’s and dementia are not always as straightforward as a diagnosis, a brain scan, or one single explanation. The brain is complex, and so are the factors that influence memory, thinking, and aging.In This Episode, Lisa Talks About:The background and purpose of the Nun StudyWhy the study was unique because of the participants’ similar lifestylesThe role of plaques and tangles in Alzheimer’s diseaseWhy some people with Alzheimer’s-type brain changes did not show dementia symptomsHow education and lifelong learning may contribute to cognitive reserveThe connection between early writing ability and later-life cognitive healthThe importance of positivity, emotional expression, and longevityThe role of vascular health and “silent” strokes in dementia riskWhy lifestyle, physical activity, social connection, and mental engagement matterHow current research is expanding the way we understand Alzheimer’s diseaseKey TakeawayThe Nun Study challenged the idea that brain changes alone determine whether someone will experience dementia symptoms. While amyloid plaques and tau tangles are important markers of Alzheimer’s disease, they do not tell the whole story. Cognitive reserve, vascular health, lifelong learning, social engagement, emotional well-being, and overall lifestyle may all influence how the disease shows up in a person’s life.Why This Matters for Caregivers and FamiliesFor families caring for someone living with dementia, this episode offers a deeper and more compassionate understanding of the disease. It reminds us that dementia is not simply one thing, caused by one factor, or experienced the same way by every person.Understanding this can help caregivers move away from fear and confusion and toward a more informed, person-centered approach to care.Resources Mentionedhttps://www.mindingdementiasummit.com/The Nun Study of Aging and Alzheimer’s DiseaseResearch on cognitive reserveResearch on amyloid plaques and tau tanglesInformation on vascular health and dementia riskStudies exploring education, language, positivity, and agingClosing ThoughtDementia research continues to evolve, and the Nun Study remains one of the most important reminders that the human brain is far more complex than we once believed. Part 1 opens the door to a deeper conversation about diagnosis, prevention, and what it really means to understand Alzheimer’s disease.About the Host:Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have...
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
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