A New Year's Resolution: Prioritizing Brain Health

As the year winds down, families gather to celebrate, reconnect, and reflect on the past year while enjoying treasured traditions. These moments of togetherness can also reveal subtle—or not-so-subtle—changes in older relatives. Perhaps Dad repeats stories more often, or Mom has forgotten a major family update. These observations might spark concern but they also present an opportunity: the chance to talk about brain health.

Talking about brain health is the first step toward eradicating the stigma and silence surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. Millions of people are affected by Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), yet misconceptions prevent early detection and timely intervention, allowing decline to progress unchecked. Normalizing conversations about brain health and embracing early detection can replace fear with empowerment and isolation with support.

Why Early Detection Matters

The Lancet Commission on Dementia estimates that nearly half of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, and social isolation. Screenings help identify these risks and guide actionable strategies to mitigate them, offering a proactive way to protect brain health.

Cognitive decline is not a personal failure but a complex condition influenced by age, genetics, and lifestyle. Establishing a cognitive baseline through screenings facilitates early intervention, including education, along with treatments and lifestyle changes that can slow disease progression, preserve independence, and improve quality of life.

With more than 11,000 Americans turning 65 daily, the need for early detection is urgent. Yet, cognitive assessments are often overlooked, unlike routine screenings for heart disease or cancer. Many avoid cognitive evaluations out of fear or the mistaken belief that “nothing can be done.” In reality, early detection empowers individuals and families to take proactive steps.

Advances in Diagnostics and Treatment

Recent medical advances have revolutionized our ability to diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease. Blood-based biomarker tests can detect Alzheimer’s pathology years before symptoms arise, while newly approved medications show promise in slowing disease progression. Despite these breakthroughs, only 16% of older Americans receive cognitive assessments during routine medical visits.

Delaying evaluations until symptoms become disruptive limits diagnostic precision and reduces the effectiveness of interventions. Early detection enables access to treatments, support systems, and future planning, helping families manage caregiving challenges more effectively.

Overcoming Stigma

Stigma remains a significant barrier to addressing Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. Many view Alzheimer’s as inevitable, or fear and shame prevent individuals from seeking help. These missed opportunities for diagnosis and intervention can make living with the disease much harder than necessary.

To combat stigma, we must change how we talk about these conditions. Normalizing conversations about brain health—just as we do with heart health—can break down barriers, reduce isolation, and open pathways to care.

Talking about dementia doesn’t create it; avoiding the topic doesn’t make it disappear.

Starting the Conversation

The holidays offer a unique chance to approach brain health discussions with empathy and care. Here are some tips:

• Be Curious: Use open-ended questions to encourage dialogue. “How about that funny holiday story from when we were kids? It's great how our brains can recall these memories so vividly!”
• Frame It as a Shared Concern: Position brain health as a family priority. “I’ve been learning about ways to protect brain health. I think it’s something we should all focus on together.”
• Normalize It: Share personal experiences to reduce defensiveness. “I’m scheduling a cognitive screening for myself—it’s like a check-up for your brain!”
• Empower, Don’t Alarm: Highlight the benefits of early detection. “Catching small changes early can help us stay independent longer.”
• Suggest Next Steps: Offer to help with screenings or research. “Let’s explore this together—I’ll help get us started.”

These conversations require patience and empathy. Rather than focusing solely on concerns, emphasize shared goals of maintaining independence and quality of life.

Looking Ahead

Let’s resolve to make 2025 our Year of Brain Health. Embracing early detection, leveraging medical advancements, and fostering open dialogue are all big steps toward creating a new narrative around Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline. Together, we can replace stigma with understanding and fear with action—building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

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Interested in kicking off the new year with a brain health assessment?

Sunday Health is accepting new patients in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. To learn more, click here to schedule an introductory call with our care navigator or call (571) 517-1564.

Do you have another question that the Sunday Health brain health experts can answer? We invite you to send your questions to hello@sundayhealth.com.