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Before Dementia: 20 questions you need to ask about understanding, preventing, preparing for and coping with dementia from the specialist d
With answers How to prepare. How to cope. How to prevent.
Dr Kate Gregorevic wants to ask you some difficult
How do I know if I have dementia? Is there a cure? How will I live with dementia? Can people with dementia consent to sex? Can people with dementia choose euthanasia for their future selves? How do I prevent dementia?
Chances are you know someone with dementia, but how well do you really understand what it is? Dementia usually occurs after a long life and is a complex interplay of biological, social and psychological factors. Understanding this means understanding more about society and ourselves.
Approaching the topic through 20 insightful questions, Dr Kate Gregorevic explains the physical state of dementia, how to relate the diagnosis to real life, what questions to ask your doctor, strategies for preventing the disease and how we can make homes and society better for people with dementia.
While this book tackles challenging questions that some people will find uncomfortable, ultimately it helps us prepare, cope and understand this disease and our society better, and provides strategies for moving forward.
Dr Kate Gregorevic wants to ask you some difficult
How do I know if I have dementia? Is there a cure? How will I live with dementia? Can people with dementia consent to sex? Can people with dementia choose euthanasia for their future selves? How do I prevent dementia?
Chances are you know someone with dementia, but how well do you really understand what it is? Dementia usually occurs after a long life and is a complex interplay of biological, social and psychological factors. Understanding this means understanding more about society and ourselves.
Approaching the topic through 20 insightful questions, Dr Kate Gregorevic explains the physical state of dementia, how to relate the diagnosis to real life, what questions to ask your doctor, strategies for preventing the disease and how we can make homes and society better for people with dementia.
While this book tackles challenging questions that some people will find uncomfortable, ultimately it helps us prepare, cope and understand this disease and our society better, and provides strategies for moving forward.
- GenresHealthNonfiction
320 pages, Paperback
Published January 18, 2023
12 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 3, 2024
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.
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.
April 22, 2023
A great book about dementia, exploring some specific stories, the science, medication, impact on daily living and struggles dementia can cause. It is well structured in the format of 20 questions that then delve into them and elaborate. Being a dementia friend, I thought I had a good baseline understanding, besides from experience working with people with dementia, but it was a great reframing into a more relatable format for me.
March 19, 2023
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If I were a patient or a family member, and lucky enough to be a patient of Dr Kate, I am sure that I would value her humanist and person-centred approach to living well with dementia.
While I’m certain that most of us would much prefer NOT to have to think about this disease, and just hope that we or our loved ones won’t ever have to deal with it, I can highly recommend this book. It tackles a difficult subject in a helpful, practical way that removes the ‘overwhelm’ and allows the reader to learn from the experts.
If I were a patient or a family member, and lucky enough to be a patient of Dr Kate, I am sure that I would value her humanist and person-centred approach to living well with dementia.
While I’m certain that most of us would much prefer NOT to have to think about this disease, and just hope that we or our loved ones won’t ever have to deal with it, I can highly recommend this book. It tackles a difficult subject in a helpful, practical way that removes the ‘overwhelm’ and allows the reader to learn from the experts.
September 5, 2024
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. Thank you #NetGalley , the author and publishers for the opportunity to read and review #BeforeDementia with my honest thoughts and opinions.
September 4, 2024
In her new book, Before Dementia: 20 questions you need to ask about understanding, preventing, preparing for and coping with dementia from the specialist 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.
#NetGalley
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.
#NetGalley
September 7, 2024
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.
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.
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.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
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.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
January 8, 2025
Before Dementia: 20 Questions You Need to Ask About Preventing, Preparing and Coping from Australian specialist Dr. Kate Gregorevic, answers questions both patients and caregivers are often faced with. If you have a loved one with dementia, this is a great book to start the journey of understanding.
Dr. Kate tackles the possible effects of microbes and inflammation in the gut, how stress and anxiety make symptoms worse, as well as social isolation that many older adults suffer especially throughout the Covid years. Included in this are how dementia affects family members and caregivers as a loved one all of a sudden becomes someone whose behaviors you do not recognize. Dr. Kate tackles all of this through a sensitive approach as she discusses the need for power of attorney documents, the issue of driving, and how diet and exercise can possible help reduce the disease’s progression.
As a daughter in charge of my mother’s care, this book helped me start understanding the often misinformation regarding this terrible disease and its effects on all of us. Dementia is terribly hard on the effected individual, but I believe the effects on the family are far worse. Although dementia is still a difficult disease to understand and manage, this book did a great job of giving me insight into it and how we can go forward from here.
- Laura, Library Director
Dr. Kate tackles the possible effects of microbes and inflammation in the gut, how stress and anxiety make symptoms worse, as well as social isolation that many older adults suffer especially throughout the Covid years. Included in this are how dementia affects family members and caregivers as a loved one all of a sudden becomes someone whose behaviors you do not recognize. Dr. Kate tackles all of this through a sensitive approach as she discusses the need for power of attorney documents, the issue of driving, and how diet and exercise can possible help reduce the disease’s progression.
As a daughter in charge of my mother’s care, this book helped me start understanding the often misinformation regarding this terrible disease and its effects on all of us. Dementia is terribly hard on the effected individual, but I believe the effects on the family are far worse. Although dementia is still a difficult disease to understand and manage, this book did a great job of giving me insight into it and how we can go forward from here.
- Laura, Library Director
June 27, 2024
The authors it knowledgable and covers quite a lot from carers aspect to healthcare systems, medical racism, capacity etc.
I liked the examples based on real life that were given .
Admittedly at the start there is a bit more science and statistics so if you’re not keen on that it might put you off reading the rest.
Healthcare system talked about was mostly Australian based.
Overall a good book.
May 11, 2025
A really good and relevant exploration of the disease written with pathos, clinical expertise and solid research in an easy to read format, beneficial to clinicians but particularly families and early mild format sufferers. A few lane deviations, perhaps publisher pressure, let down this otherwise pragmatic volume.
November 4, 2024
An extremely informative book on dementia. I found it helpful, answering questions I have always been curious about and providing information for all of us with aging parents and possibly knowing someone with this terrible disease.
Thank you, #NetGalley and #HighBridgeAudio, for this ARC.
Thank you, #NetGalley and #HighBridgeAudio, for this ARC.
September 3, 2023
Ebook. Extremely informative. Hard not to be depressed reading it though the author tries to give it a positive spin. There are no clear cut answers to these 20 questions.
July 8, 2024
Interesting
May 2, 2025
Exceptionally well written book. I've learnt so much about all the factors that contribute to dementia, I would definitely recommend for anyone with family or friends suffering this awful disease.
June 29, 2025
Easy to listen to and insightful highly recommend to increase understanding of dementia
April 8, 2023
What an overdue book about the vitally important topic of Dementia! Essential reading for everyone, since most of us know or will eventually know someone who is impacted by this condition. Some of us will develop dementia ourselves. My disproportionate interest in this topic is due to having a Mum with advanced Lewy body Dementia in residential aged care including during Covid, and her Father who also died with dementia. Kate very eloquently and empathetically shares her vast knowledge and experience as a hospital based geriatrician dealing frequently with people with a dementia diagnosis. As a medical specialist, I found the book easy to understand at all stages including the detailed descriptions of the many modifiable risk factors. I'll await with interest to see if these concepts were also easily understood by my non-medical friends to whom I recommend Kate's book. Thankyou Kate for shining a spotlight on such an important issue.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews