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Dementia is one of the most feared diagnoses in aging, and it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker sounds the alarm on a reality many women never hear clearly: by advanced age, dementia becomes incredibly common, yet a large part of risk is shaped by choices we can start making now. The goal is not perfection or panic. It’s building a prevention plan that protects your brain, your independence and your health span. 

She digs into why insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome matter for Alzheimer’s disease risk, including how impaired glucose handling may reduce the brain’s ability to clear amyloid proteins. From there, she gets practical about the big levers: restorative sleep and the brain’s nighttime cleanup system, regular exercise (with a special edge for outdoor movement) and why alcohol can quietly sabotage deep sleep and brain function. We also talk about “brain stimulation” in real life, including how hearing loss, vision loss and reduced social connection can accelerate cognitive decline.

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