I've diagnosed over 1,000 dementia cases in 15 years. The patients who stay sharp into their 90s all do these 5 things. None are complicated. All are free. 1. Walk 30 minutes daily Not jogging. Walking. Preferably outside, morning. Increases brain blood flow, promotes neuroplasticity, reduces inflammation, improves sleep, lowers blood pressure. My sharpest 92-year-old walks her neighborhood every morning. Rain or shine. "I don't feel right if I don't walk." 2. Call someone daily Not text. Actual conversation. Friend, family, neighbor. 10 minutes minimum. Social isolation doubles dementia risk. Conversation requires complex cognitive processing. Prevents depression. One 94-year-old calls a different friend every day on rotation. "I have Monday through Sunday friends." 3. Learn something new weekly Could be anything. New recipe. Word game. Documentary. Has to require concentration. Builds cognitive reserve, creates new neural connections, delays cognitive decline. One 91-year-old does NY Times crossword daily. Started when she was 75. "The day I can't finish it, I'll know something's wrong." 4. Sleep 7-8 hours Not negotiable. Same bedtime. Same wake time. Even weekends. Brain clears toxic proteins during sleep. Consolidates memories. Reduces inflammation. One 89-year-old: "In bed by 9, up at 5:30. For 40 years." 5. Eat mostly plants Mediterranean pattern. Vegetables, fruits, beans, fish, olive oil. Minimal processed food. Reduces inflammation, improves vascular health, provides neuroprotective nutrients. One 93-year-old grew up in Greece. Never changed her diet. "I eat what my grandmother ate." What they don't do: Supplements beyond basic vitamin D and B12, expensive longevity protocols, complicated tracking systems, extreme diets, obsessive optimization. Just consistent, simple daily habits. The pattern: These aren't my smartest patients. They're my most consistent. They've done these 5 things for decades. Not perfectly. Consistently. The timeline:

Anxiety often grows in the spaces where we feel least prepared. For caregivers, probate and future planning can be one of those spaces. On October 28th, in our next Poolside Chat, we’ll explore how understanding the process can replace fear with confidence and bring a greater sense of peace. Also, back by popular demand, we will have Ed Goodson from Lagerlof, LLP join us to discuss more on Probate planning. 🔗 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PRzPtXKIRf-NNdHzhSToUg

Topic for future. How are people experiencing the fallout from the recent drastic cuts to programs that support people with dementia symptoms and caregivers? This will vary greatly state to state. What is the timeline for rolling out these cuts? To prepare, I highly recommend Bradly Cooper’s film called “Caregiving” released June 2025, before the reconciliation bill passed. What’s next?

Register Here Please invite your friends, family, and coworkers to join this important conversation! Many caregivers quietly carry something heavy: guilt. This Tuesday, Laura and Jocelyn will be talking about what caregiver guilt really is, and how we can begin to release it. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not doing “enough” or second-guessed your choices while navigating dementia care, please know this: you are not alone. Together, we can learn healthier, more loving ways to care for ourselves while caring for others. August 26 @ 5:30 pm PST (AZ) Register Here

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB412 There is a bill before our california state legislature requiring at least 5 hours dementia awareness training for professional home care aides. The bill, SB-412 Home care aides (2025-2026), will be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Please contact your state representatives and ask them to support SB412 introduced by Senator Limon. You can use this link to find your reps https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov