Talking Dementia

Parkinson’s Disease, Prognosis & Palliative Care: What Patients and Families Should Know

In this episode of Talking Dementia, Dr. Emily Silverman speaks with Dr. Jennifer Corcoran, a neurologist specializing in movement disorders and neuropalliative care at the University of Rochester Medical Center. With a focus on Parkinson’s disease, Dr. Corcoran brings deep expertise in prognostication, symptom management, and supporting patients and families throughout the course of neurodegenerative illness. Dr. Corcoran shares her path into neurology and palliative care, and why Parkinson’s is often misunderstood as purely a movement disorder. They explore how the disease progresses, differences between Parkinson’s disease and other forms of Parkinsonism, and the evolving role of treatments like carbidopa/levodopa. The conversation also highlights the emotional and cognitive dimensions of the disease, the importance of exercise and community, and how care needs shift over time. A central focus of the episode is how palliative care can support people living with Parkinson’s from diagnosis through end of life. Dr. Corcoran discusses navigating uncertainty, planning for the future, and aligning care with patient values. She offers a candid perspective on prognosis, late-stage challenges, and why earlier, more open conversations about goals of care can lead to better outcomes for both patients and caregivers. About this episode’s featured guest Jennifer Corcoran is a neurologist, movement disorder specialist, and researcher at the University of Rochester Medical Center, with additional expertise in neuropalliative care. She completed her medical training and neurology residency at the University of Rochester, where she developed a focus on caring for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Her work centers on improving prognostication and anticipatory guidance in Parkinson’s disease, with the goal of helping patients and families make informed, goal-concordant decisions throughout the course of illness. About Remo’s host Dr. Emily Silverman Dr. Emily Silverman is an internal-medicine physician, Assistant Volunteer Professor of Medicine at UCSF. She is the creator and host of The Nocturnists [https://thenocturnists.org/], an award-winning medical storytelling program that has uplifted the voices of more than 450 clinicians since 2016 through its podcast and live performances. Her work has been supported by a MacDowell fellowship and widely published in numerous publications including JAMA, The New York Times, and NPR. Learn more about Emily by visiting her website [https://www.emilysilverman.com/about]. Connect with us Learn more [https://remo.health/] about Remo Health and how we’re delivering better dementia care to patients and those who care for them. Subscribe to the Remo Health newsletter [https://remo.health/]. Follow us on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/remohealth/] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093545953618] for the latest information, news, and guidance on all things #dementia and #brainhealth. Have a question or a topic you’d like to hear more about? Email us at hello@remo.health [hello@remo.health]. The information in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not the practice of medicine or any profession. It is not intended to be medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Flying with Dementia: What Caregivers Should Know About Air Travel

In this episode of Talking Dementia, Dr. Emily Silverman speaks with Sara Barsel, a retired research scientist, educator, and longtime dementia advocate who leads the Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group and the Roseville Alzheimer’s and Dementia Community Action Team in Minnesota. Sara shares how a single email about dementia-friendly airports in Australia sparked a grassroots effort to improve travel experiences for people living with dementia and their care partners. What began as a local initiative at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport has grown into broader work helping airports better understand and accommodate travelers with cognitive impairment and other hidden disabilities. Together, Emily and Sara explore the challenges airports present for people with dementia, from navigating crowded terminals and security screenings to managing anxiety and the risk of getting lost, while highlighting practical planning strategies and resources such as TSA Cares, airport accessibility services, and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program. About this episode’s featured guest Sara Barsel is a retired research scientist, educator, and volunteer dementia advocate with more than a decade of experience working to improve resources for people living with dementia and their care partners. She is the founder and lead of the Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group and a leader of the Roseville Alzheimer’s and Dementia Community Action Team in Minnesota. Through her advocacy, Sara has helped bring together community organizations, researchers, and airport leaders to better understand the challenges travelers with dementia face and develop practical tools, resources, and training programs to improve accessibility in airports. About Remo’s host Dr. Emily Silverman Dr. Emily Silverman is an internal-medicine physician, Assistant Volunteer Professor of Medicine at UCSF. She is the creator and host of The Nocturnists [https://thenocturnists.org/], an award-winning medical storytelling program that has uplifted the voices of more than 450 clinicians since 2016 through its podcast and live performances. Her work has been supported by a MacDowell fellowship and widely published in numerous publications including JAMA, The New York Times, and NPR. Learn more about Emily by visiting her website [https://www.emilysilverman.com/about]. Connect with us Learn more [https://remo.health/] about Remo Health and how we’re delivering better dementia care to patients and those who care for them. Subscribe to the Remo Health newsletter [https://remo.health/]. Follow us on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/remohealth/] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093545953618] for the latest information, news, and guidance on all things #dementia and #brainhealth. Have a question or a topic you’d like to hear more about? Email us at hello@remo.health [hello@remo.health].

Autonomy at the End of Life: Alzheimer’s, Identity, and Letting Go

In this episode of Talking Dementia, Dr. Emily Silverman speaks with Dr. Sandeep Jauhar, a cardiologist and acclaimed writer, about how his family’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease reshaped his understanding of the healthcare system, caregiving, and identity. Though trained in science and neuroscience, Dr. Jauhar shares how unprepared he was for the realities of dementia, a disease that affects not only memory, but emotion, self-awareness, and family dynamics. Drawing from his novel, My Father’s Brain: Life in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s, Dr. Jauhar reflects on the ethical and emotional complexities of caregiving, including denial, guilt, therapeutic deception, and conflict among loved ones. A central focus of the conversation is end-of-life decision making, and how families grapple with advance directives, shifting autonomy, and the difficult question of which version of a person, past or present, should guide care. About this episode’s featured guest Dr. Sandeep Jauhar is a cardiologist who specializes in heart failure and a nationally recognized writer on medicine, ethics, and the human side of healthcare. He is the author of My Father’s Brain: Life in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s, a memoir that blends neuroscience, philosophy, and personal narrative to chronicle his family’s experience caring for his father through Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Jauhar’s work explores how illness reshapes identity, family dynamics, and our understanding of dignity at the end of life. Through both his clinical practice and writing, he advocates for more humane, comprehensive approaches to caring for people living with serious illness and those who care for them. About Remo’s host Dr. Emily Silverman Dr. Emily Silverman is an internal-medicine physician, Assistant Volunteer Professor of Medicine at UCSF. She is the creator and host of The Nocturnists [https://thenocturnists.org/], an award-winning medical storytelling program that has uplifted the voices of more than 450 clinicians since 2016 through its podcast and live performances. Her work has been supported by a MacDowell fellowship and widely published in numerous publications including JAMA, The New York Times, and NPR. Learn more about Emily by visiting her website [https://www.emilysilverman.com/about]. Connect with us Learn more [https://remo.health/] about Remo Health and how we’re delivering better dementia care to patients and those who care for them. Subscribe to the Remo Health newsletter [https://remo.health/]. Follow us on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/remohealth/], Facebook, [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093545953618] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/remo_health/] for the latest information, news, and guidance on all things #dementia and #brainhealth. Have a question or a topic you’d like to hear more about? Email us at hello@remo.health [hello@remo.health]. The information in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not the practice of medicine or any profession. It is not intended to be medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Aging Well, Dementia Care & the Sandwich Generation: A Conversation with Dr. Mia Yang

In this episode of Talking Dementia, Dr. Emily Silverman sits down with Dr. Mia Yang, a geriatrician, researcher, educator, and podcast host, to explore what it truly means to age well in today’s healthcare system. Drawing from her personal experience caring for her mother through cancer treatment and supporting her grandparents at the end of life, Dr. Yang shares how culture, family structure, and values deeply shape the aging experience. She reflects on growing up in China within a multigenerational household and contrasts that with the isolation many older adults face in the U.S. The conversation dives into the realities of the “sandwich generation,” the importance of values-based conversations before a crisis hits, and why dementia care is especially challenging, and critical, to address in primary care. Dr. Yang also explains why early dementia diagnosis matters more than ever, highlights promising advances like anti-amyloid therapies, and breaks down how the GUIDE Model is transforming dementia care with proactive, wraparound support for both patients and caregivers. About this episode’s featured guest Dr. Mia Yang is a geriatrician, researcher, and educator who leads dementia care initiatives at Wake Forest and Advocate Health. She is nationally recognized for her expertise in home-based medical care, dementia care, and innovative models of care delivery. Dr. Yang has been featured on CNN and NPR Morning Edition, and has authored opinion pieces for MedPage Today. She was also named a Top Doctor in America in both 2021 and 2022. She is also the host of Ask Dr. Mia, [https://www.miayangmd.com/about/] where she shares practical insights for caregivers and clinicians navigating aging and dementia. About Remo’s host Dr. Emily Silverman Dr. Emily Silverman is an internal-medicine physician, Assistant Volunteer Professor of Medicine at UCSF. She is the creator and host of The Nocturnists [https://thenocturnists.org/], an award-winning medical storytelling program that has uplifted the voices of more than 450 clinicians since 2016 through its podcast and live performances. Her work has been supported by a MacDowell fellowship and widely published in numerous publications including JAMA, The New York Times, and NPR. Learn more about Emily by visiting her website [https://www.emilysilverman.com/about]. Connect with us Learn more [https://remo.health/] about Remo Health and how we’re delivering better dementia care to patients and those who care for them. Subscribe to the Remo Health newsletter [https://remo.health/]. Follow us on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/remohealth/] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093545953618] for the latest information, news, and guidance on all things #dementia and #brainhealth. Have a question or a topic you’d like to hear more about? Email us at hello@remo.health [hello@remo.health]. The information in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not the practice of medicine or any profession. It is not intended to be medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

When Music Becomes Medicine in Dementia Care

What happens when music becomes more than entertainment and starts to feel like medicine? In this episode of Talking Dementia, Dr. Emily Silverman speaks with Kaylie Glenn, Founder and President of The Day By Day Project, a nonprofit transforming dementia care through the power of music, rhythm, and human connection. Kaylie’s journey began at just 10 years old, when she played violin in a memory care community and witnessed a woman who had been nonverbal for months begin to sing along. That moment sparked a lifelong commitment to understanding how music can reach people living with dementia, even when language and memory fade. With a background in neuroscience, Kaylie went on to create innovative programs like the Memory Disco, which combines rhythmic engagement, physical touch, and community connection to shift dementia care from passive listening to active participation. Today, her work engages students, caregivers, and care teams across the country and is supported by emerging research showing meaningful improvements in mood, behavior, and quality of life. This episode is a powerful reminder that people living with dementia are still there, and that connection, joy, and meaning remain possible. About this episode’s featured guest Kaylie Glenn is the Founder and President of The Day By Day Project [https://www.daybydayproject.org/], a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of people living with dementia through music-based engagement. Inspired by early experiences playing violin in memory care communities, Kaylie studied neuroscience and developed innovative programs including the nationally recognized Memory Disco, that combine research, compassion, and creativity to support patients, caregivers, and care teams. Her work has earned national recognition and continues to shape new models of dementia care. About Remo’s host Dr. Emily Silverman Dr. Emily Silverman is an internal-medicine physician, Assistant Volunteer Professor of Medicine at UCSF. She is the creator and host of The Nocturnists [https://thenocturnists.org/], an award-winning medical storytelling program that has uplifted the voices of more than 450 clinicians since 2016 through its podcast and live performances. Her work has been supported by a MacDowell fellowship and widely published in numerous publications including JAMA, The New York Times, and NPR. Learn more about Emily by visiting her website [https://www.emilysilverman.com/about]. Connect with us Learn more [https://remo.health/] about Remo Health and how we’re delivering better dementia care to patients and those who care for them. Subscribe to the Remo Health newsletter [https://remo.health/]. Follow us on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/remohealth/] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093545953618] for the latest information, news, and guidance on all things #dementia and #brainhealth. Have a question or a topic you’d like to hear more about? Email us at hello@remo.health [hello@remo.health]. The information in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not the practice of medicine or any profession. It is not intended to be medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.