Exploring the Emotional Drivers of Alzheimer's and Dementia with Heather McKean
In this episode of The Mind Change Podcast's Emotional Drivers series, Heather McKean explores the emotional drivers behind dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The discussion highlights the alarming rise in dementia cases, with a 200% increase from 1990 to 2019, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue.
Dementia is a broad term for cognitive impairments, while Alzheimer’s is a specific form characterized by progressive memory loss. Alzheimer’s remains the most common type of dementia. The disease was first identified by Alois Alzheimer, who discovered abnormal brain changes in his patient, Auguste Deter, including senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Heather states that emotional dissociation and the desire to forget painful realities are key drivers of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Recent research also suggests a link between Alzheimer’s and metabolic issues, dubbing it "type 3 diabetes." Emotional traumas, particularly from childhood, can manifest in physical diseases when unresolved, with diabetes potentially progressing to Alzheimer’s.
Generalized dementia often results from a negative perception of life, usually due to a lack of nurturing in childhood. This leads to emotional disconnection and cognitive decline as individuals alter their reality to avoid past pain. Alzheimer’s, in particular, involves cycles of blame, guilt, and responsibility avoidance, often stemming from abusive or neglectful environments.
The future looks challenging, with the CDC predicting a rise in Alzheimer’s cases to 14 million by 2060, particularly affecting women and minorities due to higher adversity and discrimination levels. However, Heather affirms there is hope, referencing expert Dr. Dale E. Bredesen, who suggests that cognitive decline can be prevented and even reversed.
Early childhood experiences and belief systems greatly affect our health. The increase in cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s is due to neglecting these core emotional factors. To address this, we need to explore and reprogram our subconscious, altering messages from our upbringing that lacked nurturing and support. By doing this, we can improve mental health and empower individuals to become their own strongest support.
Dive in! Discover how to address those underlying emotional issues to improve mental health and potentially reverse any kind of cognitive decline.
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In this episode, you will learn:
📈 The significant rise in dementia cases, with a 200% increase from 1990 to 2019.
🧠 The difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, with Alzheimer’s being the most common type.
📜 The history of Alzheimer’s disease and its discovery by Alois Alzheimer through his patient, Auguste Deter.
😔 The role of emotional dissociation and the desire to forget painful realities as key drivers of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
🍬 The potential link between Alzheimer’s and metabolic issues, sometimes referred to as "type 3 diabetes."
💔 How unresolved emotional traumas, particularly from childhood, can manifest as physical diseases.
🧒 The impact of a negative perception of life and lack of nurturing in childhood on the development of dementia.
⚖️ The patterns of blame, guilt, and responsibility avoidance specific to Alzheimer’s patients.
🌍 The prediction by the CDC of a rise in Alzheimer’s cases to 14 million by 2060, with women and minorities being particularly affected.
🌟 The potential for preventing and even reversing cognitive decline by addressing emotional drivers and reprogramming subconscious beliefs.
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