american dementia

In AMERICAN DEMENTIA Part 1, medical anthropologist Daniel R. George discussed how market-driven policies and practices are amplifying our vulnerability to cognitive decline and dementia. In this episode, Part 2, we focus more on potential solutions.  George makes it clear that our political and economic decisions have a profound impact on the collective health and wellbeing of our bodies and brains.  Unless we address the pathologies of current practices, we condemn future generations of older adults to ever-increasing levels of dementia. 

What can be done?  

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The Great Generation benefited from a whole raft of social safety bets and social support systems that improved living conditions and overall health. As a result, even though more people were living longer, the actual percentage of older people who suffered from dementia went down! Yes. Rates of Alzheimer's and other dementias were on the decline. 

But the social conditions that stimulated these improvements in brain health began to be dismantled in the Reagan administration, and the ascendence of hyper-capitalism and market-driven policies has accelerated. 

Medical anthropologist Daniel. R. George explains that  dementia is yet again on the rise. By placing profits above the welfare of the people, these "neoliberal" policies have create huge inequalities in wealth, in access to healthcare, education and healthy food. They have undermined the infrastructure of the country and poisoned the environments in which we live. All of which undermines the health of our bodies and brains. 

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What causes dementia? Demented political and economic systems.  This is the thesis of Peter Whitehouse's new book AMERICAN DEMENTIA: BRAIN HEALTH IN AN UNHEALTHY SOCIETY. 

Peter J. Whitehouse, MD-PhD, is a prevention oriented, intergenerational neurologist. His current main academic and practice focus is on ecopsychosocial models of brain health and aging and the role of the arts and humanities in health. He is currently focusing on new conceptions of wisdom and quality of life. Whitehouse  has a primary appointment as Professor of Neurology at Case Western Reserve, with secondary positions as Professor of Psychiatry, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, and Organizational Behavior.

This is part 2 of my discussion with Peter. In the other podcast we talk about his first book, THE MYTH OF ALZHEIMER'S.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.