Banner Alzheimer's Institute

10/05/2026

By editor Richard Smith - West Valley community affected by dementia reunited in Glendale at dementia friendly event
City of Glendale, Arizona - Government Banner Alzheimer's Institute I'm an Alzie GESD System of Care Center Cypress HomeCare Solutions

09/30/2026

Sometimes the most powerful voice in the room is the one living the experience. We are honored to share this very special episode of Dementia Untangled — a raw, real, and deeply moving conversation with Mike Zuendel, who opens up about his life with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

Mike isn't a doctor or a researcher. He's someone who noticed something had changed, faced it head-on, and has been navigating the journey with extraordinary courage and honesty ever since. And he's here to share all of it with us.

Don’t miss this one – listen now: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-life-with-mci-really-looks-like-with-mike-zuendel/id1558126995?i=1000792383389

09/29/2026

Dementia Friendly Glendale Awareness Day

Saturday, Oct 3, 2026 l 9:00 am-1:00 pm
GESD System of Care Center l 7677 W. Bethany Home Road

Join us for a free community resource fair to raise awareness about dementia and share ways to keep your brain healthy!

Glendale is celebrating our fifth year of being a Dementia Friendly City! We are committed to raising awareness about dementia, reducing stigmas and building a more dementia friendly community, that supports people living with dementia, their caregivers, and families.

Registration is requested but not required.

Glendale has committed to build a more dementia friendly community.

09/26/2026

Ever finish a meal and feel like the food is just sitting there for hours? Occasional fullness can be normal, but frequent or worsening symptoms may have an underlying cause. This article explains what could be happening and when to get checked.

Feeling full for hours after eating may have many causes. Learn what slows digestion, when it may be gastroparesis and when to see a digestive specialist.

09/25/2026

Your daily diet may play a role in supporting prostate health. Instead of searching for a single “superfood,” focus on an overall eating pattern built around vegetables, fiber and healthier sources of protein.

What you eat can have an impact on your prostate health and your risk for cancer. Here’s are the best foods for prostate health and what else matters.

09/24/2026

Ever had a great workout and then struggled to get out of bed the next day? That achy, stiff feeling may be delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)—a common response to trying a new or more intense activity.

Next-day soreness after exercise is called delayed onset muscle soreness. Learn why muscles get sore, how to relieve DOMS and when pain could be an injury.

09/24/2026

Kids and teens don’t always have the words to explain when something is wrong. Changes in mood, behavior, school performance or social life can sometimes be signs that a child needs additional support. Parents don't have to wait for a crisis before asking for help.

Is your child’s behavior more than just a phase? Learn how to spot signs of mental health conditions in children and teens and when to seek support.

09/24/2026

Flu season doesn’t have to catch you off guard. A little preparation now can help you stay healthier and make things easier if illness hits your household.

Flu season is coming. Learn five smart ways to prepare and protect your health – starting now.

09/23/2026

Staying active is one of the best things older adults can do for their health—but new or unusual symptoms shouldn’t automatically be blamed on aging or overdoing it. Our latest article outlines the warning signs active seniors should watch for.

Active seniors may think that heart symptoms come from aging or overexertion. Learn key warning signs like chest pressure, shortness of breath and fatigue.

09/22/2026

What does interventional cardiology involve? Paul Mahoney, MD, breaks down the tools and techniques used in this specialty.

Schedule an appointment today: https://www.bannerhealth.com/physician-directory

09/22/2026

Vaginal discharge is normal—and it can naturally change throughout your menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, around menopause or because of hormonal changes. But a sudden change in discharge, especially when paired with other symptoms, may be a sign that something needs attention.

Have you noticed a sudden change in vaginal discharge? Learn what’s normal, possible causes, and when discharge changes mean it’s time to see your provider.

09/22/2026

Swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss can be concerning. But these symptoms don’t necessarily mean lymphoma—many common infections and other health conditions can cause similar changes.

Lymphoma symptoms can overlap with other conditions. It’s important to spot any changes in your body so you can get diagnosed and treated right away.

09/21/2026

09/16/2026

There's so much more to dementia than memory loss — and this episode of Dementia Untangled is going to change the way you see it.

We are sitting down with Dr. Anna Burke, Geriatric Psychiatrist and Director of the Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders Division at Barrow Neurological Institute, for a conversation that every caregiver, family member, and loved one needs to hear.

Most of us associate dementia with forgetting. But dementia affects so much more than memory — and understanding exactly what's happening in your loved one's mind can completely transform the way you care for them, communicate with them, and connect with them.

Listen here:

Dementia Untangled · Episode

09/02/2026

SEASON 14 IS HERE — and we're kicking it off with a big one!

We are so excited to welcome back one of your favorite guests, Dr. Jeremy Pruzin, Cognitive Behavioral Neurologist, for the season premiere of the podcast, Dementia Untangled!

Dr. Pruzin sits down with us to break down the results of the U.S. POINTER Study — one of the most important dementia prevention studies ever conducted in the United States — and more importantly, he tells us exactly what we can do with that information.

Because knowledge is power. And when it comes to dementia, being armed with the right tools can make all the difference.

Your brain health journey starts now. Drop a ❤️ in the comments if you're a longtime Dementia Untangled listener — and tag someone who needs to hear this episode!

Listen now:

Dementia Untangled · Episode

08/19/2026

Every third Tuesday of the month, a room at the Foothills Recreation and Aquatic Center in Glendale transforms into something rare for families living with dementia: A place where they don't have to explain themselves.

The Memory Café, launched in 2023 by the Dementia Friends Glendale Action Team, welcomes people living with memory loss and their care partners for 90 minutes of community, conversation and cognitive engagement. More:

One Tuesday every month, a room at the Foothills Recreation and Aquatic Center transforms into something rare for families living with dementia: A place where they don't have to explain themselves.

07/29/2026

🎉 200,000 Plays! We're Overwhelmed with Gratitude 🎉

We just hit an incredible milestone — 200,000 all-time plays of our podcast, Dementia Untangled!

This journey wouldn't be possible without YOU — our amazing listeners who tune in, share episodes, and help us spread awareness and understanding about dementia. Every play represents someone seeking knowledge, finding support, or simply trying to better understand this complex condition.

Thank you for being part of this community. Thank you for your curiosity, your compassion, and your commitment to learning. Together, we're untangling dementia one episode at a time.

What's been your favorite episode so far? Drop a comment below! 👇

07/16/2026

CAREGIVER CORNER: For eight years, Jolene Westerling of Waddell, Arizona, poured her heart into caring for her father after his stroke.

Caregiving comes with a lot of complicated feelings. Being the primary caregiver of someone doesn't give you space to walk away if you've had an argument, and setting boundaries can be a challenge. It also gives you an opportunity to find ways to connect, and that is a gift that you can't put a price tag on.

"There were so many times I felt like a failure," Jolene admits. But when her father eventually transitioned to assisted living, she saw how many people it took to care for him and all his needs, and realized she had been doing the work of six people.

Her advice to new caregivers? "Don't try to do it all on your own. Ask for and accept help. You are not meant to go through life's challenges alone."

Jolene found strength in unexpected places: a daily Bible devotional app, screaming along to music during grocery store drives, and a supportive husband who listened without judgment. Through the overwhelming moments and complicated feelings, she learned she was capable of more than she ever imagined.

The early days of caring for him felt incredibly overwhelming. There was a quick tutorial in the rehab hospital before sending him home. Learning how to check his blood sugar and measure the correct insulin dose, and managing medications knowing she was the person responsible for keeping her loved one alive felt very heavy.
But like most things, with practice it eventually became routine. The real growth came in learning to balance being a caregiver while still being a daughter, wife and mother.

"There were a lot of hard days, but finally having help when he transitioned to assisted living allowed me to just be a daughter and not a nurse, cook, housekeeper, IT professional and personal shopper," she reflects.

Jolene shared her story in her book, “Holding it All Together, A Daughter’s Journey Through Caregiving, Faith and Letting Go,” reminding caregivers everywhere: Your feelings are valid, you're doing enough, and you're not alone.

07/15/2026

SEASON FINALE - Behind the Scenes of Season 13 of the Dementia Untangled podcast with Amber Ayers.

What happens behind the microphone? What stories hit hardest? Which moments never made it to air?

For our Season 13 finale, we're sitting down with Amber Ayers, the incredible editor and producer who brings Dementia Untangled to life, for an honest, reflective conversation about this season's journey.

This isn't just a recap — it's a celebration of the stories, the science, and the community that makes this podcast possible. That means YOU.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

Listen now: https://cutt.ly/DementiaUntangledEp130

07/01/2026

Banner Sun Health Research Institute has been awarded $6 million over three years through a grant awarded by Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP), in partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), to support the development of biomarkers to help identify those with Parkinson’s disease.

Banner will join the Collaborative Research Network (CRN), an international, multidisciplinary, multi-institutional network working to address high-priority research questions about the disease. The announcement is part of ASAP's $261 million expansion of the CRN, which now includes 67 teams across 187 institutions in 24 countries. The network brings together leading scientists to tackle critical questions about Parkinson's through team-based collaboration and open science, enabling data sharing and faster progress across the field.

The program, led by Nicholas Ashton, PhD (pictured below), senior director of Banner's Fluid Biomarker Program, brings together a multidisciplinary team of co-investigator institutions spanning biomarker discovery, antibody development, and assay deployment, including Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, Quanterix, Abcam, and the University of Gothenburg.

More: https://bit.ly/4wmbpNb