Latest news with #SabinaBrennan
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Still Me by Sabina Brennan: I'm a top dementia doctor, but even I wasn't prepared when my mum got the disease -- here's what I wish I'd known
Still Me by Sabina Brennan (Green Tree £18.99, 288pp) Dementia, writes Dr Sabina Brennan, 'arrived in my life at a time when an ongoing stressful situation at work was impacting significantly on my health'. I warm to her immediately – she has been where I have been, where you may be; her book on caring for a loved one with dementia speaks to her experience of caring for her mother, as well as dozens of others. Even more powerful is the fact that Brennan, a psychologist, recognised neuroscientist, host of the Super Brain podcast, and once director of the dementia research programme at Trinity College Dublin, struggled with the role just like the rest of us. Brennan begins her book with a poem explaining the title and reminding us of the themes of anybody's dementia journey: I have dementia and I am still me, and I care for you and I am still me. It's easy to lose sight of both: my mother's illness changed her so much, it was often hard to recognise her and yet she was still my mum. And though she refuted our relationship – 'I am not your mother' – I was still her daughter. The poem also makes a plea for peace in a torrid journey, using still for calm. Brennan is at pains to make 'care partners', as she calls them – us – understand the imperatives of caring for themselves: put your own oxygen mask on first. You can't care well if you're unhappy, unhealthy, sleep deprived. Looking after yourself might not seem obvious but the rigours of a care partner's role – described as 'the 36-hour day' by memory experts – means you must. As a psychologist, Brennan urges carers against feeling guilty or resentful. If you're worried Brennan is a know-it-all who presents as a paragon of caring virtue, don't be. She has the self-awareness to know she lacks the patience for full-time care. 'I am best suited to short stints of quality care,' she writes – her mother spent the week in a nursing home and weekends with Brennan. Like many people, Brennan is sometimes frustrated by the care her mother received before she died in 2016. 'I let the anger and the expletives loose,' she writes, 'which gave them an excuse to ask me to leave.' She reminds us that experts are not always right; it is natural to assume that the advice that we receive from professionals prioritises a sufferer's best interests, but this is not always the case – so don't be afraid to question. Circumstances meant I did things differently; I cared for my mother at home. But Brennan and I are agreed, there is no right or wrong; 'providing the best possible care for your relative doesn't mean you have to provide that care personally'. As Mum's illness advanced, it grew difficult to see my mother in the woman I cared for. Partly because she sometimes bore an uncharacteristic anger and could be rude. But mostly because her illness erased her memory. Where could I find her if not in our past? Brennan captures dozens of vignettes of others affected by dementia. These offer a well focused lens on what dementia looks and feels like. I saw my own experience reflected often. When Susan describes the imperatives of keeping a log of her mother's dementia, I am reminded of the notes I kept to track meds, the diary I wrote that retrospectively served as a description of the disease's trajectory. And I saw my mother there too: when Kay describes her distress at her daughter taking her wedding rings away for safekeeping – 'I feel sad when I look at my naked fingers' – I know that narrowing mum's with a plaster so that it wouldn't fall off a thinner finger, was the right thing to do. Brennan explains the neuropsychiatric conditions that can present in dementia too. Had I had this book to hand when Mum began exhibiting signs of 'sundowning' – nothing like as cheerful as a gin and tonic to celebrate sunset, rather a late-in-the-day distress that descends because the parts of the brain that manage a person's circadian clock are damaged in dementia – I might have been better prepared. When she began to suffer hallucinations, when she grew distressed at the messages she was convinced the television was broadcasting, I'd have known I was not alone from Bernadette's description of her mother's fears: 'TV and radio frightened my mother as she thought people on TV were in our home.' A geriatrician once told me: 'A person with dementia may forget your name but they will never forget how you make them feel.' That's because the hippocampus – our memory vault for facts and faces – goes first in dementia. The amygdala – the bit of our brain that processes emotion – goes later; in the absence of remembering, a sufferer still feels. Brennan's book is stuffed with practical tips from the imperatives of powers of attorney to the sensitive subject of sleeping arrangements if you're caring for your partner. It also urges readers to try to live well in the face of dementia. This might seem an anomaly given the devastation this illness brings – and yet, here is testimony of those that manage it. Like George, whose therapist helps him develop a system using photographs so that he can remember the names of his darts buddies and keep playing. And Helen, who was diagnosed with young-onset dementia at 61 then joined a research project with Brennan. She went from 'despair to being a pioneer in dementia advocacy… from 'worrier to warrior'.' Dementia is a years-long decline. 'The shadows cast by this spectre can fool us into thinking that there is nothing in our lives but bleakness and loss,' writes Brennan. 'But that is not true.' I think about this for a bit, and I know that in the fallout of my mother's illness there were bright moments of genuine pleasure for her – when she could still taste ice cream, still walk the dog, still enjoy the TV series Anne With An E (about Anne of Green Gables) on repeat – and real laughter for the both of us. Those are rare diamonds in the rough; seize them. Their value will help sustain you through the bleakness.
Irish Independent
21-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Caring for a loved one with dementia: ‘If I'd done everything possible for my mum, I'd have felt guilty for neglecting my children'
Neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan's new book speaks to the realities experienced by those caring for loved ones with dementia – both the challenges and the joys. She speaks about her personal and professional background in understanding the disease 'I called the book Still Me because it's not just from the perspective of the person with dementia; I mean it from the perspective of the carer too. You are not just a carer, you are entitled to a life outside that.' So says Dr Sabina Brennan of her new book, Still Me, subtitled 'A neuroscientist's guide to caring for someone with dementia', written from her perspective both as a doctor, and as the daughter of a parent with dementia, whom she cared for and supported – both while her mother lived in her own home and, later, when she moved to a nursing home.
Irish Examiner
18-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Still Me: A compassionate guide to dementia care
ANYONE with a loved one living with dementia is likely to identify with the experiences expressed in the pages of Still Me — A Neuroscientist's Guide to Caring for Someone with Dementia. While its author, Dr Sabina Brennan, a neuroscientist and psychologist, is an experienced academic author, there is nothing academic about this book. Its emphasis is on clear, practical ways to help address the challenges that caregivers and their loved ones with dementia face. 'In the book, I wanted to say to people, just do what you can. Providing the best care doesn't mean you have to do it all.' Brennan wrote the book for anyone caring in any capacity, regardless of whether the person is a full-time carer or whether their loved one is in residential care. 'If you put all your [energy] into caring for your relative, all the other aspects of your life are going to suffer. You have to earn a living. You can't let your job suffer because that feeds your family, pays your mortgage, and supports your future.' For anyone experiencing overwhelm, the thought of addressing self-care needs can feel like an additional burden. 'It is very difficult to think clearly or even consider self-care when you're completely overwhelmed,' says Brennan, adding that 'one little change' can make a difference. In addition to her experience professionally and academically, Brennan has personal experience of caring for her late mother, who had dementia. In her case, there was no progression of noticeable signs. She had symptoms of delirium and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. Brennan explains that the delirium is caused by cytokines in the brain triggered by a build-up of infection. 'If you have pre-existing mild cognitive impairment, the delirium will accelerate it, that's what happened with mom.' People can recover from delirium with no cognitive impairment, she says, if there is no underlying issue. After her father died, Brennan's mother became very depressed. 'If someone has dementia and they're depressed, some of their cognitive symptoms can be a consequence of the depression rather than the dementia,' says Brennan. The progression for her mother was fast: 'She literally went into hospital with a UTI and delirium and never came home.' After six months in hospital, her mother was transferred to a residential care home. Brennan says she was not in a position to care for her mother full-time at home with the competing demands of work and family. While work was a financial necessity, she also says she knew she needed it for stimulation and wellbeing. She visited her mum during the week and, every weekend, she and her husband would bring her mum home with them. Dr Sabina Brennan pictured at her home outside Shercock, Co. Cavan. Photo: Lorraine Teevan She says her mother loved her husband, who was a tremendous support during this time. Talking to a dementia sufferer about their condition is not always straightforward, and it varies according to the stage of dementia the person is at, says Brennan, though she is an advocate for choice 'My mom never knew she had dementia. I sensed that if I told her, I would not be able to take it back. I think it would have devastated her, and she was prone to depression.' Brennan says that for people who recognise their symptoms early on, it's different and it's vital for them to plan for their care and manage financial and legal implications. She highlights that as dementia progresses, a person will struggle to take in new information and acquire new knowledge. Despite the progression of cognitive impairment, Brennan emphasises the importance of treating people with dementia as adults, and even if they become non-verbal, to include them in conversations about their care and wellbeing, to pick up on any physical or facial reactions that may give insight into their own preferences. 'Their emotional memory is not affected,' she says. Brennan says the one thing people living with dementia don't lose is their sense of being an adult and she advocates for them to be treated with respect and included in decision-making where possible. 'We are all entitled to the same human rights. However, people don't seem to feel the need to uphold them in the same way for older people or for people with dementia. It's really important that we recognise that our human rights do not diminish with age or with disease.' She espouses the benefits to caregivers of living in the moment and noticing the happy experiences they share with their loved one. Recounting her own experience, she says, 'We would sing songs and we would dance. I could play music for mum. She used to love Val Doonican when I was a child. I played songs I knew she loved, and she would sing along'. While her relationship with her mother was not without its challenges in her younger years, it entered a new phase when her mum developed dementia. 'It became a much more honest relationship, a much happier relationship. There was no baggage. There was no point in trying to discuss things that happened in the past.' Dr Sabina Brennan pictured at her home outside Shercock, Co. Cavan. Photo: Lorraine Teevan She advises family caregivers to focus on the present. 'Forget about the future that might have been. Dementia steals some of those very important things but it doesn't steal your ability to enjoy life in the moment. What things do we enjoy? What do we live for? To laugh, to love, to hug, to smell flowers, to feel the sun on your face. 'Arm yourself with the knowledge so you know what's going on, but then just focus on living.' According to the HSE, an estimated 64,142 people are living with dementia in Ireland — a number set to triple by 2050. Brennan attributes this to the ageing population, but notes this trajectory could change if risk factors can be addressed. 'The key and really important thing to recognise is that 40% of all cases of Alzheimer's disease are attributable to 12 modifiable risk factors, which include midlife obesity and type 2 diabetes. Through treating people's obesity and their type 2 diabetes, through drugs like Ozempic, we may be able to eliminate a significant proportion of people from going on to develop dementia. 'Similarly, age-related hearing loss is one of the biggest risk factors. That risk is mitigated if you wear a hearing aid.' Brennan says that people who have a parent with dementia often think they are predetermined to get the progressive brain disorder. She emphasises that addressing the modifiable risk factors can significantly mitigate the overall risk. 'Lifestyle choices run in families too, not just genetics. We've made huge progress in terms of health campaigns, getting people to look after their heart health and get their blood pressure tested, their hearing checked, and so on.' Brennan's work experience includes work at Trinity College Dublin, where her research included examining the impact that caregiving has on spouses. She has also worked with the European Commission and British and Irish governments on longevity and brain health. Still Me — A Neuroscientist's Guide to Caring for Someone with Dementia , Bloomsbury Publishing. , Bloomsbury Publishing. The Alzheimer's Society of Ireland: Headspace provides mental health supports: Aware offers a range of programmes, including stress reduction:
Irish Independent
17-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Real Health podcast: A neuroscientist's guide to caring for someone with dementia
Dr Sabina Brennan, neuroscientist, psychologist and author of Still Me: A neuroscientist's guide to caring for someone with dementia, joins Karl Henry on this week's episode of The Real Health podcast. Early in the conversation, the caregiver explained that there are many different types of dementia. 'There are several kinds of dementia that occur and are associated with later life. Alzheimer's disease is the most common one, representing 60 to 70% of all cases of dementia. Then you have vascular dementia which is related to the health of your cardiovascular system. Basically, it's a dementia that can occur as a consequence of stroke or mini-strokes,' Dr Brennan explained. 'This is the brain being blocked from getting sufficient oxygen. Then you have Lewy body dementia which is associated with a protein called Lewy Body with specific symptoms like hallucination.' I was interested to find out how lifestyle can reduce the likelihood of developing dementia. '40% of all cases of Alzheimer's disease cases are attributable to 12 modifiable risk factors. So there are things you can do to avoid developing dementia. "There are 50 million people globally living with dementia, we could reduce those cases by 40% by changing people's lifestyle factors and stop them developing dementia.' You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
My Wedding Day with Sabina Brennan: 'We had our reception in the most beautiful room at Clontarf Castle'
We got married on August 19, 1987. We're coming up to our 40th anniversary in a couple of years! I lived in Clontarf at the time so we got married in St Anthony's Church in Clontarf, and we had the reception in Clontarf Castle. As part of the package with the hotel, we got a huge gold Rolls Royce, and I remember the driver saying to me 'you're not getting any use out of the car!' because the church was only 100 yards away from the hotel. We had around 80 guests at the wedding. Back then, it was very much a family event, and I remember we only had a handful of friends each at the wedding, it was mainly family, and extended family. But that was the norm. I love design. If I didn't do what I do I think I would have been a dress designer. So I designed and made my own wedding dress. It was quite classic and looking at it now I think the design has held up well. At the time it stood out really, it was quite modern. Sabina Brennan and her husband Dave I knew exactly what I wanted in my head, and I made it in Japanese silk. There was yards and yards and yards of material in the dress because I added ruching. The silk was so delicate that when I started sewing the ruching the machine kept pulling the threads, so I ended up having to sew the entire dress by hand. On the morning of the wedding, myself and my dad were the only ones left in the house, and we were waiting for the car to arrive. My dad was halfway up the stairs so he could see the car arriving and I was at the bottom of the stairs. When the car arrived my dad hurried down the steps and he accidentally stood on the train of my dress just as I stepped forward to the door. My dress ripped. Now because I had made the dress myself I was confident I could mend it and I had a needle and thread with me, but I remember when we got to the church news of the accident reached my mother. She may have thought she was whispering discreetly but everyone in the church heard her giving out to my dad! A television crew filming the bride and groom Then I remember seeing my husband at the top of the aisle and thinking 'would no one have fixed his hair!'. It had all fallen forward like a fringe. When we were at the altar together we were holding the mass booklets and I heard dripping water and then I could see drops landing on the booklet. I knew my husband couldn't be crying and when I looked at him I could see he was dripping with sweat! His best man lived in America at the time and had only come home the day before the wedding. Now my husband is not a drinker but he had a few drinks that night and hence the sweating, and why his hair had all fallen forward. He always looks at the photos to this day and gives out that nobody fixed his hair for him. After the ceremony we went to the Rose Garden in St Anne's Park for the photos. There was a TV camera crew in there doing a segment for Newsround about the garden, and they were delighted to see us. So they filmed us and we appeared on the news. Sabina Brennan with her father on her wedding day Then we went to the hotel and had our reception in the most beautiful room that was part of the original castle building. We had a band for the evening, no DJ as it wasn't really a thing back then. The tradition at the time was you had your first dance, and then you were joined by your parents for a second dance. After our first dance, which was to Lady In Red by Chris deBurgh, Dave's father Paddy was nowhere to be found. He had these greyhounds at the time and they had to be walked at a certain time and hadn't he gone off to walk the dogs! The newlyweds with their parents It's different now, but we had to leave the hotel then at around 10.30pm. We had to get into our going-away outfits. I had a gorgeous cream silk dress with a peplum and it was really beautiful, and Dave had a jacket from a real trendy brand at the time. We'd been saving so hard to marry, and being able to splash out on those outfits was really special. The first dance was to Lady in Red by Chris deBurgh Then we got into our banger of a Fiat Ritmo and off we went. We stayed in the Marine Hotel in Sutton that night. Everyone else was still partying, and we just went back to this quiet hotel room. It was really weird. After that, we went off on our honeymoon for two weeks. We went to Sardinia, which was an unusual choice at the time but it was so beautiful. Sabina Brennan's book, Still Me: a neuroscientist's guide to caring for someone with dementia, will be published on July 17.
