173: The 'D' Word with Pete Hill and guest Dr Saskia Savananthan173: The 'D' Word with Pete Hill and guest Dr Saskia Savananthan
UK Health Radio Podcast
Host Pete Hill talks with neuroscientist Dr Saskia Savanathan about stigma, fragmented systems and weak strategies around dementia care. Their conversation also covers brain health, risk reduction and how staying mentally and socially active may support better quality of life in later years.
36:09•19 Jun 2026
Stigma, Strategy and Brain Health: Dr Saskia Savanathan on Rethinking Dementia
Episode Overview
- Stigma, ageism and fear mean dementia still receives less urgency and openness than conditions such as cancer, despite similar historical patterns.
- Clear, timely diagnosis – including the specific type of dementia – is crucial so families can plan, access support and understand changing symptoms.
- Fragmented services leave family members acting as untrained “air traffic controllers”, leading to burnout and inconsistent care.
- Strong dementia strategies need concrete goals, measurement and clear accountability, not just vision statements that sit on a shelf.
- Building cognitive reserve through new skills, mental activity, social connection, good sleep and healthy lifestyle choices may reduce dementia risk or lessen its impact.
“It’s not a helpless condition. It’s not something where we just throw up our hands and go, ‘Oh, well, you’re going to die, so why do I bother?’”
Curious about how others handle a life-changing diagnosis like dementia? This D Word episode on UK Health Radio brings together host Pete Hill and neuroscientist Dr Saskia Savanathan for a sharp, honest chat that feels equal parts coffee conversation and policy briefing. Dr Savanathan, speaking from Canada, talks about why dementia still gets less energy and urgency than conditions like cancer. She recalls being told, “You can’t compare the two… people survive cancer.
You just don’t with dementia,” and explains why that mindset is both wrong and harmful. Drawing on the history of cancer and HIV/AIDS, she argues that real change starts when people living with the condition and their families speak up and demand better. You’ll hear a clear breakdown of stigma, ageism and why dementia hits so hard: “You can almost disassociate it as ‘it’s my kidney’ or ‘it’s my arm’.
But you can’t do that with dementia because dementia is you.” She and Pete also talk about delayed diagnoses, poor communication from professionals, and the confusion between “Alzheimer’s” and “dementia”. Policy fans and carers alike will appreciate Dr Savanathan’s air-traffic-control analogy: dementia care is like running an airport with planes taking off and landing whenever they like, while family carers act as stressed controllers with no training.
She highlights how fragmented services, weak national strategies and lack of accountability leave people exhausted and unsupported. There’s also a hopeful thread running through the conversation. The pair discuss risk reduction, brain health and cognitive reserve – including research showing people whose brains had dementia changes but who stayed mentally active and socially engaged did not show strong symptoms in life. Learning new skills, staying curious and keeping socially connected are pitched as realistic, everyday ways to support your brain.
If you’re affected by dementia, supporting someone who is, or just wondering how to protect your own brain as you age, this episode raises tough questions and offers practical, hopeful ideas. What small step could you take today to keep your brain – and your expectations of care – more active?
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