Awareness begins with curiosity, and change begins with a single conversation…

Why do we only start thinking about our brain or that of a loved one after a dementia diagnosis? Why not make it a standard part of education in schools?

Berrie Holtzhausen want to share this with you. Founder of Alzheimers Dementia Namibia (ADN) , CEO, trainer, and my inspiration. Berrie, who has lived with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis for 5.5 years and still works full time.

🤔 How is it that caring for someone with dementia is one of the hardest journeys a person can walk?

🤔 Why do we wait until after a diagnosis to learn how the human brain works, instead of learning while we still have time to protect those we love?

🤔 Why is brain health not a compulsory subject in every classroom, in every country, for every child?

This is for four groups of people. If these words reach you, don’t just pass them by. Ask yourself what it truly means for Berrie (or someone you know) to live with dementia. Then start the conversation. Ask the questions. Demand the understanding. Because awareness begins with curiosity, and change begins with a single conversation.

1. General/Ignorant population

What we know about helping people with dementia keeps changing as we learn more. It isn’t a fixed set of rules that applies to everyone.

2. Caregivers

Supporting someone with dementia means staying flexible. New insights and approaches develop all the time, so what works today may improve tomorrow, and what helps one person might not help another.

3. Researchers

Knowledge about dementia care is dynamic and context-dependent rather than static or universally generalizable. It evolves continuously with new evidence and clinical experience.

4. Policymakers

Dementia care policy should account for knowledge as an adaptive and non-static resource. Standards and best practices must be updated regularly to reflect emerging evidence and diverse population needs.