3 April 2025

Last month, Theresa Akoth and Dr Navi Nagra from the Brent Memory Service delivered an informative talk about dementia awareness at St Gabriel's Church.

Run in partnership with Brent Health Matters, the session focused on breaking common misconceptions about dementia, exploring the different types of dementia, understanding memory issues, discussing how to access assessments and live well after a diagnosis. They also touched on the importance of maintaining good brain health at all stages of life.

Attendees engaged in lively discussions and asked thoughtful questions about topics such as mental capacity, seeking help for loved ones at risk, and the impact of stress on memory. A brief mindfulness exercise provided a calming moment for everyone to reflect and decompress after the session.

Attendees shared positive feedback after the session, which can be seen below:

“Thank you for coming, we needed help but didn’t know what to do.”

“You explained it really well. This is actually my first time here, but I’ll definitely come back.”

Dr Navi said: “The feedback was incredibly positive, and it was heart-warming to hear the impact our talk had on the community. A big thank you to Brent Health Matters and the community members who attended, for their openness and eagerness to learn”.

Colleagues from the Older People’s Mental Health and Memory Services provide ongoing support and expertise to empower local residents in Brent. It’s their shared mission to make sure that those living with dementia can thrive and feel supported every step of the way.

Dr Abhishek Shastri (Consultant Psychiatrist, Memory Service) has played a key role in raising awareness through initiatives with Dementia Hub Brent, while Dr Anand Ramakrishnan (Consultant Psychiatrist, CMHT for Older People), recently led mental health training for Brent Carers Centre Case Managers.