Anthea Rowan

About

Anthea Rowan is a British journalist who writes about dementia widely for The Washington Post, The South China Morning Post, and the Irish Times. She lives in Tanzania and cares for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s Disease.

Recent Posts

Women Are Twice as Likely to Suffer Dementia as Men

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from dementia. Age is definitely a factor, women live an average of five to seven years longer than men, but it's not the only reason.

How to Make Positive Memories After a Dementia Death

A Personal Perspective: When my mother died, I struggled to remember her as well. I worried that I'd lost her to dementia in life and might lose happier memories of her in death.

The Choice of Care for a Loved One Is Personal

I never thought I'd need to look after my mother. The choice of care my siblings and I made was loosely based on what she'd said, largely based on circumstances when the time came.

How to Celebrate a Birthday in the Face of Dementia

A Personal Perspective: My mother won't remember that we celebrated her birthday. Why did I still feel compelled to make an occasion of the day?

Dementia Is Unfriendly Regardless of "Friendly" Words

A Personal Perspective: "Call me a fighter, not a carer."

How to Feed a Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Patient

A Personal Perspective: I began with such good intentions and fed my mother a diet packed with goodness. What she eats now is anathema to me.

How Not to Get Dementia

A Personal Perspective: Daily exposure to my mother's Alzheimer's disease makes me mindful of the risks of dementia. Perhaps that will protect me.

The Most Important Conversation to Have With a Parent

A Personal Perspective: I could not conceive of my brilliant mother succumbing to dementia. Denial and the difficulty of the subject meant we never had this conversation.

The Dreadful Physical Symptoms of Dementia

A Personal Perspective: When my mother presented with a few senior moments, we had no idea her loss of cognition would quickly be hamstrung by a growing list of physical handicaps.

How Some Common Drugs Can Increase the Risk of Dementia

If she had known the dementia risks of some of the common drugs she was prescribed for years, would my mother have agreed to take them? Would her doctor have prescribed them?