When Catherine Loveday, a professor of neuropsychology at the University of Westminster, began to notice subtle changes in her mother’s behavior, she was uniquely placed to act. Loveday, an expert in memory and brain function, had spent her career researching how people process, store, and retrieve memories. She had also authored The Secret World of the Brain, a book exploring the complexity and adaptability of our mental lives. But this time, the science she studied every day became deeply personal. Her mother, Scilla, a 70-year-old retired NHS psychiatrist and a fiercely independent and highly intelligent woman, was beginning to show worrying signs of memory loss.
In 2011, shortly after the death of her husband, Scilla started forgetting things more often than usual. She would repeat herself in conversation and sometimes become confused even during simple routines, like her daily walks near her home. On one occasion, she got lost during a route she had walked countless times before. The incident left her shaken and scared. Although such behavior could easily be dismissed as benign forgetfulness associated with aging, Loveday suspected something deeper was occurring. Being an expert in memory function, she understood that early diagnosis and intervention were key in slowing the progression of degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
At that time, Loveday did not immediately seek a GP’s evaluation for her mother. She knew that standard GP assessments, like the Mini-Mental State Examination—a basic ten-minute cognitive screening—would likely fail to detect Scilla’s difficulties. Given her mother’s high intelligence and background, Loveday believed she would pass those rudimentary tests “with flying colours.” Instead, she turned to her professional network and arranged for her mother to undergo a more sophisticated, in-depth set of neuropsychological evaluations. This battery of tests, often used in NHS memory clinics and designed with Loveday’s own input, was far more sensitive to nuanced cognitive changes.
Scilla completed the tests willingly, though with some apprehension. She trusted her daughter’s judgment and agreed to the process. The results revealed a striking pattern. On tasks requiring immediate attention and verbal repetition—such as reading back a list of words—Scilla performed well. However, when asked to recall that information after a delay, or to remember the details of a short story after 30 minutes, her performance fell drastically. In some instances, she scored lower than 99.9% of the general population. These findings pointed clearly to dysfunction in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that deals with memory consolidation and is typically affected early in Alzheimer’s. Although this initial testing did not yet lead to a formal diagnosis, it offered a clear warning sign and allowed Loveday to act early.
Eventually, in 2017, Scilla was diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease after a formal brain scan. By then, thanks to the early steps taken, she and her daughter had already implemented numerous strategies designed to preserve her quality of life and cognitive function. According to an in-depth feature published by The Times UK, Loveday described her mother’s reaction to the diagnosis as “upset but pragmatic.” It marked a pivotal moment in their relationship. Scilla, who had always been stoic and self-reliant, now allowed her daughter to support her more openly. This emotional shift, Loveday explained, brought them closer and created a unique bond. It also helped them navigate what would become a long and complex journey with more compassion and trust.
Their proactive efforts ranged from lifestyle changes to psychological techniques rooted in Loveday’s academic expertise. One of the first steps was encouraging Scilla to keep a daily journal. Each evening, she would write down everything she could remember about her day, and then, before writing the next entry the following night, she would re-read the previous one. This simple ritual helped reinforce her memory through spaced repetition—a well-known cognitive strategy that improves long-term recall by revisiting information at strategically spaced intervals. For nearly eight years, Scilla maintained this practice, and it became one of the most powerful tools in managing her cognitive decline.
Loveday also worked to adjust her mother’s social life to match her changing needs. Book clubs became frustrating, as Scilla could no longer retain what she was reading, but other forms of social engagement were still enriching. Walks with friends, cups of tea, and online games like Scrabble provided much-needed stimulation and emotional connection. Maintaining friendships and regular social contact, Loveday explained, is critical in combating stress and inflammation in the brain—two factors known to accelerate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
To make day-to-day life more manageable, they introduced a range of practical aids around the house. Cupboards were labeled with their contents to reduce decision-making strain, a dementia-friendly clock displaying the time and date in large print was installed, and a whiteboard for daily reminders was hung in the kitchen. Scilla also learned to use Google Maps on her smartphone, giving her confidence when navigating outdoors. Knowing that she could rely on the app if needed helped reduce anxiety. In parallel, Loveday and her family used the “Find My” app to track Scilla’s location for safety, in case she became lost or disoriented.
As the disease progressed, Scilla’s long-term memories remained largely intact, a pattern typical of early Alzheimer’s. Loveday used this to her advantage, creating conversations that tapped into the past using “cueing” techniques. Music played a particularly vital role in triggering emotional and autobiographical memories. Loveday knew from her research that asking people to name their top eight songs often reveals deeply personal stories associated with those tracks. For Scilla, nostalgic memories—like the discomfort of her school uniform—sparked stories that reinforced her identity and connected her emotionally to her family.
Physical activity was also prioritized. Scilla, once a keen squash player, continued walking daily until Covid-19 restrictions made outings more difficult. Loveday lamented that her mother’s mobility declined sharply during the pandemic, which she attributes both to the progression of Alzheimer’s and the reduction in physical activity. Exercise, she notes, boosts the brain’s production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports memory and cognitive health. Even simple navigation outdoors activates the hippocampus, making walking both physically and mentally beneficial.
Nutrition and sleep were also addressed with scientific precision. Loveday encouraged a diet rich in flavanols and polyphenols—plant compounds found in berries, leafy greens, and dark chocolate—while eliminating processed sugars that can trigger glucose spikes and impair brain function. Scilla also began taking fish oil and vitamin B supplements, based on emerging evidence of their possible cognitive benefits. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine was equally important. Sleep disturbances are common in people with Alzheimer’s, but improving sleep quality can help slow disease progression, according to research.
Loveday and her sisters also engaged in early conversations with their mother about long-term care. While difficult, these discussions proved invaluable. Scilla expressed her strong desire to remain in her home in Devon and made it clear that she did not want her daughters to give up their own lives to care for her full-time. Since 2020, she has been supported by a live-in carer, a decision aligned with her wishes and one that has allowed her to maintain dignity and comfort in familiar surroundings.
In addition to all these personal interventions, Loveday stressed the importance of regular hearing and vision tests for people experiencing memory loss. The NHS recommends annual hearing assessments and biannual eye exams for people over 60. Even though Scilla’s hearing was excellent, research indicates that hearing impairment is strongly linked with cognitive decline, likely because it limits social engagement and mental stimulation.
Today, at 85, Scilla’s Alzheimer’s has undeniably progressed, but her quality of life remains significantly better than many in similar circumstances. For Loveday, the intersection of her professional work and personal caregiving has been both challenging and affirming. She has channeled her experiences into public outreach through her podcast Mempathy, which explores how scientific understanding of the brain can lead to more compassionate and effective care. She also developed a four-week course called Memory Matters for the charity Age UK, aimed at helping other families take proactive steps to support memory health.
Reflecting on the past decade, Loveday says she and her mother have forged a bond that would not have existed without the vulnerability the illness brought. During a recent visit, when asked how she was feeling, Scilla replied simply, “Relaxed and at peace.” That, Loveday says, is a powerful affirmation that their efforts have made a real difference—and perhaps, that science, love, and dignity can coexist even in the face of one of life’s most challenging diagnoses.
