Health & Fitness

Mempathy

by Mempathy

Health & FitnessScience

About the show

Mempathy is a podcast about dementia-related memory loss, hosted by Professor Catherine Loveday, a memory expert who has spent the last 12 years putting her research into practice to support her own mum. In the series, she speaks with Sonia Beldom about everyday issues that arise for families and carers, such as how to have tricky conversations, how to improve sleep and how to scaffold memory. It is light-hearted and fun but tackles important topics and offers concrete advice and solutions. Produced by Geraldine Fitzgerald, engineered by Jeff Knowler, and original music by Philip Loveday.

Latest episodes

Episode 9: Memory loss, scams and fraud (with Marc Cananur)

October 4, 2026 · 43 min

Memory loss makes people particularly vulnerable to scams, fraud and other dishonest behaviour. In this episode, Sonia and I are joined by a very special guest, Marc Cananur (Hunted, and BBC Morning Live). Marc is a leading expert in scams…
Episode 8: Repeating the same stories

October 18, 2025 · 20 min

What do you do when someone tells the same story over and over again, and why does it happen? This episode discusses the tendency for repetition in people with memory loss, how it can get difficult, but also why it can be important and…
Episode 7: Unconscious memories

September 14, 2025 · 21 min

Why is it that a person with dementia-related memory loss can still seem to be affected by something that they can't remember? Jenny asks whether there is any point in taking her sister out for a nice day, if her sister doesn't remember…
Episode 6: The power of music

July 27, 2025 · 21 min

Episode 6 of Mempathy is all about the power of music. Our listener (who is supporting his sister with dementia) asks, “What is it about music that makes it so powerful? And do you have any tips on how to capitalize on it?” And of course…
Episode 5: Elderspeak

July 14, 2025 · 19 min

The way we speak to people with memory loss really matters - not just what we say, but how we say it. In this episode Sonia and Catherine explore the concept of "elderspeak". Research shows that most of us do it, without even realising…
Episode 4: When is memory loss a worry?

June 6, 2025 · 26 min

How do we know when memory loss is something to be concerned about? If you spot the signs in yourself or someone you care about, what should you do? In this episode, Sonia and Catherine discuss their own experiences with their mums, and…
Episode 3: To contradict or not

May 12, 2025 · 22 min

People with memory loss can sometimes sound very sure about something that you know can't be true, for example being convinced that a relative hasn't visited recently, or simply insisting on something having happened that can't have done…
Episode 2: Understanding Future Thinking

April 29, 2025 · 20 min

In this episode we discuss why talking about the future can create anxiety in people with dementia-related memory loss, and share tips on how to manage it. Sonia asks: "My sister is about to move house and we don't know how to speak to my…