Memory changes can be frightening—for the person experiencing them and for the family members who notice them first. A missed appointment, a repeated question or difficulty finding the right word can raise uncomfortable questions: Is this normal aging? Could it be mild cognitive impairment (MCI)? Is dementia beginning? And, perhaps most importantly, what can we do about it?
Those questions are at the heart of this five-part North Star Leaders & Innovators episode of Answers for Elders, hosted by Suzanne Newman, founder and CEO of Answers for Elders. In this special series, Suzanne talks with Daniel Kelly, Chief Innovation Officer at New Days.AI, about changing attitudes toward cognitive decline and the emerging role of technology, clinical care and cognitive rehabilitation.
The conversation offers an encouraging message for older adults and their families: recognizing cognitive changes does not necessarily mean simply waiting for things to get worse. There may be opportunities to take an active role in managing cognitive health, maintaining independence and continuing to participate in the activities that make life meaningful.
Mild Cognitive Impairment: Why “Wait and See” May Not Be the Best Approach
One of the most important themes in Suzanne and Daniel’s conversation is the tendency for families to adopt a “wait and see” approach when they first notice changes in memory or thinking.
Suzanne openly acknowledges that she used this approach herself while caring for her mother. It can be difficult to know what to say or do when someone you love begins repeating questions, forgetting information or struggling with everyday tasks. Families may worry about upsetting their loved one by bringing up the possibility of cognitive decline.
Daniel explains that the way we think about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is changing. Rather than viewing cognitive decline solely through the lens of searching for a cure, he believes there is increasing value in recognizing the condition early and exploring ways to manage its impact.
That does not mean every memory lapse indicates dementia. It does mean that persistent or concerning changes deserve attention. According to Daniel, acknowledging cognitive changes can open the door to strategies, therapies and support that may help a person remain engaged and independent for as long as possible.
This is particularly important because mild cognitive impairment is an early stage of cognitive change and does not always progress to dementia. New Days works with people ranging from MCI through moderate dementia, as well as some people with MCI associated with Parkinson’s disease.
For families, the larger lesson is simple: don’t let fear or denial prevent you from learning what options are available.
“Physical Therapy for Your Brain”: How Cognitive Rehabilitation Works
Daniel describes the New Days approach using an analogy that makes the concept easy to understand: physical therapy for the brain.
If someone has knee surgery, for example, medication may address pain, but physical therapy can help restore strength, movement and function. Daniel says New Days applies a similar philosophy to cognitive impairment.
The program combines meetings with a clinician through telehealth with daily conversational exercises. The goal is not simply to complete computer exercises or navigate a complicated technology platform. Instead, participants primarily interact through conversation.
One component involves reminiscing—talking about a person’s life, career, family and favorite memories. Other activities are designed to challenge particular cognitive domains or skills that can affect everyday functioning.
The conversational aspect is especially important. Daniel compares cognitive skills to muscles: if you stop using them, you may lose confidence and ability. Practicing conversation and other cognitive skills regularly can provide repetition and help people feel more prepared to interact with loved ones and other people in everyday life.
The program is also designed to be accessible. According to the interview, New Days uses telehealth to make clinical care easier to access, and the program is covered by traditional Medicare. The interview also explains that a person does not need a physician referral to begin the process of learning more about the program.
Meet Sunny: How Conversational AI Can Support Cognitive Health
One of the most fascinating elements of the five-part conversation is Sunny, New Days’ conversational AI.
Sunny is designed to make cognitive exercises feel like a conversation rather than a traditional technology experience. There are no menus to navigate or complicated buttons to operate during the exercises. Participants simply talk.
Sunny can ask about someone’s life, family, career and memories. It can also guide conversations designed to challenge particular cognitive skills.
Daniel emphasizes that Sunny is technology, and New Days is transparent about that. At the same time, the system is designed to remember information shared during previous conversations, allowing interactions to become personalized.
That personalization matters because cognition isn’t simply about remembering a list of words. A person’s sense of humor, interests, experiences and identity are all part of who they are. Bringing personally meaningful subjects into conversations can make cognitive exercises more engaging.
The technology also exists within a clinical framework. Daniel explains that Sunny is used under the guidance and supervision of a clinician. In other words, the AI isn’t presented as a replacement for professional care. Instead, it is a tool intended to support the work being done with a medical professional.
This distinction is important as families increasingly encounter artificial intelligence in health and everyday life. The most useful question may not be whether AI is inherently good or bad, but how it is designed, supervised and used.
Dementia Caregiving: Supporting the Person—and the Care Partner
While much of the discussion focuses on cognitive health, another important theme emerges throughout the interview: dementia affects the entire family.
Suzanne shares personal experiences from caring for her mother, including learning that seemingly difficult situations could sometimes be handled differently by offering choices or connecting an unwanted task with something meaningful.
Daniel says New Days’ cognitive rehabilitation approach similarly emphasizes goals that matter to the individual. Someone may have withdrawn from a favorite activity because cognitive changes made it more difficult or frustrating. Working with a clinician can help that person identify meaningful activities and develop strategies for returning to them.
One example Daniel shares involves a person who had previously worked extensively with the Eagle Scouts but had withdrawn from that activity. Through the program, he eventually returned to leading hikes.
That example captures an important philosophy behind cognitive rehabilitation: the goal isn’t simply to measure memory. It’s to help people preserve independence, identity, purpose and participation in everyday life.
The program may also provide an unexpected benefit for caregivers. Daniel describes daily exercises as a form of “digital respite” for some care partners. If a loved one is engaged in a meaningful conversation and cognitive activity for 30 minutes to an hour, the caregiver may have an opportunity to step away, attend to another responsibility or simply take a break.
For spouses and family members providing care day after day, those moments can matter enormously.
Looking Ahead: Early Detection and the Future of Dementia Care
The final segments of the conversation turn toward the future. Daniel discusses emerging approaches such as fluid-based biomarkers and digital biomarkers, including the possibility of using information from a person’s voice and conversations to better understand cognitive health and disease progression.
The larger vision is increasingly personalized care: identifying cognitive changes as early as possible and then matching people with therapies and interventions appropriate to their individual needs.
Daniel imagines a future in which someone diagnosed with MCI might have access to a coordinated range of services, potentially including cognitive therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and mental health support.
Technology could play an important role by making those services easier to access and by reducing some of the friction involved in using technology itself.
But technology isn’t the only answer. Suzanne and Daniel repeatedly return to the importance of conversation, social connection, purpose and human relationships.
They also address the stigma surrounding dementia. A diagnosis can make people want to withdraw or avoid telling friends and family. But Daniel encourages people to acknowledge cognitive changes and continue reaching out to others. For family members and friends, that means staying connected rather than pulling away because you don’t know what to say.
For someone living with dementia, a familiar conversation about a favorite memory may be far more meaningful than worrying about whether they remember everything perfectly.
Watch on YouTube
Part 1. Can Cognitive Decline Be Managed? New Innovations for MCI & Dementia
Part 2. MCI & Dementia – Can Daily Conversation Help Preserve Cognitive Function?
Part 3. Can AI Help With Dementia? Meet Sunny, the New Days Cognitive Health Partner
Part 4. What Will Dementia Care Look Like in 5 Years? AI, Early Detection & New Treatments
Part 5. Dementia Caregiver Support – How New Days Helps Families Navigate Cognitive Decline
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Frequently Asked Questions About MCI, Dementia and New Days
What is mild cognitive impairment?
Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, refers to cognitive changes that are more noticeable than typical age-related changes but do not necessarily prevent a person from functioning independently. As Daniel explains in the interview, MCI does not always progress to dementia.
What does New Days.AI do?
New Days is a clinic offering a therapy program for people experiencing cognitive impairment. The approach combines clinician-guided telehealth care with daily conversational exercises intended to challenge cognitive skills and help people maintain everyday functioning.
Who can participate in the New Days program?
According to the interview, New Days works with people ranging from MCI through moderate dementia, including some people with MCI associated with Parkinson’s disease. Daniel recommends starting with a free consultation to determine whether the program may be appropriate.
Does New Days require a doctor’s referral?
Daniel says a person can go directly to the New Days website, schedule a free consultation and begin the intake process without a physician referral. The interview states that traditional Medicare covers the program.
What is Sunny?
Sunny is New Days’ conversational AI partner. Participants interact with Sunny through natural conversation, including reminiscence and exercises designed to challenge specific cognitive skills. The interview emphasizes that Sunny is a technology tool used under clinical guidance rather than a replacement for a medical professional.
What should I do if I think a parent or spouse is developing cognitive problems?
Start a conversation and seek information rather than simply waiting. If you’re unsure how to approach the subject, the interview suggests using resources and professional guidance to help make that conversation easier. A clinician consultation can also provide an opportunity to ask questions and understand what options may be available.
A More Hopeful Conversation About Cognitive Decline
Cognitive decline can be one of the most difficult challenges families face as they age. But this five-part Answers for Elders conversation encourages families to approach the subject differently.
Instead of seeing a diagnosis as the end of the road, Suzanne Newman and Daniel Kelly explore what it might mean to take an active role in cognitive health—through clinical care, cognitive rehabilitation, social connection, meaningful activities, technology and daily routines.
Perhaps the most important message is that the person should remain at the center of the process. Memory loss does not erase someone’s personality, history, interests or need for purpose. Supporting cognitive health is ultimately about helping people remain as much themselves as possible for as long as possible.
For families navigating MCI, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, that perspective can make a difficult journey feel a little less frightening—and a lot more hopeful.
