There’s a critical shift happening right now in how we understand Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s being driven by voices willing to challenge the traditional narrative. In this episode of The Empowering Neurologist, I speak with two individuals uniquely positioned to move this conversation forward: Emma Heming Willis and Dr. Nicole Beurkens.
Emma brings something that science alone cannot provide, lived experience. As the wife of actor Bruce Willis, diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, she has walked the caregiving journey firsthand. But rather than retreat, she has stepped forward, becoming a powerful advocate for caregivers and a co-founder of Make Time Wellness, a platform dedicated to women’s brain health. Her work is rooted in a simple but profound mission: to ensure that no caregiver feels alone.
Her book, The Unexpected Journey, reflects this ethos, offering not only emotional resonance but practical guidance, including the critical importance of understanding what is happening in the brain as a means of reducing fear and restoring a sense of control. Complementing this perspective is Dr. Nicole Beurkens, whose nearly three decades of clinical and nutritional work provide the scientific framework for what Emma has experienced in real life. As a licensed psychologist and Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist, Dr. Beurkens operates at the intersection of brain function, metabolism, and lifestyle, bringing clarity to how daily choices influence long-term neurological outcomes. Together, they illuminate a topic that has been largely overlooked: why women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease. At the center of this discussion is the role of hormonal transition, particularly perimenopause. During this period, changes in estrogen signaling can significantly impact brain metabolism, inflammation, and resilience. Yet this window of vulnerability is rarely addressed in conventional medical conversations.
This is what Emma refers to as the “silent gap.” And it has profound implications. Because Alzheimer’s is not simply a disease of aging, it is a disease of decades. The processes that ultimately lead to cognitive decline are often set in motion long before symptoms appear. This reframes everything. It means prevention is not only possible, it is essential. Dr. Beurkens brings this into sharp focus by emphasizing the role of daily habits: nutrition, sleep, movement, and stress regulation. These are not peripheral considerations; they are foundational drivers of brain health.
And this is where the conversation becomes empowering. Rather than viewing Alzheimer’s as an inevitable outcome, we begin to understand it as a dynamic process, one that can be influenced by the choices we make every day. For Emma, this shift is deeply personal. For Dr. Beurkens, it is deeply scientific. For all of us, it is a call to action.
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About Dr. Nicole Beurkens
Dr. Nicole Beurkens is a licensed psychologist, Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), and one of the leading experts at the intersection of brain health, nutrition, and mental wellness across the lifespan. With nearly 30 years of practice spanning clinical psychology, nutrition science, and integrative health, she brings a rare combination of scientific rigor, clinical depth, and real-world expertise to the questions that matter most to women today: how to support brain health at all ages and what women can actually do each day to protect and optimize their mental clarity, focus, and long-term neurological health. Dr. Beurkens holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology, a Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health, and degrees in Special Education — advanced training in brain science, nutritional biochemistry, and developmental health that positions her uniquely to evaluate the complex interplay between diet, lifestyle, and how the brain performs across the lifespan.
About Emma Heming Willis
Author, care partner, and advocate for caregivers and those affected by FTD, Emma is a wife, mother of two, and stepmother of three. She is the co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of Make Time Wellness, a brand dedicated to supporting women’s brain health. Emma co-hosts the Make Time Podcast with Helen Christoni and leads the Make Time to Connect YouTube series, both committed to sharing vital information on cognitive wellness and dementia. Her first book and instant New York Times bestseller, The Unexpected Journey, published September 2025. It’s a deeply personal and practical guide to helping caregivers care for themselves while navigating the challenges of a loved one’s dementia.
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