From Clinic to Innovation: The Story of Dr. John DenBoer and His Fight Against Cognitive Decline 

Most discussions about dementia take place too late, after a diagnosis and noticeable decline have occurred. Dr. John DenBoer, a clinical neuropsychologist, feels that intervention comes too late. He is dedicated to assisting individuals experiencing early concerns about memory and thinking in taking action before the decline sets in. With his online program SMART Brain Aging and his book This is Dementia, Dr. DenBoer offers information designed to build up brain health through learning and ongoing mental stimulation. 

Dr. John DenBoer was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on 15 August 1977. He is a former Geriatric Neuropsychologist turned business innovator specializing in the assessment and detection of early-stage dementia. He received his internship training at VA Boston Healthcare System (Boston University School of Medicine/Harvard University) and received his postdoctoral training at Barrow Neurological Institute.  

He has published extensively in the area of Clinical Neuropsychology and has been an expert speaker at many local, national, and international conferences.  He is the former Founder, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer of SMART Brain Aging, Inc., a company designed to help prevent and intervene in mild cognitive impairment and early-stage dementia.  

Dr. John DenBoer mostly works with people who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This is a condition when an individual notices changes in focus or memory, but they have not developed dementia yet. Quite several people with MCI get little assistance since their symptoms aren’t given due attention, or because, in most healthcare systems, support is offered only when it is severe. Dr. DenBoer observed this gap and took action. 

To do so, he created SMART Brain Aging, an acronym for Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training. This is a brain training program you can do from your own home. It consists of exercises to improve memory, attention, and thinking skills. They’re kind of like exercises that a neuropsychologist might administer during a clinical test, but they come through a computer or tablet in a form that adjusts to an individual’s level of capability. As time goes on, the program follows up and changes its level of difficulty. 

SMART Brain Aging is not intended to cure dementia but to provide people with activities to keep their minds active at an early stage of cognitive change. It is based on the idea that frequent brain activity, let alone activity that is informed by science, can delay or slow cognitive decline. Although debate among doctors about whether brain training is beneficial in the long term persists, many people welcome doing something at home that might be helpful to them. The program received an Arizona Innovation Challenge and Flinn Foundation recognition as a new health technology with promise. 

In 2019, Dr. John DenBoer also published a book called This is Dementia. The book isn’t for doctors or scientists. It’s designed for readers who might be caring for a family member with memory issues or who want to be concerned about their own brain health. The language is easy and simple to understand, and real-life stories come with an explanation about dementia and how it impacts individuals. The book also shares helpful tips on how to take care of someone who is just in its early stages. 

The book makes no guarantees or “miracle cures,” but rather offers families realistic information about what to expect and how to prepare. Several readers have written that it helped them “understand” a relative’s actions, or gave them ideas about being more patient and helpful. Other readers reported being challenged to consider their own health and to take early action to maintain their brain strength. Combined, the SMART Brain Aging program and This is Dementia provide a balance of action and emotional awareness. One teaches doing a little bit each day to help the brain. The other teaches people about dementia and responding to it with compassion. Neither takes the place of medical treatment but rather are designed to be utilized in conjunction with other healthy practices such as exercise, sleep, and diet. 

It is important to point out that doctors disagree about how well brain training programs work. There have been mixed results in some studies, and the long-term effects remain under investigation. Dr. John DenBoer has been honest about that and made it certain that his program is never intended as a standalone solution. Rather, he views it as one part of a large puzzle piece—that is to say, as one among many approaches that one might use in reducing risk and increasing quality of life. 

Dr. DenBoer’s contributions have also extended beyond the medical profession. A documentary on Netflix titled This is Dementia served to spread his message further afield. He has also been a guest in publications such as Forbes, Newsweek, and VentureBeat, in which his thoughts on early action and cognitive health have attracted attention from health professionals and members of the general public. 

What makes Dr. DenBoer’s method unique is that it goes to meet people wherever they are. People do feel out of control when memory troubles start, particularly if they haven’t yet received a diagnosis. By offering people tools and training that they can implement immediately, he restores a sense of control to them. Now they can take small steps on a daily basis towards keeping their brain healthy despite waiting for additional evaluation or treatment. 

Although his work is ongoing and research into it is ongoing, Dr. John DenBoer’s efforts have served to draw more attention to early support as a factor in brain health. Simple, easy-to-use tools and uncomplicated materials from his work have facilitated greater participation in one’s own cognitive health on the part of individuals. 

Recognized by the Arizona Innovation Challenge, Flinn Foundation, Phoenix Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” and featured in national media and a Netflix documentary, Dr. John DenBoer continues to lead the conversation on early intervention and public education in cognitive wellness.