Working memory: the surprising decline of dementia

About this episode

<p>A dive into the data reveals that, despite dire past predictions, the prevalence of dementia is actually <a href="https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/07/09/how-dementia-is-being-defeated?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">waning</a>. We take a look at Pix, a beloved Brazilian digital-payments system, and why it <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/07/19/brazils-beloved-payments-system-has-drawn-donald-trumps-ire?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">so bothers</a> President Donald Trump. And we attend one of the concerts that reveals how the appeal of emo music is <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/07/16/emo-culture-was-not-just-a-phase-as-it-turns-out?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">holding strong</a> across generations. </p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Jonathan Rosenthal, international correspondent</li><li>Carla Subirana, news editor</li><li>Sarah Lawrynuik, deputy editor of “The Intelligence”</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>dementia, global health statistics, ageing</li><li>Brazil, Pix, payment systems, Donald Trump</li><li>emo music, My Chemical Romance</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribe to The Economist</em></a><em>.</em></p><br><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>