Dementia Matters

After a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, patients and caregivers can turn to local agencies and associations for education and support. Dementia friendly communities represent an international movement to help businesses, the general public, and government agencies better recognize and support people living with dementia. Guest: Joy Schmidt, dementia care specialist, Aging and Disability Resource Center of Dane County

Veterans are at a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease than the general population. A new clinical trial is looking at the effect prescription fish oil has on brain health in veterans and will determine whether the supplement could be used as an effective prevention treatment for the disease. Guest: Cynthia Carlsson, MD, MS, geriatrician, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, and investigator, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Join Lindsay Clark, a neuropsychologist at UW Health Memory Assessment Clinic and investigator at the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, as she demystifies the memory evaluation process. Discover what to expect from assessments and learn which memory symptoms require attention. Lindsay also sheds light on the pitfalls of online memory tests and why professional evaluations are essential. Delve into the nuances of word retrieval issues in aging and the significant role of neuropsychologists in memory care.

Dementia care specialist Teepa Snow discusses techniques caregivers and family members can use to better communicate with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia patients. Guest: Teepa Snow, dementia care specialist, educator, founder of Positive Approach, LLC

On behalf of the entire Dementia Matters team, thank you for listening to our podcast, and have a happy new year!

How does hormone replacement therapy affect a woman’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease? Dr. Carey Gleason, a researcher at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, joins us to offer her insight on menopausal hormone therapy and the many factors patients and their physicians should consider in the decision-making process. Guest: Carey Gleason, PhD, Clinical Psychology, Associate Professor and Researcher, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Examining the bacteria that live in our guts and the role it plays in health is an exciting frontier in scientific inquiry. Researchers are now looking at the gut microbiome for answers about Alzheimer’s disease. Guest: Nick Vogt, MD PhD Student, Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Research Investigator, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Sleep plays an important role in our day-to-day lives and has a huge impact on our memory and thinking. Learn more about why we need to sleep and some of the negative impacts that poor sleep can have on our brains. Guest: Steven Barczi, MD, Geriatric Sleep Physician, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Recent research shows Alzheimer’s disease can be present up to two decades before symptoms occur; a phenomenon known as preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. Comparing the disease to a burning building, some scientists believe treatment needs to happen well before significant foundational damage occurs. Guest: Paul Aisen, MD, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California  

The MIND diet was created with the goal of healthy brain aging. This nutrition plan, which is backed up by years of scientific research, details 10 food groups you should incorporate into your diet and five foods that you should limit. Guest: Martha Clare Morris, ScD, Professor of Epidemiology, Rush University Medical Center, and co-creator of the MIND Diet