Observing Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to Alzheimer’s disease, highlight advances in research and share resources to support people affected by the disease.
6.5 million+ Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including more than 120,000 in Wisconsin. Memory loss is just one symptom of Alzheimer’s disease — early warning signs of the disease also include personality changes, confusion with time or place, difficulty completing familiar tasks, and trouble with numbers and problem solving.
Scientists at UW–Madison are studying a range of factors that may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease risk, including genetics, overall health, military status, socioeconomic status, gender and race. In just the past few years, advanced brain imaging has allowed scientists to detect early brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease up to two decades before a person experiences symptoms of the disease. Research consistently shows that a healthy lifestyle — blood pressure control, physical activity, good quality sleep, and following the MIND diet — is good for the brain and may slow the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
Throughout the month, Badger Talks is holding a series of programs about brain health, the challenges of caregiving and the latest discoveries made from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP). Additionally, the National Institute on Aging is sharing a Facebook video series about Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving and the importance of clinical trials. We invite you to observe Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month with us by staying informed, spreading the word about programs and resources, supporting UW-Madison Alzheimer’s disease research programs, and learning more about our open studies.
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Wisconsin ADRC investigators receive grant for development of dementia assessment toolkit with American Indian communities
Carey Gleason, PhD, MS, and Megan Zuelsdorff, PhD, recently received funding from the National Institute on Aging to develop a culturally appropriate dementia evaluation toolkit with the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Compared to the majority population, Indigenous rates of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are approximately three times higher. This grant aims to increase accuracy and early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in American Indian communities. Learn more
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Mind Readers summer book club event
July 13, 6 p.m. CT: All are invited to join the Mind Readers book club along with host Nathaniel Chin, MD, and guest authors Cindy Weinstein, PhD, and Bruce L. Miller, MD, for a discussion about their book, Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief, and the Brain. The event will be held live online via Zoom. You do not need to read the book prior to the event and there is no cost to join the conversation. Register
About the book: Authors Cindy Weinstein and Bruce L. Miller intertwine literature, memoir and science to tell the story of Weinstein’s experience with her father’s dementia. Weinstein is a professor of literature at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, and Miller is a neurologist and director of the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco. Their unique experiences and perspectives provide an enriching understanding of Alzheimer’s disease.
Learn more about the Mind Readers book club.
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One alcoholic drink a day associated with brain shrinkage
A new study found that just one alcoholic drink a day was associated with brain shrinkage, and drinking more could increase that rate exponentially over time. On a recent episode of Dementia Matters lead researcher Remi Daviet, PhD, discussed his findings and the conflicting messages surrounding research on alcohol consumption. Listen to the podcast
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Dementia Care Research Project
The Dementia Care Research Project is looking for people with memory concerns, Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia and their caregivers to join research studies together. Dementia care research focuses on understanding how to improve the quality of life for people with memory concerns and their caregivers by examining the care they receive at home or within the healthcare system. Visit our website to learn more about participant eligibility, time commitment and compensation.
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More events and information
 National Center on Elder Abuse
June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Find resources, learn how to recognize the warning signs and review what to do if you suspect elder abuse.
Get Movin’ exercise classes
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1–2 p.m.
A gentle exercise program for every fitness level held in person and online via Zoom. Classes are free and open to the public.
Virtual Badger Talk — The Other Dementias: FTD, Lewy Body Disease, Vascular Dementia and others
June 17, 10–11 a.m.
Susanne Seeger, MD, will discuss diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches for lesser-known disorders that can cause dementia.
Virtual Badger Talk — Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention
June 28, 12–1 p.m.
Sterling Johnson, PhD, will share the latest discoveries made from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) regarding brain and eventual cognitive changes that occur prior to the dementia phase of Alzheimer’s disease.
Support group for younger caregivers
Fourth Tuesday of each month, 3–4:30 p.m.
New support group for caregivers under the age of 65 hosted by the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin.
Healthy Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): The Importance of Social Engagement and Strategies for Improved Communication
July 8, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Kimberly Mueller, PhD, CCC-SLP, assistant professor in the UW–Madison Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, will help us understand how enhancing cognitive and social engagement can positively influence cognition and quality of life. Participants will also learn strategies for helping people with MCI better communicate with the people around them.
Affordable Connectivity Program
Financial assistance for eligible households to receive high-speed internet access necessary for work, school, healthcare and more.
The Future Needs Us Now — The Campaign for Wisconsin Medicine
Rally support from your network that will go toward improving early and accurate diagnosis, treatment and care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias — focusing on the long-term goal of ultimately preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
Come work with us
The Wisconsin ADRC and its campus partners are seeking applicants to fill several open positions.
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