Dementia Matters

Amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibody treatments have ushered in a new era of Alzheimer’s disease therapies after decades of research and clinical trials. A recent review published by Cochrane, a global, independent, non-profit network of researchers, professionals, patients and carers regarded as a gold standard for producing and promoting trusted, high-quality health information, has a different perspective on these therapies. The review found these treatments produce “little to no difference” in cognition and offer few benefits while increasing risks for adverse effects. Drs. Cynthia Carlsson, a clinical trialist, David Wolk, a clinician, and Henrik Zetterberg, a biomarker and disease biology expert, join the podcast to break down the review and their concerns, as well as highlight how this review could impact clinical care, research and public policy. Guests: Cynthia Carlsson, MD, MS, director, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, Clinical Core leader, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), Louis A. Holland, Sr., Professor in Alzheimer’s Disease, geriatrician, University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health; David Wolk, MD, director, Penn ADRC, co-director, Penn Memory Center, co-director, Penn Institute on Aging, professor of neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; and Henrik Zetterberg, MD, PhD, professor of neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, visiting professor, UW–Madison and University College London, Biomarker Core co-leader, Wisconsin ADRC Show Notes Read Cochrane’s review, “Amyloid‐beta‐targeting monoclonal antibodies for people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease,” on the Cochrane Library website. Learn more about Dr. Carlsson and Dr. Zetterberg at their profiles on the Wisconsin ADRC website and about Dr. Wolk at his profile on the Penn Memory Center website. Watch and listen to Dr. Carlsson’s past episode, “A Closer Look at the Lecanemab Clinical Trials,” on our YouTube channel or on our website. Listen to Dr. Wolk’s past episode, “LATE, Explained,” on our website. Listen to Dr. Zetterberg’s past episode, “The Future of Fluid Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias,” on our website. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website. Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. All donations go toward outreach and production. Learn about Dr. Chin’s book, When Memory Fades: What to Expect at Every Stage, from Early Signs to Full Support for Alzheimer's and Dementia, out June 2, 2026.

The latest Household Food Security report estimated that 13.7% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2024. This lack of access to a nutritious diet can significantly affect health, so how does it then impact older adults’ health and their risk for cognitive impairment? Dr. Heejin Lee joins the podcast to share what food insecurity means, how it can affect a person’s overall health and what her study found about its effect on dementia and cognitive impairment, as well as resources for those experiencing food insecurity. Guest: Heejin Lee, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow, department of nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Show Notes Read Dr. Lee’s article, “Food Insecurity and Risk of Dementia and Cognitive Impairment With No Dementia in US Older Adults,” published by JAMA Network Open online. Learn more about Dr. Lee at her profile on the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health website. Read the Household Food Security report, "Household Food Security in the United States in 2024," on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service website. Listen to our episode with Dr. Beth Olson, “How Ultra‑Processed Foods Impact Your Overall Health,” mentioned at 11:00, on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website. Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. All donations go toward outreach and production. Learn about and pre-order Dr. Chin’s book, When Memory Fades: What to Expect at Every Stage, from Early Signs to Full Support for Alzheimer's and Dementia, out June 2, 2026.

When memory, thinking or communication changes begin, knowing where to turn for support can make all the difference. In this episode, we explore how two key health care specialties can help individuals and families meet those challenges with confidence. Sarah Gunderson, an occupational therapist, and Kari Esser, a speech-language pathologist, draw from their work supporting people experiencing a wide range of neurological conditions to walk us through the foundations of their specialties and their unique roles in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia care. Sarah and Kari also provide a preview of their upcoming talk, “Partnering with Your Healthcare Team,” as part of the 2025 Healthy Living with MCI education program. Guests: Sarah Gunderson, OT, occupational therapist, UW Health, Kari Esser, MS, CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist, UW Health Show Notes Register and learn more about the upcoming Healthy Living with MCI event featuring Dr. Chin, Sarah Gunderson and Kari Esser, happening on December 12, 2025, and future programs on our website. Learn more about Sarah from her profile on the UW Health Website. Learn more about Kari from her profile on the UW Health Website. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website. Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. All donations go toward outreach and production.

Caring for someone living with dementia can be both deeply meaningful and incredibly challenging. Finding effective ways to connect, communicate and provide support often requires shifting how we see and respond to changes in the brain. In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, renowned dementia care specialist Teepa Snow joins the podcast to share her insights on improving life with dementia through empathy and understanding. As the founder of Positive Approach to Care (PAC), Teepa has developed the Snow Approach, a set of practical and compassionate techniques designed to empower care partners. She discusses the philosophy behind her methods, the importance of recognizing retained abilities and strategies that can make daily interactions more positive and meaningful for both care partners and those living with dementia. Guest: Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, dementia care specialist, educator, owner, trainer, Positive Approach LLC, co-Founder & chair, Snow Approach Foundation Show Notes This episode was uploaded as an exclusive video episode on the Wisconsin ADRC YouTube page on November 5, 2025. Watch the video interview with Teepa Snow here. Find videos, resources and more on Teepa Snow’s website. Interested in hearing more from Teepa? Attend Dementia Friendly America’s (DFA) Dementia Friendsgiving on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, to hear her keynote talk on supporting people with dementia in dignified and respectful ways. Learn more about lecanemab and the eligibility requirements from our past episode, “Looking at Lecanemab’s Eligibility Guidelines and Prescription Process,” on our website. Learn more about grief and dementia from our past episode, “A Guide to Grief: Strategies for Navigating Loss and Dementia,” on our website. Learn more about the National Council of Dementia Minds on their website. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website. Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. All donations go toward outreach and production.

Clinical trials are essential for improving the lives of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. With so many trials out there, it can be difficult for someone who’s interested in participating in research to know where to start. Dr. Jonathan Graff-Radford joins the podcast to discuss the ins and outs of clinical trials and the state of Alzheimer’s treatments today, as well as share some highlights from his presentation at the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center’s (NACC) 2025 Spring ADRC Meeting. Guest: Jonathan Graff-Radford, MD, behavioral neurologist, associate professor, vice chair, Mayo Clinic Department of Neurology, co-investigator, Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Show Notes Read more about Dr. Jonathan Graff-Radford at his profile on Mayo Clinic’s website. Listen to part one and part two of our series on preclinical Alzheimer’s disease and the AHEAD study with Dr. Reisa Sperling, mentioned at 19:53, on our website. Learn more about the AHEAD study on their website. Learn more about clinical trials in Wisconsin at the UW Clinical Trials Institute's website. Interested in participating in clinical trials? Visit clinicaltrials.gov or Alzheimer's Association's TrialMatch to learn how to get involved. Learn more and register for the 2025 Fall Community Conversation: Addressing Hearing Loss for Better Brain Health on our website. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website. Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. All donations go toward outreach and production.

As an individual develops dementia, they may need support in many areas of their lives. One of these areas is decision-making, particularly regarding health care decisions, but how can someone or their loved one determine if they need support with decision-making? To answer these questions, Dr. Victoria Williams joins to discuss capacity and capacity testing. She dives into the different kinds of decision-making abilities that can be assessed, the signs that one may need an assessment and more, as well as shares a preview of her upcoming Healthy Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) program, “Cognitive Testing and Brain Imaging Explained.” Guest: Victoria Williams, PhD, neuropsychologist, UW Health, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Show Notes Register and learn more about Dr. Williams’ upcoming Healthy Living with MCI event, happening on September 12, 2025, and future programs on our website. Learn more about Dr. Williams at her bio on the UW Health website. Listen to Dr. Williams’ past episode, “The Fundamentals of Neuropsychology: Breaking Down Cognition, Memory and More,” on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you listen. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website. Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. All donations go toward outreach and production.

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is one of the most common causes of dementia in individuals under the age of 60, yet it remains lesser known and often misunderstood. From the early symptoms to the challenges of diagnosis and treatment, FTLD presents unique hurdles for clinicians, researchers and families alike. Joining the podcast to discuss this complex disease is Dr. Brad Boeve, principal investigator of the ALLFTD study, a major national research effort aimed at identifying biomarkers and clinical tools to improve early detection of FTLD and prepare for future treatment trials. Guest: Brad Boeve, MD, neurologist, Department of Neurology and Center for Sleep Medicine, professor of neurology, Division of Behavioral Neurology, Mayo Clinic, co-director, Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, principal investigator, ARTFL-LEFFTDS Longitudinal Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ALLFTD) research study Show Notes Are you a clinician interested in receiving continuing education (CE) credits for listening to this episode? Find credit designation information, disclosures and evaluation information on our website and on the UW–Madison Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (ICEP) website. The accreditation for this course expires 8/12/2026. After this date, you will no longer be able to access the course or claim credit. Learn more about Dr. Boeve and his research at his profile on the Mayo Clinic website. Listen to our episode with Dr. Wolk, “LATE, Explained,” mentioned by Dr. Chin at 10:12 on our website. Visit the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) website, mentioned by Dr. Boeve at 21:59. Visit the CurePSP website mentioned by Dr. Boeve at 22:21. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website. Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. All donations go toward outreach and production.