How important is one’s family history when determining Alzheimer’s risk? Returning guests Drs. Jessica Langbaum and Sterling Johnson discuss the latest research on family history and genetic risk factors and share their perspectives on the topic, specifically focusing on the role of the APOE gene as a risk factor.

Guests: Sterling Johnson, PhD, leader, Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP), associate director, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, associate director, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, lead principal investigator, ADRC Consortium for Clarity in ADRD Research Through Imaging (CLARiTI), Jean R. Finley Professor of Geriatrics and Dementia, UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and Jessica Langbaum, PhD, senior director of research strategy, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, overseer, Observational Research Program, Clinical Trials Program, Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative, director, Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry, director, Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Read Dr. Langbaum’s viewpoint, “The Risk of Alzheimer Disease in APOE4 Homozygotes,” on the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) website.

Read Dr. Johnson’s article, “APOE4 homozygosity represents a distinct genetic form of Alzheimer’s disease,” on Nature Medicine’s website.

Read Dr. Chin’s opinion piece, “What to do if your family has a history of Alzheimer’s,” mentioned at 2:04 on the Wisconsin State Journal’s website. Please note there is a paywall to access the article.

Read Dr. Tobey Betthauser’s paper, “Multi-method investigation of factors influencing amyloid onset and impairment in three cohorts,” mentioned by Dr. Johnson at 16:50, on the National Library of Medicine’s website.

Learn more about the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute on their website. 

Read about the GeneMatch program from the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry on their website. 

Learn more about the Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center on their website. 

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: [email protected]

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.

Having a relative or loved one receive a dementia diagnosis can be challenging for families, especially for families with children. How can parents, guardians and other adults explain these complex memory and thinking changes to children in a way they’ll understand? One possible way – children’s books. Dr. Tomás León joins the podcast to discuss his collection of children’s books focused on different kinds of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia and vascular dementia. He discusses his inspiration for the four stories, the writing and translation process, and the importance of helping children understand what’s happening to their loved ones, as well as shares advice on how to address these difficult conversations.

Guest: Tomás León, MD, psychiatrist, Memory and Neuropsychiatry Clinic, Hospital del Salvador, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI)

Read more about Dr. León’s children’s books and download copies of the Here’s Grandma! collection for free in English and Spanish on the Global Brain Health Institute’s website.

Learn more about Dr. León through his profile on the Global Brain Health Institute’s website.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: [email protected]

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.

The Research Education Component (REC) focuses on educating, mentoring and training the next generation of researchers at the over 30 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) across the United States, offering a range of fellowships, educational activities and events like the annual Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Research Day. In honor of this year’s ADRD Research Day, early career researchers Isa Hayde and Dr. Yang Yeh join the podcast to discuss how REC has impacted their research journeys, as well as share a preview of their lightning presentations.

Guests: Isa Hayde, undergraduate student, Clark Lab, and Yang Yeh, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Lamming Lab

Learn more about REC and the Wisconsin ADRC’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research Day on our website.

Listen to the podcast with Drs. Barb Bendlin and Tyler Ulland, “Gut Feelings: The Links Between Gut Health and Alzheimer’s Disease,” mentioned by Dr. Chin at 5:30, on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all other major podcast platforms.

Learn more about Dr. Yang Yeh and the Lamming Lab on the Lamming Lab website.

Learn more about Dr. Lindsay Clark’s lab on their website.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: [email protected]

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.

Early detection is a top priority in the field of Alzheimer’s research, and one indicator of Alzheimer’s disease is the buildup of tau in the brain. What is tau, though? How can we detect this protein, and what can it tell us about a person’s symptoms or disease progression? Dr. Gil Rabinovici, a leader in the field of brain imaging, joins Dementia Matters this week for an in-depth discussion on the role of tau PET scans in Alzheimer’s disease detection, research and clinical care.

Guest: Gil Rabinovici, MD, professor, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), director, UCSF Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, study chair, Imaging Dementia-Evidence for Amyloid Scanning (IDEAS) and New IDEAS studies, co-principal investigator, Alzheimer’s Network for Treatment and Diagnostics (ALZ-NET), Longitudinal Evaluation of Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS)

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 4/7/2026. After this date, you will no longer be able to access the course or claim credit.

Read “Criteria for Diagnosis and Staging of Alzheimer's Disease,” mentioned by Dr. Rabinovici at 18:43, on the Alzheimer’s Association’s website.

Listen to our past episode with Dr. David Wolk, “LATE, Explained,” mentioned by Dr. Rabinovici at 26:31 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and on our website.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: [email protected]

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.

Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia can be a complicated experience. While some experience relief at being able to put a name to their concerns, many worry about telling loved ones or being treated differently due to the stigma surrounding the word “dementia.” Mike Zuendel joins the podcast to share his experience of being diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease and how he’s pushing back against the stigma surrounding dementia. He also talks about how early detection and treatment have allowed him to lead a normal life with cognitive impairment.

Guest: Mike Zuendel, member, board of directors, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute Foundation, member, Alzheimer’s Patient Advisory Board, Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation, founder, Initiative to Change the D-Word, founder, CEO, Legacy Bridge Private Family Offices

Learn more about Mike Zuendel on his profile on the Initiative to Change the D-Word’s website.

Learn more about MCI by listening to other MCI-related episodes of Dementia Matters.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: [email protected]

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.

Holistic medicine, alternative medicine, complementary medicine – you may have heard these terms or seen them used online and wondered what they mean. Each term refers to the concept of integrative medicine, a comprehensive approach to healthcare that focuses on treating a person’s mind, body and spirit rather than addressing symptoms or a specific disease through a combination of medical treatments and other evidence-based therapies. By integrating practices like nutrition, mindfulness, supplements and other alternative therapies with traditional care, integrative medicine aims to promote overall wellness, enhance healing and improve quality of life, especially for individuals managing chronic conditions like dementia. Dr. David Rakel, a leader in integrative medicine, joins the podcast to share about how this holistic approach can help people experiencing memory change and how diet, mindset and lifestyle can play a crucial role in supporting brain health. 

Guest: David Rakel, MD, professor, chair, University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, founder, University of Wisconsin Osher Center for Integrative Health

Learn more information about the Healthy Living With Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) program and register for upcoming events by  visiting our website.

Learn more about Dr. Rakel from his profile on the UW Madison Department of Family Medicine and Community Health website.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: [email protected]

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 a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia can be challenging, with no two journeys being the same. Who better to turn to for caregiving support, tips and advice, then, than other caregivers who have been on similar paths? Steve O’Leary and Virginia Naeve join Dementia Matters to share their different experiences caring for their partner and parent respectively, their goal to help other caregivers on their journeys through their podcast Spotlight on Care and more.

Guests: Steve O’Leary, co-host, Spotlight on Care, member, leadership council, University of California, Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), and Virginia Naeve, co-host, Spotlight on Care, volunteer, UCI MIND

Listen to the Spotlight on Care podcast on the UCI MIND website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Read Virginia’s blog, A New Path for Mom, online.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: [email protected]

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.

Dementia diagnoses affect families in many different ways. One of the most challenging to navigate is that of younger-onset dementia (YOD), a form of dementia that affects someone below the age of 65. This diagnosis can be particularly jarring for young families, as resources, support and research for this form of dementia are limited. When Diana Cose’s husband Lorenzo received this diagnosis, she decided to change that by founding Lorenzo’s House, a nonprofit that supports families grappling with younger-onset dementia and works toward lessening the stigma surrounding it. Diana Cose joins the podcast with programs lead Patti LeFleur to share their experiences with younger-onset dementia and how Lorenzo’s House brings light in the darkness.

Guests: Diana Cose, founding executive director, Lorenzo’s House, Patti LeFleur, youth and lighthouse outreach lead, Lorenzo’s House

Learn more about Lorenzo’s House and their free programs on their website.

Follow Lorenzo’s House on their Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for updates and more information.

Learn about early-onset dementia, mentioned by Dr. Chin at 27:30, listen to our episode with Dr. Susanne Seeger, “Early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease: What to Know and What to Expect” on our website.

Learn more about the documentary on autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease, mentioned by Dr. Chin at 28:05, on CBS News’ website and watch the documentary on Paramount+.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: [email protected]

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.

What exactly does a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis mean, and what should you do after receiving one? Hearing this diagnosis from a doctor can bring up a lot of emotions and questions for individuals and family members. Jennifer McAlister joins Dementia Matters to offer advice for next steps after receiving an MCI diagnosis and share strategies and resources that have been successful for individuals she’s worked with over the course of her career.

Guest: Jennifer McAlister, outreach and partnerships manager, Outreach, Recruitment & Engagement Core, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Find Jen’s “Next Steps After Diagnosis” flowchart, mentioned at 41:22, on our website and as a PDF.

View and download a PDF of the decision-making tool, mentioned at 28:57, online.

Learn more about the Wisconsin ADRC’s Healthy Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) series on our website.

Watch the Healthy Living with MCI series on YouTube.

Learn more about MCI by listening to our past podcast episode, “Our Evolving Understanding of Mild Cognitive Impairment” on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: [email protected]

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.

While there are many kinds of dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, there’s one that researchers have only recently identified. LATE, or Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy, is a newly-characterized type of dementia associated with abnormal clumps of a protein called TDP-43. So, what exactly do we know about LATE? Dr. David Wolk joins the podcast to share what key features of LATE are, how it compares to Alzheimer’s disease and impacts treatment, and what next steps are needed to better understand this neurodegenerative disease.

Guest: David Wolk, MD, director, Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, co-director, Penn Memory Center, co-director, Penn Institute on Aging, chief, Division of Cognitive Neurology, professor of neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Learn more about LATE on the National Institute on Aging’s website and on Penn Memory Center’s website.

Read Dr. Wolk's article, "Clinical criteria for limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy," on the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia's website.

Learn more about Dr. Wolk in his profile on the Penn Memory Center website.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: [email protected]

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.