Dementia Matters

Early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease: What to Know and What to Expect

People diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease before the age of 65 are said to have early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. While this diagnosis is rare, the condition is very serious for the patient and their loved ones. Our guest helps define the disease and its symptoms, walks listeners through a diagnosis, and points to unique considerations for patients and their caregivers. Guest: Susanne Seeger, MD, associate professor (clinical) of neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health 

Key Moments:

• Defining early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and its symptoms: 0:58
• Differentiating vascular and frontotemporal dementia from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease: 7:19
• Most common memory and thinking complaints: 9:27
• Diagnosing early-onset Alzheimer’s disease: 11:15
• Issues people face after an early-onset Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis: 12:50
• Where to go for help after a diagnosis: 14:35
• Genetic considerations for patients and family members: 19:36

Palliative Care and Hospice Conversations for Dementia Patients, Families and Caregivers

A common concern for families and dementia caregivers is when to start talking about palliative care and hospice with and for their loved ones with dementia. Our guest, Dr. Kate Schueller, recommends these conversations happen soon after a diagnosis, when the dementia patient can still be involved in planning their care. This episode talks about the difference between palliative care and hospice, the right time to initiative services, and other considerations for patients, families, and caregivers. Guest: Dr. Kate Schueller, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Key Moments:

• The difference between palliative care and hospice: 0:50
• How palliative care helps dementia: 4:49
• Further steps for families: 10:17
• What palliative care and hospice offer for grief: 16:07

Building the Brain: Finding the Cognitive Benefits of Physical Activity

To many people, exercise can seem like an uncertain and intimidating new world. The confusing marketing around it can make it hard to find a healthy, sustainable exercise plan. But it's important for people to fit movement into their lives because a growing body of research is showing the positive effects that physical activity can have on your brain. Our guests Sarah Lose and Max Gaitan, research specialists and exercise physiologists, discuss building cognitive resilience, defining physical activity, and researching exercise and its links with brain health. Guests: Sarah Lose, Max Gaitan, Research Specialists and Exercise Physiologists, Okonkwo Lab, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison

“Overall, what our lab has found, is that physical activity and fitness can diminish or dampen both the effects of age and a genetic risk, or predisposition, to developing Alzheimer's disease." - Sarah Lose (9:57)

Key Moments:

• Clarifying the terms in exercise research: 1:21
• Defining and understanding cognitive resilience: 4:29
• Can physical activity help memory? 7:20
• The future for exercise research: 12:22
• Tips on exercise and staying healthy: 15:54

 

When Good Becomes Bad: Researching the Impact of Neuroinflammation

Inflammation is a common response throughout the body that fights injury and infection and works to rebuild cells after damage. Inflammation works the same way in the brain, but sometimes the inflammatory response meets damage it can’t manage and becomes dysregulated. Our guest Dr. Linda Van Eldik discusses her research into the connections between neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, and how this research can help inform the medical community about drug-based treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.  Guest: Dr. Linda Van Eldik, Director, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging

The Power of Disclosure: How Explaining Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Impacts Life Afterward

In the advancing field of dementia research, the rise in genetic and biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s disease creates a need for conversations around how to disclose disease risk to research participants who may be years away from experiencing the symptoms of the disease. Guest Dr. Shana Stites discusses her research that examines public perception of the disease, associated stigma and discrimination, and how the research and medical communities can support people who learn about their Alzheimer’s disease risk profile. Guest: Shana D. Stites, PsyD, MS, Penn Memory Center, University of Pennsylvania Health System

Simple Steps to Reduce Fall Risk among Older Adults

Falls are the leading injury related cause of emergency room visits, and people with dementia experience falls at about twice the rate of other older adults. But falls are not an inevitable part of aging, and balance and strength training have been proven to reduce fall risk. Our guest joins us to talk about fall risk in older adults and steps patients and caregivers can take to help reduce falls. Guest: Barbara Fischer, PhD, neuropsychologist at the Milo C. Huempfner VA Heath Care Clinic

The Evolving Definition of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease researchers are developing new techniques for identifying the disease much earlier than was possible in the past. This requires patients, families, and the medical community to talk about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in different ways. Our guest Dr. Jason Karlawish joins us to discuss the evolving definitions of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as well as the ethical and social issues people with dementia face. Guest: Dr. Jason Karlawish, Penn Memory Center, Professor of Medicine, Medical Ethics and Health Policy, and Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania

Telemedicine Reduces Emergency Room Visits for Dementia Patients

A visit to the Emergency Department can be stressful and disorienting for a person with dementia, and oftentimes unnecessary. Dr. Manish Shah discusses his research into programs that reduce Emergency Room visits for dementia patients. Guest: Dr. Manish Shah, professor at UW School of Medicine and Public Health and Co-Leader of the Care Research Core at the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

Safety Tips for the Aging Driver

Dr. Chin talks with our guest about safety tips for aging drivers, caregiver considerations, and information on classes offered through AARP's Driver Safety Program. Guest: Neil McCallum, Wisconsin State Coordinator of AARP’s Driver Safety Program

A Guide to Developing Mind-Body Skills for Improved Brain Health and Wellness

Learn how to increase positivity, nurture mindfullness, and combat loneliness to improve overall health and wellness. Guest: Dr. Shilagh A. Mirgain, PhD, Distinguished Psychologist with the University of Wisconsin Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation/UW Health