Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute

12/23/2025

For many older adults, the holidays can be a lonely time. And since research has shown loneliness and social isolation are a risk factor for dementia, combatting that loneliness is important for healthy aging. The National Council on Aging has four tips for seniors to stay more connected with loved ones during the holiday season:

1. Make communication a priority
2. Encourage and facilitate social acitivities through local organizations
3. Explore hobbies and other areas of interest
4. Identify opportunities to combat loneliness at any time

Read the full NCOA toolkit with tips for seniors to decrease loneliness here:

Loneliness can cause depression and other mental health declines. Use these 4 tips for staying connected with loved ones during this holiday season.

12/19/2025

🧀 Could cheese be good for your brain?

A new Swedish study suggests that people who regularly eat high-fat cheese and cream may have a lower risk of dementia. Dr. Cynthia Carlsson, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute Director, shared her thoughts on the study with Everyday Health.

“We have to put the potential benefits in context of overall lifestyle," she said. "I wouldn’t necessarily make any quick diet changes and start eating more high-fat cheese, but the study shows these foods may not have as many negative effects as we thought.”

With the holidays here, it’s nice to know a little indulgence might not be all bad, but as with so many things in life, balance is key.

Read the full interview and find a link to the study here: https://wai.wisc.edu/2025/12/19/dr-cynthia-carlsson-discusses-swedish-study-about-cheese-and-brain-health/

12/09/2025

Hooray! There's a new chance to sing along with The Amazing Grace Chorus this holiday season. Saturday, 12/13 join in for a holiday celebration for families impacted by dementia. The chorus will perform at 12:30 p.m.

12/05/2025

Important Update: The Dec. 6 holiday concert at Southridge mall in Greendale is canceled. We are so sorry for any inconvenience.

Our Amazing Grace Chorus invites you to join them for events during their upcoming season, Hope Sings, February 7 through May 2, 2026.

12/01/2025

🎉🎉Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute is excited to welcome Jessica Caldwell, PhD, to our team. Dr. Caldwell joins us as multiple principal investigator of the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention study and a visiting associate professor in the Department of Neurology.

Dr. Caldwell is a neuropsychologist with profound expertise in dementia prevention and a research focus in understanding why women face higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, given that more than two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease are women. Read more about her work on our news page: https://wai.wisc.edu/2025/11/18/dr-jessica-caldwell-explores-gender-differences-in-alzheimers-disease-as-new-wrap-study-leader/

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Caldwell as she helps lead WRAP into its next chapter.

11/26/2025

🦃Thanksgiving Tips for Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregivers🦃

Thanksgiving can be both heartwarming and overwhelming when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. This infographic from the NIH National Institute on Aging can help make one of the biggest meals of the year a bit more easy for your loved one to enjoy. Here's more holiday caregiving tips from NIH:

🍂 Keep Traditions Simple & Familiar
Focus on small, meaningful rituals, like baking cookies or decorating together, rather than complicated or stressful activities. You can also try to involve your loved one in easy holiday tasks like folding napkins, stirring ingredients, or hanging lightweight décor.

🌿 Set Gentle Limits & Keep Routines
Scale back celebrations: invite fewer guests, simplify décor, and plan activities that fit your needs. Try to stick to usual meal times, rest routines, and medication schedules to reduce confusion and stress.

🛋️ Create a Quiet Retreat
Designate a calm space with soft lighting, comfy seating, and familiar items—or photo albums—for breaks or naps when needed.

📞 Prepare Guests
Contact visitors ahead of time and share tips to reduce distress: speak slowly, be patient, and avoid correcting mistakes.

📸 Familiarize with Photos or Calls
Show pictures of guests or help your loved one have a brief phone/video chat beforehand. These small steps can ease anxiety when guests arrive.

💗 Take Care of You, Too
We know it's hard to do, but try to remember caregivers need care, too. Take short breaks, ask for help, and look for ways to accept support from friends and family.

11/20/2025

Sharing Science with the People Who Make It Possible:
That’s the heart of the WRAP study.

Since 2001, WRAP participants have been helping us unlock discoveries about brain health and aging. Some of you have been with us since the very beginning—thank you!

This year, we hosted **five WRAP Info Sessions** across Wisconsin—in Milwaukee, La Crosse, Neenah, and Madison—bringing research updates closer to you and giving our researchers a chance to connect with participants outside the lab.

Sharing data and findings with our research participants is a core value of the WRAP study team. These events remind us how much we value YOU. Your commitment drives discoveries that matter.

Missed the Info Sessions? Catch the Milwaukee recording here: https://wrap.wisc.edu/infosessions/

To every WRAP participant: thank you for making this work possible. 💙

11/10/2025

Register today! A Badger Talk about caregiving in Baraboo, WI hosted by Aging and Disability Resource Center of Sauk County on Nov. 15.

While caring for someone with Alzheimer's or dementia, how can you care for yourself?

Discover answers on November 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM at the Caregiver Boot Camp hosted by the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Sauk County. Learn from presenter Jody Krainer, Dementia Diagnostic Clinic Network Manager (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute). To register, call 608-355-3289.

More info: https://hubs.li/Q03QyHJz0

11/04/2025

Dr. Maria Mora Pinzon joined Telemundo Wisconsin at the start of Alzheimer's Awareness Month to share eye-opening research: Latino individuals often show signs of dementia 7 years earlier than others—but are the least likely to be told they have it.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (TELEMUNDO WISCONSIN) — Noviembre es el mes de concientización sobre el Alzheimer, y en el segmento de hoy hablamos sobre señales, prevención y por qué muchos pacientes latinos tienen

10/19/2025

The always amazing Amazing Grace Chorus will perform a community concert on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Oak Park Place in Oak Creek, WI. Sing along with them & celebrate their Jubilant Sounds of Fall season.

10/17/2025

Here’s a great no-cost & online opportunity for health professionals and caregivers.

Connect with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) experts at the 2025 Dr. Daniel I. Kaufer Lecture on Tuesday, October 28. Learn more and register to join us in person or online via Zoom at adrc.wisc.edu/kauferlecture. The program is free and open to all.

This year's event is designed for ADRD researchers and professionals working in dementia care, including memory care providers, neuropsychologists, nurses and social workers, as well as community members, care partners and trainees.

10/15/2025

We appreciate this reminder that Drug Take Back Day is coming Oct. 25.

Fall is the perfect time to tidy up your medicine cabinet.
You may want to cross that off your list this weekend. Then, on October 25, dispose of your unused and expired medications at one of more than 100 collection sites statewide.
➡ Get details: dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/drug-take-back-day.htm