Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

02/25/2026

Stay informed, inspired and connected to the Wisconsin ADRC by reading the new edition of Headlines! 👉🏽 Check it out: mailchi.mp/medicine.wisc.edu/headlines-feb-march-2026
In this issue:
🧠 How the Healthy Living with MCI program is empowering participants across Wisconsin, and beyond
🧠 Register for our March 6 event: Unpacking Ultra-Processed Foods
🧠 Can managing four key conditions help slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s?
🧠 Meet the new WRAP study leader exploring gender differences in Alzheimer’s disease
…plus much more!

02/24/2026

🥪 Ultra-processed foods are a hot topic in the field of nutrition, but what are they and how do they impact our overall well-being? Dr. Beth Olson joins to explain what this term means, describe strategies for developing a balanced diet and share a preview of her upcoming Healthy Living with MCI talk. 🍝 Listen 🎧 go.wisc.edu/89jnmz

02/20/2026

🛒 🤔 Join us two weeks from today, on March 6, as Dr. Beth Olson joins us to share expert insights on how packaged and ultra‑processed foods affect health, and how food choices can support brain health and overall well‑being. This interactive program is free and open to everyone. Join on Zoom or at a nearby host site! 🔗 Save your spot today, visit adrc.wisc.edu/unpacking-ultra-processed-foods.

02/14/2026

💖 🧠 Show your brain some love with a round of Brain Health Bingo — simple changes can go a long way toward overall health and wellness. Download and print the game card, review the instructions and have fun! Visit: go.wisc.edu/o8299w.

02/10/2026

What if your heartbeat could help determine your dementia risk? ❤️ New research suggests it could. Dr. Newman Sze and Shakiru Alaka join to discuss how adding resting heart rate improved the accuracy of the CAIDE score across most racial groups and what this could mean for earlier, more equitable identification of dementia risk. Listen 🎧 go.wisc.edu/x75jx6

02/06/2026

🛒🤔 One month from today, on March 6, Dr. Beth Olson joins us to share expert insights on how packaged and ultra‑processed foods influence health outcomes, and how food choices can support brain health and overall well‑being. This interactive program is free and open to everyone. Join on Zoom or at a nearby host site! 🔗 Save your spot today, visit adrc.wisc.edu/unpacking-ultra-processed-foods.

Join us for the first installment of the 2026 Healthy Living with MCI education series to learn what ultra-processed foods are and explore why people who eat less of these packaged foods tend to have better health outcomes. Participants will gain confidence in making food choices that support their....

01/27/2026

Oftentimes Alzheimer’s disease isn’t the only health condition a person faces, so could treating these other concerns help slow cognitive decline? Dr. Barb Bendlin joins to discuss a recent study on how treating four common health conditions could slow Alzheimer’s progression. Listen 🎧 go.wisc.edu/8bu2wf

01/26/2026

What began as a resource for Wisconsinites is now reaching participants across the country and around the world. Visit the webpage to learn more and register to join us for the first installment of the 2026 Healthy Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) educational series on March 6.

The Healthy Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) educational program is drawing strong participation and positive feedback, connecting people across Wisconsin and beyond with science-backed education on brain health, Alzheimer’s disease prevention strategies and practical tools and resource...

01/22/2026

📢 Hot off the press! 🗞️ The first issue of ‘Headlines’ for 2026 is here! 👉 Read it now: go.wisc.edu/927534

Curious to learn what ultra-processed foods are, and why people who eat less of these packaged foods tend to have better health outcomes? Or what episodes of ‘Dementia Matters’ resonated most with our listeners last year? Maybe you’d like to get involved in a research study?

From helpful resources and upcoming events to open studies and more, this issue is packed with ways to stay connected and informed.

01/15/2026

🧠🚶‍♀️ We’ve all heard the “10,000 steps a day” rule, but does it actually matter for brain health? A new study explored how physical activity, specifically step count, impacted cognitive decline in people living with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Bri Breidenbach and Sarah Lose from the Okonkwo Lab at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health join the podcast to break down the study’s findings and discuss current research on physical activity and its impact on brain health and Alzheimer’s progression. 🎧 Listen at go.wisc.edu/qvz2v4.

01/08/2026

🎧 🎶 Older people who listen to music or play an instrument are linked to a significant reduction in dementia risk.

Older people who listen to music often may slash their risk of dementia by more than a third, according to a new study.

01/07/2026

A lack of regular interaction with others has been associated with higher rates of depression, a weakened immune system, heart disease and dementia. Recognize the risk factors for loneliness and social isolation to help reduce your risk — or a loved one’s — and learn more about the importance of social connection.

Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, surgeon general of the United States, released a report earlier this month that highlights loneliness as an urgent public health concern and calls attention to the importance of social connection.