New Study Examines the Effects of Food Insecurity on Dementia Risk

New Study Examines the Effects of Food Insecurity on Dementia Risk

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 [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2839287],” 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 [https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/heejin-lee/]. Read the Household Food Security report, "Household Food Security in the United States in 2024 [https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details?pubid=113622]," 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 [https://adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters/how-ultra-processed-foods-impact-your-overall-health],” mentioned at 11:00, on our website, Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4l4MbAL5RaYQXhhDX75ZXY?si=093eec796d584a15], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-ultra-processed-foods-impact-your-overall-health/id1292353638?i=1000751183384] or wherever you listen. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters]. Email Dementia Matters [dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu]: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wisconsinadrc] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/WisconsinADRC]. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/newsletter]. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s [https://supportuw.org/giveto/dementiamatters]. 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 [https://read.macmillan.com/lp/when-memory-fades-9781250400857/], out June 2, 2026.

The Importance of Early Dementia Detection and Diagnosis

Many adults are diagnosed with dementia at later stages or not diagnosed at all, despite how critical early detection is. Why is this the case? Dr. Chin discusses a recent article that highlights some key reasons for this trend and shares an exciting announcement. Show Notes Read the article Dr. Chin mentions, “Implementing early detection of cognitive impairment in primary care to improve care for older adults [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12159721/],” on the National Library of Medicine’s website. 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 [https://read.macmillan.com/lp/when-memory-fades-9781250400857/], out June 2, 2026. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters]. Email Dementia Matters [dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu]: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wisconsinadrc] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/WisconsinADRC]. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/newsletter]. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s [https://supportuw.org/giveto/dementiamatters]. All donations go toward outreach and production.

Unpacking the U.S. POINTER Study

The U.S. POINTER study is one of the first large-scale, randomized controlled clinical trials to focus on how lifestyle interventions impact dementia risk and cognitive decline. On a special bonus episode of Dementia Matters, Dr. Laura Baker joins the podcast to explain how the clinical trial came to be, what it found and what the next chapter of lifestyle intervention research and clinical trials looks like. Guest: Laura Baker, PhD, professor, Gerontology and Geriatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, principal investigator, U.S. POINTER Study Show Notes Learn more about the U.S. POINTER Study on the Alzheimer’s Association website [https://www.alz.org/us-pointer]. Learn more and register [https://www.alz.org/wi/events/2026-wisconsin-state-conference] for the Alzheimer’s Association Wisconsin State Conference, happening May 19-20 in Wisconsin Dells, by April 17, 2026 on their website. Learn more about prevention strategies and the six pillars of brain health [https://adrc.wisc.edu/prevention] on our website. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters]. Email Dementia Matters [dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu]: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wisconsinadrc] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/WisconsinADRC]. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/newsletter]. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s [https://supportuw.org/giveto/dementiamatters]. 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 [https://read.macmillan.com/lp/when-memory-fades-9781250400857/], out June 2, 2026.

Navigating Difficult Conversations about Driving and Dementia

Driving can be a sensitive topic as a person gets older, and especially so when someone begins experiencing cognitive decline or is diagnosed with dementia. How can family members and care partners discuss their concerns about a loved one’s ability to drive while still respecting their dignity, autonomy and independence? Dr. KJ Hansmann joins the podcast to share strategies for how to talk about a loved one’s driving habits and how to plan to help them stop driving as they navigate cognitive decline, as well as what signs to look out for when assessing their ability to drive and what resources are available for both those living with cognitive decline and their care partners. Guest: KJ Hansmann, MD, PhD, MPH, family medicine doctor, UW Health, assistant professor, department of family and community health, UW School of Medicine and Public Health, principal investigator, Driving Connections Lab Show Notes Read Dr. Hansmann’s article, “Dementia and driving: A scoping review of family caregiver involvement in driving cessation research [https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.71258],” online through the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.  Learn more about Plan for the Road Ahead, mentioned by Dr. Hansmann at 29:48, on their website [https://planfortheroadahead.com/]. Find conversation guides and other resources for discussing driving with dementia on the Alzheimer’s Association website [https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/safety/dementia-driving] and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America website [https://alzfdn.org/difficult-driving-conversation/]. Learn more about your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) [https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/adrc/index.htm] or Area Agency on Aging (AAA) [https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/area-agencies-aging], mentioned by Dr. Hansmann at 30:10, on their websites. Learn more about Dr. Hansmann [https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/directory/18010/] and the Driving Connections Lab [https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/driving-connections/] at the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health website  Listen to our past episode on driving, “Aging Behind the Wheel: How Driving Behavior Can Identify Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease [https://adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters/aging-behind-wheel-how-driving-behavior-can-identify-preclinical-alzheimers],” on our website, Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/73X6yQrOnY0fMKrMwIfKsP?si=9c648c603bbf4b6a], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-behind-the-wheel-how-driving-behavior-can/id1292353638?i=1000543496163] or wherever you listen. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters]. Email Dementia Matters [dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu]: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wisconsinadrc] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/WisconsinADRC]. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/newsletter]. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s [https://supportuw.org/giveto/dementiamatters]. 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 [https://read.macmillan.com/lp/when-memory-fades-9781250400857/], out June 2, 2026.

The Role of Social Work in Dementia Care

People with dementia and their families see many different doctors and health care providers following a diagnosis. Some may be surprised to know that social workers play a role in dementia care as well. Jeni Synnes, a social worker at UW Health, joins the podcast to explain her role in a memory clinic, the support social workers provide for families and care partners, and what people should know before and after a memory assessment. Guest: Jeni Synnes, MSSW, LCSW, social worker, UW Health 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 [https://adrc.wisc.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/ICEP%20Accreditation%20Information%20-%20Synnes%20Episode.pdf] and on the UW–Madison Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (ICEP) website [https://ce.icep.wisc.edu/dementiamatters2026/social-work]. The accreditation for this course expires 3/23/2027. After this date, you will no longer be able to access the course or claim credit. Learn more about the Aging and Disability Resource Centers on the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website [https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/adrc/index.htm]. Connect with us Find transcripts and more at our website [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters]. Email Dementia Matters [dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu]: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wisconsinadrc] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/WisconsinADRC]. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/newsletter]. Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s [https://supportuw.org/giveto/dementiamatters]. 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 [https://read.macmillan.com/lp/when-memory-fades-9781250400857/], out June 2, 2026.