Dementia Matters

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.

Training for Clinical Trials with the IMPACT-AD Program

Are you a researcher interested in getting involved in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) clinical trials? The Institute on Methods and Protocols for Advancement of Clinical Trials in ADRD, or IMPACT-AD, program brings investigators from around the world together for a week of professional development and education. IMPACT-AD co-directors Dr. Josh Grill and Dr. Rema Raman, as well as faculty member Dr. Maria Carrillo, join the podcast to explain what the program entails, their mission and more. Guests: Josh Grill, PhD, director, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, professor, University of California, Irvine (UCI), co-director, IMPACT-AD, Rema Raman, PhD, co-director, IMPACT-AD, director, Biostatistics Section and Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention Section, Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI), professor of neurology, University of Southern California (USC), and Maria Carrillo, PhD, chief science officer, medical affairs lead, Alzheimer’s Association, co-principal investigator, Alzheimer’s Network for Treatment and Diagnostics (ALZ-NET), co-principal investigator, Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS) Show Notes Learn more and apply for the 2026 IMPACT-AD program on their website [http://impact-ad.org].  Listen to our previous episode with Rema Raman, “Making an IMPACT: Advancing Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials Through Workforce Development and Inclusivity,” [http://adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters/making-impact-advancing-alzheimers-disease-clinical-trials-through-workforce] on our website, Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gO57Yw6b2aFKY8yHYwBCC?si=b27a35d1d7694d65], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-an-impact-advancing-alzheimers-disease/id1292353638?i=1000653677212] and wherever you listen. Listen to our previous episodes with Josh Grill, “The Case for Disclosing Biomarker Results to Alzheimer’s Research Participants” [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters/case-disclosing-biomarker-results-alzheimers-research-participants] and “Improving Registries and Representation in Alzheimer’s Disease Research” [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters/improving-registries-and-representation-alzheimers-disease-research] on our website. Read more about Dr. Raman in her USC Keck School of Medicine Profile [https://keck.usc.edu/faculty-search/rema-raman/]. Read more about Dr. Grill in his UCI faculty profile [https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=6201]. Read more about Dr. Carrillo on the Alzheimer’s Association website [https://www.alz.org/press/spokespeople/maria_c_carrillo_ph_d].  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.

How Ultra‑Processed Foods Impact Your Overall Health

Ultra-processed foods are a hot topic in the fields of health and nutrition, but what exactly are they and how do they impact our overall well-being? Dr. Beth Olson joins the podcast to explain what this term means, describe strategies for developing a balanced diet and share a preview of her upcoming Healthy Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) presentation, “Unpacking Ultra-Processed Foods.” Guest: Beth Olson, PhD, associate professor of nutritional sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison Show Notes Register and learn more about the upcoming Healthy Living with MCI event featuring Dr. Olson, happening on March 6, 2026, and future programs on our website [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/mci]. Learn more about Dr. Olson on her profile on the UW Department of Nutritional Sciences website [https://nutrisci.wisc.edu/beth-olson/]. 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.

On the Pulse: How Resting Heart Rate Improves a Dementia Risk Score’s Accuracy

What if your heartbeat could help determine your dementia risk? The CAIDE dementia risk score has long helped clinicians estimate midlife risk for dementia using cardiovascular health factors, but its accuracy hasn’t been equal across populations. New research suggests that integrating resting heart rate meaningfully improves predictive performance across most racial groups. In this interview, Dr. Newman Sze and Shakiru Alaka join us to dig into how and why resting heart rate enhances CAIDE’s accuracy, what the data shows across different racial groups, and what this could mean for earlier, more equitable identification of dementia risk in both research and clinical settings. Guests: Newman Sze, PhD, professor of health sciences, Brock University, Canada Research Chair in Mechanisms of Health and Disease, and Shakiru Alaka, MS, senior analyst, Canadian Institute for Health Information, data scientist, Western University Show Notes Read Shakiru and Dr. Sze’s study, “Enhancing the validity of CAIDE dementia risk scores with resting heart rate and machine learning: An analysis from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center across all races/ethnicities [https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.70442],” published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia online. Learn more about Shakiru and Dr. Sze’s research from this article on the Brock University website [https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2025/08/brock-led-research-drives-breakthrough-in-predicting-dementia-risk/]. Learn more about Dr. Sze and his research from his bio on the Brock University website [https://brocku.ca/applied-health-sciences/health-sciences/faculty-research/faculty-directory/newman-sze/]. Look into more of Shakiru’s research from his Google Scholar page [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6oKI8WwAAAAJ&hl=en]. 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.