Addressing Cochrane’s Review on Amyloid-Targeting Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease

Addressing Cochrane’s Review on Amyloid-Targeting Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease

Amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibody treatments have ushered in a new era of Alzheimer’s disease therapies after decades of research and clinical trials. A recent review published by Cochrane, a global, independent, non-profit network of researchers, professionals, patients and carers regarded as a gold standard for producing and promoting trusted, high-quality health information, has a different perspective on these therapies. The review found these treatments produce “little to no difference” in cognition and offer few benefits while increasing risks for adverse effects. Drs. Cynthia Carlsson, a clinical trialist, David Wolk, a clinician, and Henrik Zetterberg, a biomarker and disease biology expert, join the podcast to break down the review and their concerns, as well as highlight how this review could impact clinical care, research and public policy. Guests: Cynthia Carlsson, MD, MS, director, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, Clinical Core leader, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), Louis A. Holland, Sr., Professor in Alzheimer’s Disease, geriatrician, University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health; David Wolk, MD, director, Penn ADRC, co-director, Penn Memory Center, co-director, Penn Institute on Aging, professor of neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; and Henrik Zetterberg, MD, PhD, professor of neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, visiting professor, UW–Madison and University College London, Biomarker Core co-leader, Wisconsin ADRC Show Notes Read Cochrane’s review, “Amyloid‐beta‐targeting monoclonal antibodies for people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease [https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD016297/full],” on the Cochrane Library website. Learn more about Dr. Carlsson [https://adrc.wisc.edu/cynthia-carlsson-md-ms] and Dr. Zetterberg [https://adrc.wisc.edu/henrik-zetterberg-md-phd] at their profiles on the Wisconsin ADRC website and about Dr. Wolk [https://pennmemorycenter.org/who-we-are/staff/david-wolk-md/] at his profile on the Penn Memory Center website. Watch and listen to Dr. Carlsson’s past episode, “A Closer Look at the Lecanemab Clinical Trials,” on our YouTube channel [https://youtu.be/ZPWgVaKKVJo] or on our website [https://adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters/closer-look-lecanemab-clinical-trials]. Listen to Dr. Wolk’s past episode, “LATE, Explained [https://adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters/late-explained],” on our website. Listen to Dr. Zetterberg’s past episode, “The Future of Fluid Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias [https://adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters/future-fluid-biomarkers-alzheimers-disease-and-related-dementias],” 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 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.

What to Expect from ‘When Memory Fades’ with Drs. Art Walaszek and Nathaniel Chin

Guest host Dr. Art Walaszek takes over the podcast to interview Dr. Chin about his upcoming book, When Memory Fades. In addition to discussing the importance of dementia research and other clinical topics covered in the book, Dr. Chin shares what drew him to write When Memory Fades, what the writing process was like, and what he hopes readers take away from his story. Guest host: Art Walaszek, MD, geriatric psychiatrist, professor, vice chair for education and faculty development, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Show Notes 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. Learn more about Dr. Chin's book at his upcoming event with Mystery to Me  [https://mysterytomebooks.com/events/5409020260603]bookstore [https://mysterytomebooks.com/events/5409020260603] on June 3, 2026. RSVP to attend in person or watch via livestream. Learn more about Dr. Walaszek at his profile on the Wisconsin ADRC website [https://adrc.wisc.edu/art-walaszek-md]. Find an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center near you on the National Institutes on Aging (NIA) website [https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/clinical-trials-and-studies/find-alzheimers-disease-research-center], and find clinical trials at clinicaltrials.gov [http://clinicaltrials.gov]. 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.

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.