Dementia Matters

Receiving a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia can be an emotional and challenging experience. How can meditative practices support those living with MCI? Buddhist chaplain Sharon Lukert wrote her book, Until My Memory Fails Me, with the goal of sharing mindfulness and spiritual practices that have helped her since being diagnosed with MCI in 2021. She joins the podcast to share how her spirituality has impacted her journey to a diagnosis as well as strategies on navigating emotional struggles and building community for those living with MCI. Guest: Sharon Lukert, author, Buddhist chaplain Show Notes Learn more about Sharon Lukert and her book, Until My Memory Fails Me, on her website. [https://www.sharonlukert.com/] Register for the Wisconsin ADRC’s Healthy Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment education series on our website. [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/mci] Learn about the Wisconsin ADRC’s involvement in the development of new blood tests, mentioned by Mrs. Lukert at 12:50, on our website [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/news/uw-madison-research-helps-launch-first-fda-cleared-blood-test-alzheimers]. Interested in hearing more about what it’s like being involved in Alzheimer’s disease research? Listen to the Dementia Matters four-part series, “Voices of Research Participants,” on our website and wherever you listen [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/news/Dementia_Matters_VORP]. 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.

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is one of the most common causes of dementia in individuals under the age of 60, yet it remains lesser known and often misunderstood. From the early symptoms to the challenges of diagnosis and treatment, FTLD presents unique hurdles for clinicians, researchers and families alike. Joining the podcast to discuss this complex disease is Dr. Brad Boeve, principal investigator of the ALLFTD study, a major national research effort aimed at identifying biomarkers and clinical tools to improve early detection of FTLD and prepare for future treatment trials.  Guest: Brad Boeve, MD, neurologist, Department of Neurology and Center for Sleep Medicine, professor of neurology, Division of Behavioral Neurology, Mayo Clinic, co-director, Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, principal investigator, ARTFL-LEFFTDS Longitudinal Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ALLFTD) research study 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://www.adrc.wisc.edu/sites/default/files/2025-08/ICEP%20Accreditation%20Information%20-%20Boeve%20Episode%20%281%29.pdf] and on the UW–Madison Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (ICEP) website [https://ce.icep.wisc.edu/]. The accreditation for this course expires 8/12/2026. After this date, you will no longer be able to access the course or claim credit. Learn more about Dr. Boeve and his research at his profile on the Mayo Clinic website [https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/boeve-bradley-f-m-d/bio-00083427].  Listen to our episode with Dr. Wolk, “LATE, Explained [https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters/late-explained],” mentioned by Dr. Chin at 10:12 on our website. Visit the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) website [https://www.theaftd.org/], mentioned by Dr. Boeve at 21:59. Visit the CurePSP website [https://www.psp.org/] mentioned by Dr. Boeve at 22:21. 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.

Smartphones and technology are ubiquitous in nearly every aspect of our lives, but is technology helping or hurting us when it comes to memory and cognition? Dr. Jared Benge, neuropsychologist and associate professor from the University of Texas at Austin, joins the podcast to discuss his research into how technology and smartphone use impacts the brain, how digital technology can be used to help individuals with cognitive impairment and what his findings mean for the future. Guest: Jared Benge, PhD, ABPP, clinical neuropsychologist, Comprehensive Memory Center, UT Health Austin, associate professor, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin Show Notes Read Dr. Benge’s article, “A meta-analysis of technology use and cognitive aging,” [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-025-02159-9] on the journal Nature’s website. Learn more about Dr. Benge at his profile on UT Health Austin’s website. [https://uthealthaustin.org/directory/jared-benge] Read Dr. Benge’s study on the use of smartphone technology to improve prospective memory functioning at the Journal of American Geriatrics Society. [https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.17551] Dementia Matters is nominated for the 2025 Podcast Awards in the Science and Medicine and People’s Choice categories. Register and vote online before July 31 to support our podcast [http://www.podcastawards.com]. 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.

What is the current impact of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias on the United States? To best understand its significance in 2025, we can turn to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, a comprehensive resource that highlights the effect of Alzheimer’s on individuals, care partners, health care professionals and more. Dr. Heather Snyder from the Alzheimer’s Association joins the podcast to discuss key trends and findings from this year’s report, including insights from their special report on Americans’ attitudes toward early detection and new monoclonal antibody treatments. Guest: Heather Snyder, PhD, senior vice president, medical & scientific relations, Alzheimer’s Association Show Notes Read the 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report and special report [https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures] from the Alzheimer’s Association on their website. Download and print the 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures infographic [https://www.alz.org/getmedia/5faf0a0b-d4e8-4a94-a988-b3408c9adb90/alzheimers-facts-and-figures-infographic.pdf] on their website. Read about Dr. Snyder on her profile on the Alzheimer’s Association website [https://www.alz.org/press/spokespeople/heather_m_snyder_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.

How much does it cost to live with dementia in the United States? The hidden costs are often overlooked, but these numbers and trends are important to understand in order to inform the public and effectively allocate resources. Dr. Julie Zissimopoulos leads The United States Cost of Dementia Project, where they recently published a report on the total cost of dementia in 2025. Dr. Zissimopoulos joins the podcast to discuss the report’s findings and analyze what this means for patients and families, as well as for public policy, in the future. Guest: Julie Zissimopoulos, PhD, professor, Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California (USC), co-lead, United States Cost of Dementia Project, co-director, Aging and Cognition Research Program, USC Schaeffer Center, director, Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (USC AD/ADRDRCMAR), Center for Advancing Sociodemographic and Economic Study of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (CeAES-ADRD) Show Notes Learn more about Dr. Julie Zissimopoulos at her profile on the USC Schaeffer Center’s website. [https://schaeffer.usc.edu/people/julie-zissimopoulos-ph-d/] Read “The Cost of Dementia in 2025 [https://schaeffer.usc.edu/research/the-cost-of-dementia-in-2025/]” report on the USC Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service website. Learn more about the United States Cost of Dementia Project on their website [https://schaeffer.usc.edu/cost-of-dementia-model/]. Read about new Wisconsin legislation that seeks to help those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers in the article, “How a bill in the Wisconsin Legislature seeks to help Alzheimer's caregivers [https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/26/wisconsin-legislation-seeks-to-help-alzheimers-caregivers/84359652007/]” by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 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.