Author: cbitner

A recent Wisconsin Watch article highlights the impact of the New Friends program at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, which pairs people living with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias to mentor University of Wisconsin–Madison students and help prepare them for careers in health care. Through regular meetings over the course of a semester, students gain …

In 2001, the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) hosted its very first study visit. Since then, the study has grown significantly to one of the world’s largest and longest-running studies of Alzheimer’s disease. On November 5, 2026, the WRAP team is celebrating the anniversary with a special gathering of researchers who have worked with …

A new study by researchers at Harvard University and presented at the 2026 Alzheimer's Association International Conference is generating news for its findings that a simple blood test may help predict future cognitive decline, paving the way for researchers to identify effective strategies for Alzheimer’s prevention. The study analyzed data from nearly 2,700 cognitively unimpaired adults across six international research cohorts, including participants from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention.

The book brings both Chin’s professional and personal experience to the forefront on the topic. When his father, also a physician, began experiencing memory changes and was later diagnosed with dementia, Chin became one of his caregivers. That experience shaped his approach to patient care and inspired him to create a resource for families facing similar uncertainty.

In a recent paper published in the journal Menopause, WRAP mPI Dr. Jessica Caldwell takes a close look at what happens to women’s brains during midlife; a time period that may be critical for long-term cognitive health.

For years, dementia care specialists across Wisconsin have worked closely with individuals and families navigating the realities of Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions. In their day-to-day roles—fielding calls, guiding clients, and coordinating services—they began noticing a shift: more people in their 40s and 50s were showing signs of dementia.

In a recent interview on the La Crosse, WI area radio station WIZM, Kimberly Mueller, PhD, CCC-SLP, shared updates on how Alzheimer’s disease is being detected earlier, and how a UW-Madison research study is helping lead those advances. Mueller is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and an investigator in the UW–Madison Alzheimer’s disease research programs. 

WAI associate director Sterling Johnson, PhD, is co-author of a forthcoming Policy View in the March issue of The Lancet Neurology. The paper offers recommendations in Alzheimer’s disease treatment and prevention, with important considerations for treatments in people who are cognitively unimpaired but at risk of future symptoms.  “We discuss the scientific, clinical, and policy implications of …

Dr. Green-Harris’ current work is advising NIH efforts to incorporate community advisory board input into national study guidelines. In addition to her work at WAI, Dr. Green-Harris is also co-director of the Center for Health Partnerships and director of the Just Research program at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.