Diet, Exercise and Lifestyle Episodes
Did you know that physical health plays a role in brain health and cognition? Listen to these episodes to learn more about how diet, exercise and lifestyle factors affect the brain.
“What’s really neat about that is the very lifestyle factors that make [lowering one’s risk of Alzheimer’s and slowing the rate of cognitive aging] possible also just so happen to be lifestyle factors that increase well-being and happiness. It’s like this really incredible home run. It’s this synergistic effect that people experience.”
-
SPRINT to a Healthy Mind: How Blood Pressure Control Affects Brain Health and Dementia Risk
Geriatrician Dr. Mark Supiano joins the podcast to discuss the connection between heart and brain health. Citing multiple clinical trials, he breaks down what these studies and their findings mean for blood pressure management’s effect on cognitive decline and how they directly…
-
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…
-
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?…
-
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…
-
Could Managing Four Common Health Conditions Slow Cognitive Decline from Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease isn’t always the only health condition a person faces, so how does treating other diseases impact the progression of Alzheimer’s? Researchers at the University of Arizona focused on four common health conditions – type two diabetes, hypertension, inflammation and dyslipidemia…
-
Taking Steps to Slow Decline: New Study Examines the Role of Physical Activity on Alzheimer’s Progression
10,000 – that’s the magic number of steps often recommended for a healthy lifestyle. With recent research looking into whether that number is an accurate benchmark for health, could the number of steps taken per day have an impact on brain health…
-
Harnessing Habits: The Power of Routines on the Brain
Everyone has habits. Some are beneficial for brain health while others are less so, but it turns out that habits as simple as brushing your teeth at the same time each morning can help your brain adapt to changes from cognitive impairment.…
-
A Pathway to Wellness: The Benefits of Integrative Medicine on Brain Health
Holistic medicine, alternative medicine, complementary medicine – you may have heard these terms or seen them used online and wondered what they mean. Each term refers to the concept of integrative medicine, a comprehensive approach to healthcare that focuses on treating a person’s…
-
Catch Some Zzz’s: The Cognitive Benefits of Quality Sleep
If you get the recommended eight hours of sleep per night, you spend a third of your life asleep. Why dedicate so much time to sleeping, and how can one get the most out of those eight hours? In this episode, Dr.…
-
Gut Feelings: The Links Between Gut Health and Alzheimer’s Disease
An expanding field of research is looking at how the gut affects different parts of people’s health, but how does it affect brain health? Drs. Barb Bendlin and Tyler Ulland join the podcast to talk about their 2023 study, which suggests a…
-
Reviewing the Six Pillars of Brain Health
In this compendium episode, we review some of the best information and research that we’ve shared on the six pillars of brain health. With excerpts highlighting the importance of physical activity, diet, sleep, social engagement and more, our six guests show that…
-
Do Non-Medicinal Interventions Reduce Dementia Risk? Studies are Inconclusive, Here’s Why
In 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a report showing promising but inconclusive evidence suggesting that interventions like cognitive training, blood pressure control and increased physical activity reduce a person’s risk for dementia, but what does the research…
-
Crosswords or Computers: Which is Better for Cognitive Engagement?
Cognitive engagement is vital to keeping your brain healthy since it can slow shrinkage and induce neuroplasticity. While modern technology offers many new tools and games to keep your brain active, are they better than traditional puzzles like crosswords? Dr. Murali Doraiswamy…
-
Take Care of Your MIND: Reviewing the MIND Diet for Healthy Brain Aging
To mark National Mediterranean Diet Month, Dr. Nathaniel Chin discusses a recent National Institute on Aging-funded study that suggests the MIND and Mediterranean diets — both rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, beans and fish — are associated with fewer…
-
Healthy Habits for the New Year and Modifiable Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease
Host Nathaniel Chin, MD, starts the new year by discussing modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, commenting on building healthy lifestyle habits for the new year, and reflecting as Dementia Matters celebrates five years of production.
-
Alcohol and the Brain: One Drink a Day Associated with Brain Shrinkage
There are many conflicting studies on how alcohol consumption can impact a person’s health, with some studies suggesting light drinking can protect against coronary heart disease and others concluding that drinking can increase your risk for cancer. What does research say about…
-
You Are What You Eat: Study of Diet and Brain Health Shows Cognitive Benefits from Cheese, Wine and Lamb
A recent study of nearly 1,800 participants from the UK Biobank found that three dietary elements — cheese, wine, and lamb — may improve long-term cognitive outcomes in aging adults. Dr. Auriel Willette, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition at…
-
Better Now than Never: Quit Smoking to Reduce Your Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
Researchers have produced many studies on how smoking affects parts of the body, such as the lungs or heart, but what about the brain? In today’s podcast, Adrienne Johnson, PhD, discusses her research on cigarette smoking and risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s…
-
Dentistry and Dementia: The Importance of Caring for Oral Health
Elisa Ghezzi, DDS, PhD, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of maintaining oral health throughout one’s life, and especially as one grows older. Discussing the effects of oral health on our systemic health, oral health’s connection to dysphagia, and how caregivers…
-
How to Shape Your Brain Health and Reduce Your Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease
Neuropsychologist and author Michelle Braun, PhD, joins the podcast to talk about lifestyle changes that can support brain health. “We have the ability to make our brain younger than our chronological age,” she says. Braun shares how and details strategies from her…
-
Intermittent Fasting and Its Effects on the Brain
As intermittent fasting has risen in popularity over the last decade, researchers have been exploring its long-term effects on physical health. Dr. Mark Mattson joins to discuss his research on metabolic switching, caloric restrictions, and the cognitive benefits from intermittent fasting. Guest:…
-
Research Update: Aerobic Exercise and Brain Health
Aerobic exercise is often a recommendation for maintaining cognitive well-being, however its true connections to brain health are still being investigated to learn its effects on Alzheimer’s disease. Wisconsin ADRC exercise physiologist and researcher Max Gaitán joins the podcast to discuss the recent pilot study…
-
Exercise Your Mind: Cognitively Stimulating Activities and Social Engagement
Our guest, Dr. Kimberly Mueller, joins us to discuss cognitively stimulating activities and the impact of social engagement on brain health. Guest: Kimberly Mueller, PhD, CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison
-
Building the Brain: Finding the Cognitive Benefits of Physical Activity
To many people, exercise can seem like an uncertain and intimidating new world. The confusing marketing around it can make it hard to find a healthy, sustainable exercise plan. But it’s important for people to fit movement into their lives because a…
-
A Guide to Developing Mind-Body Skills for Improved Brain Health and Wellness
Learn how to increase positivity, nurture mindfullness, and combat loneliness to improve overall health and wellness. Guest: Dr. Shilagh A. Mirgain, PhD, Distinguished Psychologist with the University of Wisconsin Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation/UW Health
-
Finding the Link Between High Blood Pressure and Dementia
Preventive cardiologist Dr. Heather Johnson joins us this week to discuss how keeping a healthy cardiovascular system can reduce chances of developing dementia. She also discusses her MyHEART study, which aims to help young adults live heart-healthy lives. Guest: Dr. Heather Johnson, cardiologist…
-
The Science of Sleep and Brain Health
A sleep scientist explains the importance of sleep to your brain, shares what the scientific community knows about the connections between sleep apnea and brain health, and offers tips for healthy sleep. Guest: Kate Sprecher, postdoctoral research associate, University of Colorado at…
-
The Link Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Health Outcomes
Social determinants of health play a big role in our overall well-being. Unfortunately, too often we fail to recognize the impacts that these factors have on our brains and overall health. Dr. Amy Kind and her research team at the University of…
-
Connecting the Gut Microbiome to Alzheimer’s Disease
Examining the bacteria that live in our guts and the role it plays in health is an exciting frontier in scientific inquiry. Researchers are now looking at the gut microbiome for answers about Alzheimer’s disease. Guest: Nick Vogt, MD/PhD Student, Wisconsin School…
-
The Importance of Sleep for a Healthy Life
Sleep plays an important role in our day-to-day lives and has a huge impact on our memory and thinking. Learn more about why we need to sleep and some of the negative impacts that poor sleep can have on our brains. Guest:…
-
MIND Diet for Healthy Brain Aging
The MIND diet was created with the goal of healthy brain aging. This nutrition plan, which is backed up by years of scientific research, details 10 food groups you should incorporate into your diet and five foods that you should limit. Guest: Martha Clare Morris, ScD, Professor of Epidemiology,…
-
Connecting Lifetime Stress to Brain Health
Recent research shows lifetime stressful events, such as divorce, childhood trauma, and military combat, can have negative consequences for brain health and cognition in later life. Guest: Megan Zuelsdorff, PhD, researcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison
-
Impacts of Exercise on Brain Health
Recent research from the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center has shown the protective benefits of exercise in maintaining brain health and preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Guest: Ozioma Okonkwo, PhD, assistant professor, Division of Geriatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health,…