Initiatives

Brain Health Equity Initiative

In 2017, our lab launched the Brain Health Equity Initiative with the goal of fostering community-responsive partnerships and programs to promote healthy brain aging in the Greater Madison community here and now. This initiative reflects our commitment to ensuring scientific progress is accompanied by community investment and capacity building — particularly among those disproportionately affected by changes in brain health.

Over the years, we have focused on establishing new coalitional partnerships, developing an initial understanding of the needs and priorities surrounding brain health, and identifying concrete services and programs that would offer direct value to the community.

Read more about some of the community outreach programs we offer to further this initiative. Consistent with principles that guide our practices, we offer these programs for the primary purpose of promoting brain health equity.

Programs

Brain & Body Fitness Program

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The Brain & Body Fitness Program is an evidence-informed brain health promotion program offered by members of our lab in collaboration with Madison School & Community Recreation for older adults in the community. The class is designed for those who are concerned about changes they notice in their memory and thinking, who want to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

Brain & Body Fitness combines light exercise, brain health information, and mental activities designed to help strengthen our physical and mental wellbeing as we age.

If you are interested in learning more about the program and how to join, contact us at brainhealthteam@medicine.wisc.edu.

Brain Health Community Registry

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The Brain Health Community Registry is a network that connects adults and caregivers interested in brain health with community-based services and researchers who study aging, brain health, and caregiving for people with memory changes.

The goal of the registry is to share information about research opportunities related to aging, brain health, and caregiving for people with memory changes and their caregivers, and to make participating in research more accessible.

Read More

Brain Health Education

Brain Health Supplements 

Information Document

Brain Health Supplement Info

If you have any questions, please contact us at brainhealthteam@medicine.wisc.edu.

References
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  2. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (n.d.). Omega-3 fatty acids: An essential contribution. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/types-of-fat/omega-3-fats/
  3. Mayo Clinic. (2020, November 18). Ginkgo. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-ginkgo/art-20362032
  4. Kongkeaw, C., Dilokthornsakul, P., Thanarangsarit, P., Limpeanchob, N., & Norman Scholfield, C. (2014). Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology151(1), 528–535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.11.008
  5. Ghassab-Abdollahi, N., Mobasseri, K., Dehghani Ahmadabad, A., Nadrian, H., & Mirghafourvand, M. (2021). The effects of Huperzine A on dementia and mild cognitive impairment: An overview of systematic reviews. Phytotherapy Research : PTR35(9), 4971–4987. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7126
  6. Rodrigue, K. M., Kennedy, K. M., & Park, D. C. (2009). Beta-amyloid deposition and the aging brain. Neuropsychology Review19(4), 436–450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-009-9118-x
  7. Wolk, D. A., & Klunk, W. (2009). Update on amyloid imaging: From healthy aging to Alzheimer’s disease. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports9(5), 345–352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-009-0051-4
  8. DeTure, M. A., & Dickson, D. W. (2019). The neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Molecular Neurodegeneration14(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-019-0333-5
  9. Snow, A. D., Cummings, J. A., Tanzi, R. E., & Lake, T. (2021). In vitro comparison of major memory-support dietary supplements for their effectiveness in reduction/inhibition of beta-amyloid protein fibrils and tau protein tangles: Key primary targets for memory loss. Scientific Reports11(1), 3001. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79275-1
  10. Lloret, A., Esteve, D., Monllor, P., Cervera-Ferri, A., & Lloret, A. (2019). The effectiveness of vitamin E treatment in Alzheimer’s Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences20(4), 879. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20040879
  11. Degnan, W., Barraza, L., Farland, L.V., Klimentidis, Y.C., Jacobs, E.T. (2021). Strengthening the regulation of dietary supplements-Lessons from Prevagen. Food and Drug Law Institute. https://www.fdli.org/2021/11/strengthening-the-regulation-of-dietary-supplements-lessons-from-prevagen/
  12. Steinberg, J. (2021, December 15). Neuriva brain pill $8 million class deal gets judge’s nod. Bloomberg Law. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/product-liability-and-toxics-law/neuriva-brain-pill-8-million-class-deal-gets-judges-nod
  13. Crawford, C., Boyd, C., Avula, B., Wang, Y. H., Khan, I. A., & Deuster, P. A. (2020). A public health issue: Dietary supplements promoted for brain health and cognitive performance. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.)26(4), 265–272. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2019.0447
  14. Dominguez, L. J., Veronese, N., Vernuccio, L., Catanese, G., Inzerillo, F., Salemi, G., & Barbagallo, M. (2021). Nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors in the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia. Nutrients13(11), 4080. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13114080
  15. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2020, May). Turmeric. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/turmeric
  16. Tsai, I., Hsu, C., Chang, C., Tseng, P., & Chang, K.(2021). The effect of curcumin differs on individual cognitive domains across different patient populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pharmaceuticals, 14(12), 1235. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14121235
  17. Salehi, B., Mishra, A.P., Nigam, M., Sener, B., Kilic, M., Sharifi-Rad, M., Fokou, P.V.T., Martins, N., & Sharifi-Rad, J. (2018). Resveratrol: A double-edged sword in health benefits. Biomedicines, 6(3), 91. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines6030091
  18. Cognitive Vitality. (2016, August 4). Acetyl L-Carnitine. https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/ratings/acetyl-lcarnitine#ref-2
  19. Spindler, M., Beal, M.F., & Henchcliffe, C. (2009). Coenzyme Q10 effects in neurodegenerative disease. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 5, 597-610. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s5212
  20. Mayo Clinic. (2021, February 9). Vitamin D. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-d/art-20363792
  21. Cognitive Vitality. (2016, August 30). Huperzine A. https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/ratings/huperzine-a#safety-block

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