Current Status During COVID-19
- The UW Memory and Brain Wellness Clinic remains open for the needs of our patients, including visits by phone, video conference, or in person. If you have an upcoming appointment, you will be contacted beforehand to explore what visit format is best.
- The UW Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center continues to complete Clinical Core longitudinal study visits by telephone or video with currently enrolled participants. Clinical trial visits have resumed with a combination of in-person, telephone, and virtual appointments. If you have questions or concerns, please email the study coordinator directly, or the research team at uwadrc@uw.edu or call 206-744-0588.
- MBWC Community Programs and Events are still happening virtually, while in-person programs are on hold. Join us in March online, by phone, or by video, for a variety of support, education and engagement opportunities.
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The role of brain donation in advancing Alzheimer's research
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The Spring 2021 edition of ALZ Magazine includes a feature about the work of brain donation programs at Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) around the county, including here at the UW ADRC. Each center works with study participants to get a more complete picture of factors that may contribute to Alzheimer’s and other dementias, helping scientists draw connections between what they see under the microscope and years of observations about the person’s health and cognitive function. In the article, UW ADRC's neuropathologist C. Dirk Keene, MD, PHD shares his wisdom.
“I personally think brain donation is the greatest gift a person can give to science,” says C. Dirk Keene, M.D., Ph.D., who leads the BioRepository and Integrated Neuropathology (BRaIN) Laboratory and ADRC Precision Neuropathology Core at the University of Washington. “It has helped us to understand how complex brain aging and dementia really are. We’re still at the frontiers in many ways.”
Read the article to learn more from Dr. Keene and find more information about brain donation and participation in research!
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National Academies committee provides recommendations for dementia care and caregiving interventions
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 On February 23, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released Meeting the Challenge of Caring for Persons Living with Dementia and Their Care Partners and Caregivers: A Way Forward. ( Read online).The report is the culmination of a 3- year collaboration among the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and NASEM. Based on a rigorous systematic review of the evidence base for effective care and caregiving interventions, the report identifies research gaps and makes recommendations to federal agencies for advancing research and implementing select interventions that show benefit to quality of life. You can watch the webinar presentation and read the report online.
Highlights from the report:
- Our local community played a big role in the report: The UW ADRC's Dr. Eric Larson, MD, senior investigator at Kaiser Permanente Health Research Institute, served as the Chair of the report committee. Ronald Louie, MD, a care partner from Seattle, served as an Advisor to the committee, along with other care partners, caregivers, and people living with dementia.
- The report recommends the real-world implementation and outcome evaluation of 'collaborative care models', which use multidisciplinary teams to integrate medical and psychosocial approaches to the care of persons living with dementia. An example of this model is Care Ecosystems. The report also finds an evidence base to recommend the use of REACH II, a multi-component caregiver intervention based on an individualized assessment of caregiver and family needs. Reach II and its adaptations involve problem solving, skills management, support groups, provision of information, didactic instruction, and role playing.
- The report urges the NIA to prioritize inclusive research that includes the full range of populations and communities affected by dementia and support research capable of providing the evidence that will ultimately be needed to make inclusive decisions and implement interventions in the real world.
- Read more highlights
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Discoveries Made Possible by ADRC Research Volunteers
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 The UW Alzheimer's Disease Research Center is excited to announce 'Brain Bytes', a new multimedia series about research findings emerging from studies that relied on data from research participants enrolled in the UW ADRC Clinical Core or the Adult Changes in Thought Study.
-View the first Brain Byte presentation here on on our video channel!
Brain Byte topics are chosen based on feedback from our community. Please take a moment fill out this short, anonymous SURVEY about what you hope to learn more about. If you have not yet filled it out, we would love to hear from you!
-Visit our new webpage Discoveries Made Possible by You
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Open March 2! Maude's Awards: Seeking Innovations in Dementia Care
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 The 2nd Annual Maude’s Awards - Seeking Innovations in Alzheimer’s Care – will open Tuesday, March 2 at www.MaudesAwards.org.
Each year, this organization awards three $25,000 awards to organizations and five $5,000 awards to individuals excelling in care approaches for persons living with dementia and their care partners.
Learn More
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SUPPORT & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center is pleased to offer a variety of support and education programs for people with memory loss, their families, and the wider community. View upcoming opportunities below, or on our website. For more information, contact Marigrace Becker, 206-744-2190, mbecker1@uw.edu.
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Save the Date: 2021 Dementia-Friendly Communities Conference
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"Wellness Wednesdays" Webinar Series
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The UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center is pleased to partner with the Alzheimer's Association, Washington State Chapter, to offer "Wellness Wednesdays," a free weekly webinar series for people with memory loss and their families. Join us online from 1 - 1:45 p.m. each Wednesday and enjoy dynamic speakers exploring topics and resources to help you thrive on your memory loss journey. See below for topics and links to register with the Alzheimer's Association. Note that separate registration is required for each presentation.
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Memory Strategies for Daily Life
Presented by: Michelle Kim, PhD
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 | 1-1:45 p.m. PST | REGISTER HERE
Memory loss can certainly be frustrating, but there are strategies that can help. Join UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center neuropsychologist Michelle Kim, PhD to learn tips for everyday life — like remembering where you put your keys, recalling names and keeping your schedule organized. Leave with some practical ideas you can use right away.
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On Friendship: Companionship Along the Dementia Journey
Presented by: Janelle S. Taylor, PhD
Wednesday, March 10, 2021 | 1-1:45 p.m. PST | REGISTER HERE
Our friends can be a powerful source of connection, joy and support. When dementia is in the mix, friendship can be even more valuable, yet can also be hard to maintain. And with a year of social distancing, friendship may be even more tenuous. Join Dr. Janelle Taylor to explore friendship in the midst of dementia — what it means to us, what it can look like, and how to strengthen our bonds with friends new and old.
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Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Presented by: Milene Browlow, PhD
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 | 1-1:45 p.m. PST | REGISTER HERE
Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. Join us to learn about: the impact of Alzheimer’s, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, stages and risk factors, current research and treatments available for some symptoms, and Alzheimer’s Association resources.
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Dementia Conversations
Presented by: Milene Browlow, PhD
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 | 1-1:45 p.m. PST | REGISTER HERE
When someone is showing signs of dementia, it’s time to talk. Often, conversations with family about changing behaviors can be challenging and uncomfortable. This program provides tips for breaking the ice with your family so you can address some of the most common issues that are difficult to discuss: going to the doctor for a diagnosis or medical treatment, deciding when to stop driving, and making legal and financial plans for future care.
*Note: No session on Wednesday, March 31
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Virtual "Coffee Chat" for People with Memory Loss
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 Make a cup of coffee or tea, and come together online for an informal social time with others living with memory loss or dementia. Facilitated by program manager Marigrace Becker. Space is limited; sign up by the day before. Join for just one session, or multiple.
10 - 11 a.m. on Tuesdays (March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 ).
Sign Up Here
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 Join other family caregivers online to connect, share strategies, and support each other's experience caring for a loved one with dementia. Facilitated by clinic social worker Karen Clay and program manager Marigrace Becker. Space is limited; sign up by the day before. Join for just one session, or multiple.
10 - 11 a.m. on Mondays (March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29). Sign Up Here
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Monthly Orientation for People Recently Diagnosed with Memory Loss or Dementia
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NEW Arts and Creativity Series
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This Spring, join the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center for a free online Arts & Creativity Series for people with memory loss and their families. Explore your creative side under the guidance of a variety of organizations/instructors. 10 - 11 a.m. every other Thursday; view topics below. Organized by MSW student Jo Bechtold. More information coming in March - sign up here to receive an email update.
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Spring Book Discussion Series Features Conversations with Leaders in Elder Care
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The Frye Art Museum in Seattle, WA, in partnership with Aging Wisdom and the University of Washington Memory and Brain Wellness Center, presents On Dementia: Care, Community, and Creativity, a series of three conversations with leaders in elder care who have published books in 2020 that bring hope, connection, and joy to adults living with dementia, their care partners, families, friends, and those who provide support. Each program will be a Zoom webinar, including an interview with the author, readings from their new book, and questions from the audience. Participants are not required to attend all three conversations in the series.
12 – 1 p.m. Thursday March 11: Join Lynn Casteel Harper, author of On Vanishing: Mortality, Dementia, and What It Means to Disappear, in conversation with Marigrace Becker, Program Manager, Community Education and Impact, UW Medicine Memory and Brain Wellness Center.
12 – 1 p.m. Thursday April 8: Join Susan H. McFadden, PhD, author of Dementia-Friendly Communities: Why We Need Them and How We Can Create Them, in conversation with Keri Pollock, Director of Marketing and Communications, Aging Wisdom.
12 – 1 p.m. Thursday May 13: Join Anne Basting, PhD, author of Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Dementia and Elder Care, in conversation with Mary Jane Knecht, Manager, Creative Aging Programs, Frye Art Museum.
Learn more and register: https://fryemuseum.org/program/creative_aging_workshops
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Online Support Group for Middle Schoolers With a Loved One with Memory Loss
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February Virtual Garden Discovery Walk: Kubota Garden
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The Virtual Garden Discovery Walks started early in the pandemic as a virtual adaptation of our popular program that offered tours of local gardens and parks and demonstrates nature-inspired art activities, tailored for people living with memory loss and care partners. This program is offered in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, with generous support from Family Resource Home Care. There are now 11 different walks and guided crafts to enjoy any time from home!
February 2021
Kubota Garden: Virtual Garden Discovery Walk, February 2021 (Part 1): Watch
Art Craft: Landscape Design with Tissue Paper (Part 2): Watch
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See below for a sampling of online community events and programs for people with memory loss and their families. Learn, engage and connect!
- Edmonds Center for the Arts offers "Storytelling through the Generations," a new virtual and phone-based oral history project in which people with dementia share with college students about their lives. A collaboration between ECA, UW Bothell, and SilverKite Community Arts.
- The Alzheimer's Association offers various educational webinars in March, including communication, legal and financial planning, and healthy living for your brain and body.
- Lutheran Community Services Northwest offers online "Opening Minds Through Art" program for people with memory loss in Pierce County.
- Dementia Support Northwest, based in Whatcom County, offers a variety of online caregiver support groups.
- Elderwise offers 6-week online social and arts-based programs for people with dementia and care partners. The social program ("MiniWise") is now free and meets 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Mondays; the arts-based program ("ArtWise") meets from 3 - 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, $20 for a 6-week session. More info.
- Greenwood Senior Center offers a new arts appreciation group for people with early stage memory loss, every other Thursday at 1 p.m. More info.
- Taproot Theatre continues with its monthly "Z-Improv" (Zoom-based Improv) workshops for people with memory loss and care partners to enjoy the moment together.
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The AHEAD Study is testing whether an investigational treatment can lower people’s risk of memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers have learned that changes in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease start as many as 20 years before they notice symptoms like memory problems. During those two decades, a protein in the brain called “amyloid” builds up in people who go on to have memory problems because of Alzheimer’s disease. While not all people with amyloid in their brain will develop memory problems, we know that the people who do are at a higher risk for developing the disease.
The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health, in partnership with the pharmaceutical company Eisai. It is being conducted by the NIH-funded Alzheimer’s Clinical Trial Consortium (ACTC), a network of leading academic Alzheimer’s research centers.
Learn more: Study website
UW ADRC Site Contact:
Darla Chapman, ARNP
Email: darlac@uw.edu
Phone: 206-744-9337
For a complete listing of all enrolling studies, visit the UW ADRC's Clinical Trials & Studies page.
The UW Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center continues to complete Clinical Core longitudinal study visits by telephone or video with currently enrolled participants. Clinical trial visits have resumed with a combination of in-person, telephone, and virtual appointments. If you have questions or concerns, please email the study coordinator directly, or the research team at uwadrc@uw.edu or call 206-744-0588.
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Upcoming Public Education Forum
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Noteworthy
Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, five geneticists who self-identify as Black men set out to explain the pitfalls of leaving race out of clinical research and practice. UW News talked to co-author Timothy Thornton, UW statistical geneticist who is a professor, associate chair of education and director of graduate programs in the Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health to learn more. Read Race, medicine, and the future of genetic ancestry. ( Thornton recently published “Local ancestry at APOE modifies Alzheimer’s disease risk in Caribbean Hispanics" (2019) Alzheimers & Dementia).
Funding Opportunities
NEW Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Neurological and Neurocognitive Sequelae from SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 in Aging and Age-Related Neurodegeneration (NOT-AG-21-016) Learn more
The NIA Impact Collaboratory has announced 3 new funding opportunities that will support research and training aimed at increasing the nation's capacity to conduct pragmatic clinical trials of non-pharmacological interventions with healthcare systems to improve the care of people living with AD/ADRD and their care partners. You can learn more on this page about the Demonstrations Project Program, the Health Care Systems Embedded Research Scholars Program, and the Pilot Grant Program - Cycle 3A.
Spring 2021 Round of the Royalty Research Fund grant program. Proposals are due Mar. 1, 2021. Visit website
New Educational & Training Opportunities
The Butler-Williams Scholars Program provides unique opportunities for junior faculty and researchers new to the field of aging to gain insight about aging research. The program offers diverse perspectives and includes presentations, seminars, and small group discussions. The Butler-Williams Scholars Program is held annually in the summer. NIA applications are being received now through March, 31, 2021. Learn more.
The NIA Summer Training Course in Experimental Aging Research is scheduled for August 30th- September 4th, 2021 at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. The 28th Annual Summer Training Course provides intense exposure to current concepts in experimental aging research for approximately 20 research scientists. We are seeking junior faculty and advanced fellows with at least two years postdoctoral experience in cell or molecular biology or a related field. Senior scientists who wish to redirect their careers towards aging research are also welcome. Faculty for the 2021 course include some of the world’s leading scientists in the aging and longevity research community. Applications due April 2, 2021. More information.
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