Microplastics are a growing concern in the field of environmental health, but their impact on the brain is only beginning to be understood. Joining the podcast to share the latest research on these tiny particles, which have been found in the brain and other parts of the body, is Dr. Matthew Campen, a leading researcher in the field whose work is helping to uncover how environmental exposures like the accumulation of microplastics could affect neurological health, dementia risk and more.

Guest: Matthew Campen, PhD, MSPH, director, New Mexico Center for Metals in Biology and Medicine, director, University of New Mexico Clinical and Translational Sciences Center KL2 Mentored Career Development Program, deputy director, Training Core director, UNM Metal Exposure and Toxicity Assessment on Tribal Lands in the Southwest (UNM METALS) Superfund Research Program Center, professor, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

Learn more about Dr. Campen and his research at his profile on the University of New Mexico website.

Read Dr. Campen’s article, “Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains,” published by Nature Medicine on Nature’s website.

Read “Nanoplastic concentrations across the North Atlantic,” the research article Dr. Campen mentioned at 23:08, on Nature’s website.

Read “The Story You’ve Been Told About Recycling is a Lie,” the opinion piece Dr. Campen mentioned at 25:40, on The New York Times website.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu

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Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter.

Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. All donations go toward outreach and production.

As an individual develops dementia, they may need support in many areas of their lives. One of these areas is decision-making, particularly regarding health care decisions, but how can someone or their loved one determine if they need support with decision-making? To answer these questions, Dr. Victoria Williams joins to discuss capacity and capacity testing. She dives into the different kinds of decision-making abilities that can be assessed, the signs that one may need an assessment and more, as well as shares a preview of her upcoming Healthy Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) program, “Cognitive Testing and Brain Imaging Explained.”

Guest: Victoria Williams, PhD, neuropsychologist, UW Health, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Register and learn more about Dr. Williams’ upcoming Healthy Living with MCI event, happening on September 12, 2025, and future programs on our website.

Learn more about Dr. Williams at her bio on the UW Health website.

Listen to Dr. Williams’ past episode, “The Fundamentals of Neuropsychology: Breaking Down Cognition, Memory and More,” on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you listen.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter.

Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. All donations go toward outreach and production.

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

Learn more about Sharon Lukert and her book, Until My Memory Fails Me, on her website.

Register for the Wisconsin ADRC’s Healthy Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment education series on our website.

Learn about the Wisconsin ADRC’s involvement in the development of new blood tests, mentioned by Mrs. Lukert at 12:50, on our website.

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.

Find transcripts and more at our website.

Email Dementia Matters: dementiamatters@medicine.wisc.edu

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s e-newsletter.

Enjoy Dementia Matters? Consider making a gift to the Dementia Matters fund through the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. All donations go toward outreach and production.