UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center

09/29/2026

Ever hear of a memory cafe? It’s an informal community meetup for people who have dementia and whose cognitive struggles might tilt them toward withdrawing socially. The semi-organized cafe gatherings offer sanctuary from judgment and raised eyebrows, and provide group interactions that can engage attendees and bring joy to their lives. Read more about our Center's statewide initiative - and how you can join in - from UW Medicine: https://newsroom.uw.edu/blog/invitation-create-joyful-spaces-for-people-with-dementia/

09/11/2026

It can be hard for people who are dealing with younger-onset dementia to find programs or services that are not designed for seniors. According to the Alzheimer's Association, recent data shows that more than more than 126,000 Washingtonians have Alzheimer's disease. The vast majority are seniors. Even though it is uncommon, individuals can be diagnosed with conditions that cause dementia before they are 65.

Seattle’s Shared Outdoor Adventures for Resilience program, or SOAR, aims to help younger people living with memory loss get out into nature and build community. The Memory Hub, UW Medicine’s community center for individuals with dementia, runs the program and offers monthly guided hikes.

Marigrace Becker, the Memory Hub's director, explained that as individuals begin to have a hard time remembering or show other symptoms, they can face hurdles.

“Social isolation, I would say, is one of the greatest challenges for persons living with dementia and for their family members or caregivers,” she said.

Read more:

The Memory Hub’s SOAR program takes people under 65 with dementia on guided hikes around the Puget Sound region to help them enjoy nature and find community.

09/09/2026

Primary care providers and their teams are invited to the Dementia Summit: Primary Care at the Forefront!

Primary care providers play a crucial role in early detection, diagnosis, and management for people living with dementia. Earn 6.5 CMEs while spending the day sharpening your skills, connecting with peers, and diving into impactful discussions at the Dementia Summit: Primary Care at the Forefront.

Presenters include UW Medicine UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center's very own Dr. Barak Gaster, MD, Dr. Kris Rhoads, PhD, and Dr. Nancy Isenberg.

When: Friday, October 23, 2026, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima, WA 98901.
Cost: $100, special rates and financial assistance available for select attendees
Who: Primary Care Providers
Host: Washington State Health Care Authority

Learn more and register today: https://loom.ly/40oesVg

09/02/2026

07/28/2026

For decades, medications for Alzheimer’s disease were limited to treatments that addressed symptoms rather than the underlying cause. That changed recently with the FDA approval of Eisai’s lecanemab (Leqembi) in 2023 and Eli Lilly’s donanemab (Kisunla) in 2024 for people with early-stage Alzhe...

07/01/2026

At our 4th annual Brain Health Block Party, held in honor of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month 2026, community members of all ages turned out for a day of brain-healthy activities and social connection in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood.

On Friday, June 26, eleven sites celebrated a variety of fun, easy ways to promote brain health and wellness, such as healthy eating, staying active, strolling in gardens, challenging our minds, and engaging with others.

A big thank you to the community partners who offered an activity station, including Freeway Park Association, Frye Art Museum, Horizon House, Kline Galland - Mary Schwartz Summit, Murano Senior Living, Museum House, Skyline Seattle, St. James Cathedral, Seattle, Tate Mason House, Union Grand, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.

At our station at The Memory Hub, 115 people came by to engage with games, karaoke, garden herb tea, and music by Keys to Connection, a group of high school students from Olympia. Thank you to those who supported The Memory Hub station, including staff and donations from the UW de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging, UW School of Social Work, First Hill Neighborhood Improvement Association, Alzheimer's Association, Washington State Chapter, Nolia Health, Lifelong Recreation Programs/ Seattle Parks and Recreation, Elderwise, Ferry Foundation, Kin On, UW Medicine UW Medicine Neurosciences Institute, and Aegis Living Lake Union.

05/12/2026

Calling caregivers! This Saturday, May 16th, Join City of Seattle Aging and Disability Services and the Alzheimer’s Association for a free screening of the documentary film My Mama Joe, Hope and Help, with a post-film talkback with local dementia experts, and resource tables from area agencies. UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center's Dr. Karen Torres will be one of the panelists!

Film Screening: My Mama Joe, Hope and Help
Saturday, May 16, 2 - 4 pm
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute

Sign up: https://www.mamajoeproject.com/seattle

04/23/2026

It's Husky Giving Day! Thank you for supporting the University of Washington Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC).

Give here: https://together.uw.edu/i/hgd/Campaign/alzheimers-disease-research-center

New advances in Alzheimer’s disease research—including blood-based biomarker tests and emerging treatments for the early stages of memory loss—are transforming how we detect, understand, and treat this disease. Gifts made on Husky Giving Day will help accelerate the use of biomarker testing to better understand the biological mechanisms of resilience to Alzheimer’s disease and why some individuals maintain cognitive function longer than expected, even in the presence of disease-related changes.

Join us for this special 24 hours to amplify the impact of your gift and invest in a brighter future for individuals and families affected by memory loss.

Challenge Gift:
The first 20 gifts of $100 or more will unlock a $50,000 gift to the ADRC, generously provided by Patty & Jimmy Barrier.

Thank you for supporting science and the ADRC!

04/23/2026

It's Husky Giving Day! We invite you to support the Memory Hub's nature-based programming and Maude’s Garden!

Give here: https://together.uw.edu/i/uw/campaign/the-memory-hub

Your gifts on Husky Giving Day this year will help fund the 2026–2027 season of the SOAR (Shared Outdoor Adventures for Resilience) program, which kicks off each summer. SOAR provides outdoor adventures, social connection, and physical activity for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s before age 65 who often feel alone in their experience.

Gifts will also support the maintenance of Maude’s Garden in all its seasonal beauty, as well as other nature-based engagement programs inspired by the garden.

Join us for this special 24 hours to further the impact of your gift and help create connection, joy, and resilience for those navigating life with memory loss.

Challenge Gift:
The first 20 gifts will unlock a $20,000 gift to the Memory Hub!

04/21/2026

We are excited to join our community partner The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration at the AFTD 2026 Education Conference, coming to the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington on April 30 - May 1, 2026.
People diagnosed, care partners, families, friends, healthcare professionals, and researchers are invited to connect with people who understand the journey, learn about available resources and supports, and engage with experts (including some from the MBWC!), to gain insight on the latest in FTD research and approaches to care. Sign up: https://www.theaftd.org/event/aftd-2026-education-conference/

You can learn more about FTD and the local resources available for support, care, and research on our website: https://depts.washington.edu/mbwc/resources/ftd

The AFTD 2026 Education Conference is coming to the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington in Seattle on April 30 - May 1, 2026. A free livestream will also be