UW Medicine is at the forefront of research, education and care for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. From becoming one of the first hospitals in the country to administer a groundbreaking new drug therapy to building a hub for community and resilience for people with dementia and their families, we’re redefining what it means to live — and thrive — with memory loss. If you’re looking for compassionate, whole-person care backed by the most advanced research, you’ve come to the right place.

The UW Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is part of a nationwide network of Alzheimer’s disease research resource centers funded through the NIH’s National Institute on Aging. The ADRC has been committed to helping advance Alzheimer’s research for over 30 years.

Dr. Thomas Grabowski, director of the ADRC (pictured above), leads a team of providers who diagnose, treat and support patients living with memory loss or dementia.

The ADRC focuses on a precision medicine approach to Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists conduct research on genetic risk; develop neuroimaging markers and biomarkers for earlier detection; and seek new therapies that can be tailored to address the underlying molecular causes of an individual person’s disease. Through basic science and clinical studies, they work to find therapeutic strategies that improve the care, functioning and quality of life for patients and caregivers.

In December 2023, UW Medicine’s Memory and Brain Wellness Center became one of the first West Coast hospitals to give a patient lecanemab — the first FDA-approved drug shown to reduce cognitive decline in people with early Alzheimer’s disease. UW Medicine was selected in part because of its expertise in running large clinical trials and its outstanding reputation as a hub for leading-edge research and care.

The Memory and Brain Wellness Center (MBWC) envisions a world in which people live well with memory loss and can rely upon the best care within a community of support. The Center’s mission is to promote the well-being of persons living with memory loss and their families by providing exceptional care, advancing scientific understanding and building dementia-friendly communities.

Located at Harborview Medical Center, the clinical team is focused on providing early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Above, a patient is undergoing a cognitive test to help physicians assess a patient’s memory and thinking skills. This information, along with additional tests such as brain scans, informs the basis of a new diagnosis and treatment plan.

Providers in the MBWC clinic specialize in evaluating patients whose symptoms may arise from Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal degeneration, vascular brain injury, Lewy body dementia or other conditions. After the initial consultation and evaluation, one of the key steps is providing education about the diagnosis and treatment plan, which sometimes happens in a family conference, like the one seen above. Patients and families at the memory clinic are assigned to a primary provider who is the best fit for their situation; they may also meet with social work, neuropsychology or other specialists for a well-rounded approach. The MBWC team helps patients discover ways to use their strengths to promote brain health and overall well-being.

Photo credit: Nicholas Swatz

The MBWC leads many programs and events for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families, including Shared Outdoor Adventures for Resilience (SOAR), a hiking program for people living with early-onset Alzheimer’s. The MBWC emphasizes a strengths-based approach, which is a key part of this program, as people diagnosed before age 65 often still have the physical ability for activities like hiking and the need for social engagement and community.

Another focus of the MBWC is educating providers across Washington state on memory loss and dementia. Project ECHO Dementia (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a learning model in which front-line care providers from around the state meet in a virtual conference room with an interdisciplinary panel of experts in memory loss and dementia. This innovative, accessible format provides case-based learning where everyone at the table is both a teacher and a learner.

The Memory Hub had its grand opening in 2022, established with the help of a generous founding gift from the Richard and Maude Ferry Foundation. The Memory Hub is located on First Hill in Seattle, near Harborview Medical Center and the Frye Art Museum. The goal: to promote the well-being of people living with memory loss and their families and to build dementia-friendly communities. It’s a welcoming, active, inclusive center where many programs are hosted for the entire community.

A signature highlight of the Memory Hub is Maude’s Garden, a spot for drop-in exploration, socializing and nature-based activities. Therapeutic landscape design taps into the health benefits of nature and allows nature to be built into visitors’ experience. Maude’s Garden is the site of many events and workshops around the year.

“I appreciated being able to use our hands to create something that ended up beautiful. It’s nice to be able to make memories with my brother,” said a participant in the garden discovery program.

In the Memory Hub’s atrium, an exhibit called “Frame of Mind” features artwork created by people with memory loss and dementia. A reminder of the many gifts, strengths and unique perspectives that people with memory loss offer, the exhibit is open to the public four days each week and can be viewed online.

There are many programs offered at the Memory Hub — including support groups, educational workshops, book and music groups — that are intended for caregivers or people living with memory loss, and some for both at once.

In 2024, the Memory Hub partnered with Kin On to begin offering very popular Chinese-language brain health programs, especially a Tai Chi and Karaoke program shown above, which promotes connection with others through movement and song.