The Helen Bader Foundation in Milwaukee has announced a $1.5 million grant over five years to the University of Wisconsin Foundation for the continued development of the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute (WAI).  

According to WAI, nearly 50 percent of those who have Alzheimer's disease are not diagnosed, and of those who have been diagnosed, 50 percent do not receive proper treatment — numbers that are likely higher in minority and rural communities due to several factors, including underrepresentation in research, delayed diagnosis, and access to care.

The grant will support WAI-led initiatives to educate public healthcare providers and boost awareness of Alzheimer's and other aging-related diseases; expand and strengthen ongoing collaborations and position WAI as a model for future national and international collaborations; increase awareness of the institute as an example of the Wisconsin Idea, an effort to apply research conducted at UW to public health, quality of life, environmental, and agricultural issues; and ensure the institute's long-term sustainability.

"Our goal is to engage those throughout our state in an effort to ensure that individuals affected with this disease are not only diagnosed earlier, but also have access to proper care and treatment," said WAI director Mark Sager. "Through the support of the Helen Bader Foundation, WAI will be able to build upon our network of resources in rural and underserved communities, as well as ensure strong development of WAI initiatives in the future."