The 51���� Research Assistant Fund provides small grants to 51���� faculty and staff to help conduct and share research and creative work. Cho’s award will support travel and presentation costs for his poster, “Sex Differences in the Relation Between Body Habitus and Functional Mobility in Older Adults.”

Cho’s research, as part of a larger study from the Physical Activity and Health Research Laboratory, examines how factors such as body size, weight distribution, age, and muscle strength influence functional mobility in older adults. Functional mobility includes everyday activities such as walking, standing up from a chair, climbing stairs, and maintaining balance—skills that are critical for preserving independence and quality of life as people age.

The study found that men and women appear to have different predictors of mobility and physical function later in life.

Key Research Findings

• For women, age and lower-body muscle strength were the strongest predictors of mobility outcomes such as walking speed, leg strength, and endurance.
• After accounting for age, body habitus measures—including body mass and waist circumference—were generally not significant factors for women.
• For men, body habitus measures such as body mass and waist circumference were more strongly related to mobility than age or lower-body strength alone.
• The findings suggest that maintaining a healthy weight may be especially important for older men, while preserving lower-body strength may be more important for older women.

Why It Matters

The research suggests that healthy aging strategies may be more effective when they are tailored to the different needs of men and women, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

For example:

• Older women may benefit most from activities that maintain or build lower-body strength, such as resistance training, walking, stair climbing, and balance exercises.
• Older men may benefit most from strategies focused on healthy weight management and reducing excess abdominal weight.

Cho’s work contributes to a growing body of research showing that sex differences play an important role in aging and mobility. By identifying the factors that most strongly influence physical function in older adults, this research may help inform future exercise programs, health interventions, and public health strategies designed to support healthy aging and independence.

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Inspired by an uncle who served in the Navy, Michael Figueroa Osorio enlisted at 18 as a hospital corpsman. That service led to a lifelong commitment to public health. “It’s a role full of pride,” Figueroa Osorio said, of his time in the Navy. “At first, I was just doing it for fun, to get my feet wet and figure myself out. But then I found myself in a collective where I felt like I belonged.”

From service to purpose

After completing his corpsman training, Figueroa Osorio enrolled in additional schooling and testing to become a preventive medicine technician, a public health-focused role that involved administering vaccinations, running disease prevention programs and conducting sanitation inspections.

In 2021, he deployed to Kabul during the U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan, providing medical care at Abbey Gate, one of the main airport checkpoints.

“We were working 24 hours on, 24 hours off, providing direct care,” he said. “A lot of these people had been through a lot – broken noses, broken bones, malnourished. I remember seeing pregnant mothers and thinking about my own mom. I was like, man, I cannot wait to give my mom a hug.”

On Aug. 26, 2021, a suicide bombing killed 13 service members and dozens of Afghan civilians.

“I could have died that day,” Figueroa Osorio said, “and ever since that day, I’ve told myself I always want to do more.”

He decided to apply his Navy experience back home by pursuing a career in public health. His first stop: UW-Milwaukee.

Coming home to serve

At UW-Milwaukee, things started to click as Figueroa Osorio connected his studies to his experiences growing up on Milwaukee’s south side. “We were talking about systemic issues in class — how the poor stay poor, and the rich get richer, and why medical care and food are so expensive,” he said. “I started connecting the dots in my own life. This is why we struggled so much growing up.”

He also found encouragement. One particular moment stands out: During his final field experience presentation, a professor addressed his imposter syndrome. “He looked at me and was like, ‘You belong.’ That hit me hard. It still does now. I was like, ‘I do, yeah, I do.’”

Rooted in community

Figueroa Osorio completed his bachelor’s degree in public health in May 2025 and is continuing into a master’s program in Community & Behavioral Health Promotion. He says one of his long-term goals is to be a leader in his field — not only to shape public health but to inspire others who come from a background like his. Before graduation, Figueroa Osorio began working as the food pantry coordinator at Bay View Community Center, serving many of the same neighborhoods he grew up in.

“I try to run it in a way where we can teach people and help people out,” he said.

In addition to distributing food and other household products, Figueroa Osorio partners with other organizations to offer food demos, mental wellness kits and health literacy classes.

“I’m proud of the purpose I’ve found again after the Navy,” he said. “This doesn’t feel like a job to me. This feels like something I am meant to do.”

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Facing the Nerves of “What’s Next”

Marina clearly remembers what it felt like to sit on the other side of the table. As a student participating in mock interviews, she—and many of her peers—felt significant nerves. For Marina, those feelings were tied to a larger realization: graduation was near, and real job interviews were just around the corner.

“Training was almost complete, and life was getting real,” she recalled. That awareness made the mock interview experience feel high-stakes, even though it was designed as a safe space to practice.

Fortunately, Marina had some prior exposure to mock interviews during her undergraduate studies. However, those earlier experiences were conducted through recorded sessions rather than live, interactive conversations. The in-person mock interview format at the Zilber College, conducted by a person the student has never met before, added a new layer of realism and value.

The Importance of Interpersonal Skills

Marina emphasized how critical it is for academic programs to teach interpersonal and professional development skills alongside technical knowledge. She believes that these skills—especially interviewing—were once overlooked in higher education but are essential for career success.

She also shared that not all graduate programs offer this type of support. Comparing notes with her sister, who completed a graduate program without mock interview opportunities, reinforced Marina’s appreciation for Zilber’s approach.

Giving Back to the Public Health Community

Now working as a biostatistician at Loyola University Chicago—a position she secured immediately before graduating—Marina sees her role as a mock interviewer as a way to give back.

“The core tenet of public health is community,” she said. “Before we go out into the world as leaders, we need to support each other.”

She enjoys helping students at different stages of readiness, recognizing that each individual brings unique strengths and needs. For Marina, mentoring emerging professionals is not just rewarding—it’s essential to building a strong, collaborative public health workforce.

Advice for Emerging Public Health Professionals

Marina’s advice to current students is both practical and empowering: don’t hold yourself back.

She encourages students to apply for positions even if they don’t meet every listed qualification. “If you meet about 60% of the requirements, go for it,” she said. “Don’t quit on yourself before you even start.”

She speaks from experience. When applying for her current role, the job description required a Master of Science in Biostatistics—something she did not have. Initially removed from consideration, Marina took the initiative to contact the program director directly. She explained how her MPH in Epidemiology provided comparable training and relevant skills.

Her proactive approach paid off. She was reinstated in the applicant pool and ultimately offered the position.

Rethinking “Experience”

Marina also encourages students to broaden their understanding of what counts as experience. Internships, academic projects, and fieldwork all contribute valuable, applicable skills.

“Experience isn’t just formal employment,” she noted. “Your time in school matters.”

Building Confidence Through Practice

Reflecting on her journey, Marina credits the seminar course and mock interview experiences at Zilber with helping her successfully transition into the workforce. Now, as she helps guide current students through that same process, she’s continuing the cycle of support that defines public health.

Her story is a reminder that preparation, persistence, and community can make all the difference—and that sometimes, the most important step is simply believing you’re ready to begin.

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Benforado isn’t the only MS Kinesiology alum with big news to share. Garrett Steinbrink recently received a predoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association! With this award, Garrett will support his dissertation work at University of Iowa Health, Sport, and Human Physiology and implement a new screening tool designed to identify patients at risk for low muscle strength and connect them with supportive programs.

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Scott Strath, PhD, Professor of Kinesiology at the Zilber College, is serving on a World Health Organization (WHO) Physical Activity (PA) Working Group focused on the integration of wearables and activity monitors into global physical activity surveillance efforts.

This international initiative is examining how emerging technologies—such as accelerometers and consumer wearable devices—can strengthen the measurement and monitoring of physical activity worldwide!

Strath’s participation reflects both his expertise in objective physical activity assessment and the Zilber College’s continued commitment to advancing innovative, evidence-based approaches that inform global health policy and practice.

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The researchers say that reminding chatbot users of their companions’ non-human nature may be useful in some contexts, but these reminders must be carefully crafted and timed to avoid unintended negative consequences.

“It would be a mistake to assume that mandated reminders will significantly reduce risks for users who knowingly seek out a chatbot for conversation,” said first author and public health researcher Linnea Laestadius of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “Reminding someone who already feels isolated that the one thing that makes them feel supported and not alone isn’t a human may backfire by making them feel even more alone.”

Laws require reminders

The chatbots ChatGPT and Character.AI have been linked to recent deaths by suicide. These events have prompted policies and legislation, for example in New York and California, that require chatbots to deliver regular reminders that they are not human.

These policies are based on the idea that people will be less likely to develop feelings of emotional dependency or closeness if they are reminded that their chatting partner is unable to feel human emotion. But the researchers say this idea is not supported by research.

“While it may seem intuitive that if users just remembered they were talking to a chatbot rather than a human, they wouldn’t get so attached to the chatbot and become manipulated by the algorithm, the evidence does not currently support this idea,” Laestadius said.

The researchers note that multiple studies have shown that people in relationships with chatbots are aware of the non-human nature of their companions, and this awareness does not prevent them from forming strong attachments. In fact, reminding people that they’re talking to a chatbot could drive people to form stronger attachments to chatbots because confiding in companions (human or otherwise) is known to intensify feelings of emotional closeness.

“Evidence suggests that people are more likely to confide in a chatbot precisely because they know it isn’t human,” said author Celeste Campos-Castillo, a media and technology researcher at Michigan State University.

 “The belief that, unlike humans, non-humans will not judge, tease or turn the entire school or workplace against them encourages self-disclosure to chatbots and, subsequently, attachment.”

Causing emotional distress

These reminders could also cause emotional distress in people, the researchers say. Recent research has highlighted a phenomenon called the “bittersweet paradox of emotional connection with AI,” in which chatbot users who obtain emotional and social support from chatbots are simultaneously saddened by the knowledge that their companion is not human. In the most extreme cases, the researchers caution that these reminders could drive suicidal ideation.

“Reminding users that their companion is not human and therefore not reachable in this reality may pose the risk of thoughts and actions to leave this reality in an effort to join the chatbot,” Campos-Castillo said. “A desire to join the chatbot in its reality appeared in a final message sent by a youth who died by suicide.”

The risk of harm for these reminders likely depends on the subject of conversation, the researchers say. For example, if a user is seeking chatbot support because they feel lonely or socially isolated, reminding them that the chatbot is not human could exacerbate their distress, but such reminders might be less harmful during less emotionally intense conversations.

More research is needed to understand the impact of these reminders, and to determine the most effective way to deliver them, the researchers say.

“Discovering how to best remind people that chatbots are not human is a critical research priority,” Laestadius said. “We need to identify when reminders should be sent and when they should be paused to be most protective of user mental health.”

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The site Realfood.gov uses Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot to dispense nutrition information—some of which contradicts the government’s new guidelines.

By Emily Mullin

February 10, 2026

A 30-second  ad featuring boxing legend Mike Tyson and paid for by the nonprofit MAHA Center encourages viewers to avoid processed foods and visit . The government website, which Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is , provides resources on the administration’s new , released in January, and encourages people to use Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok to “get real answers about real food.”

I decided to see how Grok’s advice aligns with the administration’s recommendations, particularly around protein intake. The new guidelines say to get 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day—more than what was previously advised—while the new inverted food pyramid prominently features steak and other animal products.

“We are ending the war on protein,” Realfood.gov states, echoing similar declarations by Kennedy.

Most Americans are —and Grok agrees. In fact, so does the administration’s own “,” which is linked on Realfood.gov. It says that US adults consume on average about one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, or roughly 15 percent of total energy—the midpoint of the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range, or ADMR—”suggesting that deficiency is rare.”

Following the website’s encouragement to ask AI for advice, I initially asked Grok how much protein I should eat based on my age, height, and weight. (Grok, it should be noted, frequently does not return answers to prompts, instead citing high demand and encouraging users to sign up for an account.) It recommended 0.8 grams per kilogram per day—the long-standing recommended daily allowance, or RDA, developed by the National Institute of Medicine. When I refined my question, saying that I do 30 minutes of strength training four days a week, Grok’s response was more in line with the administration’s new guidelines.

The recommendation of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram per day is the minimum amount needed to prevent a protein deficiency for a sedentary lifestyle, which describes a significant portion of the American population. Nutritionists I spoke with agree that the new recommendations are more appropriate for people who exercise regularly.

“What I think the administration is trying to do is to target the metabolically unhealthy people who may need a little more protein to feel full and satisfied to build some muscle. But that nuance is lost with their single message,” says Lindsay Malone, a clinical dietician at Case Western Reserve University. “Then you go to this AI tool, and it’s almost too much information for the average person.”

While eating more protein can make you feel fuller so that you avoid snacking, she says, eating more protein on its own doesn’t build muscle, which is primarily built through resistance or strength training.

Michelle King Rimer, a clinical assistant professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Zilber College of Public Health, says eating too much of any macronutrient—protein, fats, or carbohydrates—can lead to weight gain. “Consuming excess protein can still be converted into fat, which can lead to weight gain,” she says.

The administration’s messaging also says to “prioritize protein at every meal” with a mix of protein from animal and plant sources. Last week, Kennedy spoke about the “importance of meat protein” at the nation’s largest cattle trade show, declaring that “beef is back on the menu,” according to an .

When I asked Grok which protein sources are healthiest, it listed plant-based proteins, fish and seafood, lean poultry, and eggs. The chatbot said to limit or minimize red meat and processed meats. That all reflects advice from major health organizations such as the  and growing evidence that eating plant-based proteins and fish are associated with better health outcomes than diets high in red meat.

The chatbot also raised concerns about RFK Jr.’s own  of meat and fermented foods. On the plus side, Grok  to anecdotal reports that it could lead to weight loss and “reduced brain fog.” On the negative side, it suggested that the diet could lead to “scurvy-like symptoms,” constipation, and gout.

“The inconsistency of the messaging makes it hard for the public to understand what actually matters for their health,” Rimer says.

While Grok might have answered my basic nutrition questions correctly, registered dietitian and public health communicator Jessica Knurick has debunked plenty of AI-generated nutrition information in her videos on social media and says it’s not a good idea to rely on Grok for specific nutrition advice.

“AI gets a lot wrong,” she says. “I think it’s premature to be integrating something like this on a government website.”

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Key Points

• Iranian college students have struggled to hear from family back home amid a government-imposed communications blackout.
• The Iranian Student Association at 51���� created a memorial Jan. 27 to educate others about the government crackdown.
• Iranians are one of the largest international student population at 51����. Most are pursuing master’s degrees and PhDs.

For weeks, Narges couldn’t reach her family and friends back home in Iran. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate student worried about the worst-case scenario as she watched protests convulse her home country and the government brutally crack down on demonstrators.

“These are ordinary people – artists, athletes, journalists,” she said. “The news we are hearing is like a horror movie.”

At least 41,000 protesters have been arrested and 6,100 people have died, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The group confirms each death with a network of activists on the ground in Iran. The numbers may grow as they continue verifying, but it’s been difficult to do so because the Iranian government shut down the internet and disrupted phone service.

It was only on Jan. 27 that Narges, a Ph.D. student in public health, heard from her sister. Her family was OK but some friends were not. A colleague of her brother’s, for example, was arrested at his workplace because he had written critically of the Islamic regime on social media. No one has heard from him since the arrest, she said.

Narges and others in the Iranian Student Association set up a makeshift memorial in the middle of 51����’s student union for a few hours during the first week of classes. Votive candles and roses surrounded pictures of victims. Instrumental Iranian music played from nearby speakers, adding to the funereal scene.

“People in Iran don’t have a voice,” Narges said. “It’s the responsibility of Iranians living outside the country to be their voice.”

Iranians are one of the largest international student population at 51����. Most are pursuing master’s degrees and PhDs. The students interviewed for this story requested the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel publish only their first names, fearing retribution for their families back home.

Some students living two lives as protests rock Iran

The demonstrations began in late December over high inflation and economic grievances but have grown into a nationwide movement to end the Islamic Republic system of government.

The citizen uprising poses the most serious threats to the Islamic regime in years,  The Iranian government and its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have blamed “terrorist” teams tied to Israel and the U.S. for infiltrating the protests and stoking more violence.

Iranian students in Milwaukee are living two lives, caught between their coursework and a humanitarian crisis unfolding in their homeland.

The effort to connect with family amid a communications blackout has emotionally exhausted them. One student sent a list of names to a friend of friend, asking for them to check in on her loved ones’ well-being. Maryam, a Ph.D. student in civil engineering, said her family borrowed a friend’s Starlink device to tell her they were safe.

Activists  into the country as a way to bypass the government and communicate with the outside world. But the system is available to just a sliver of the Iranian population.

Maryam was relieved to hear her family members had survived. But others hadn’t fared as well. She said a friend of her father’s, a doctor, was arrested for treating injured protesters and was taken to a prison. Human rights groups have  inside state prisons.

Maryam felt an obligation to speak out. She turned her anger into education to the wider 51���� community.

The Iranian Student Association scoured social media and news reports to write short profiles of more than 150 protest victims, which they displayed on posters as part of the memorial. A handout sheet encouraged people to post about Iran on social media, discuss it in classes and bring it up among friends.

Some people were moved by the memorial. One student wiped away a stray tear. Others stuck Post-it notes onto a whiteboard, affirming their support of human rights and solidarity with Iranians.

“This is what we can do to support our people,” Maryam said. “We try to be their voice.”

A rally to support the Iranian people is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1. It begins at Colectivo Coffee, 1701 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive.

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High-fat cheese and cream were linked to a lower risk of dementia in a new study.

Key Takeaways

• A long-term study found that people who ate more high-fat cheese and cream had a lower risk of dementia.
• The study found no link between dementia risk and low-fat dairy, milk, butter, or fermented dairy products like yogurt.
• Experts say the findings are observational and do not outweigh existing guidance to limit saturated fat and focus on overall healthy lifestyle habits.

Full-fat dairy is having its day in the sun. After years of promoting low- or no-fat options, new dietary guidelines now recommend choosing full-fat dairy, although still advising people to keep saturated fat under 10% of their daily calories.

Amid the push for full-fat dairy, a recent study in the journal Neurology linked eating high-fat cheese and cream to a lower risk of dementia.¹ The findings have drawn media attention, in part because health experts rarely highlight the benefits of high-fat foods. 

However, experts say the new research isn’t strong enough to suggest people should start eating more high-fat dairy.

Study Links High-Fat Cheese and Cream to Lower Dementia Risk

The Neurology study is the longest and largest to date to examine a potential link between  and dementia risk.

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden analyzed data from 27,670 people with an average age of 58 and followed them for about 25 years.

Researchers compared dementia diagnoses among participants who ate at least 50 grams of high-fat cheese (about two slices) per day with those who ate less than 15 grams per day. High-fat cheeses, defined as having more than 20% fat, include cheddar, Brie, and Gouda.

The participants who ate more high-fat cheese had a 13% lower risk of dementia than those who ate less. Those who ate more high-fat cheese also had a 29% lower risk of , a form of dementia caused by damage to blood vessels in the brain, often from small strokes over time.¹

People who ate 20 grams of high-fat cream (about 1.4 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream) each day also showed a 16% lower risk of dementia than those who consumed none.

Why Might High-Fat Cheese Benefit the Brain?

Some cheeses are rich in , a nutrient linked to blood vessel health.² Because vascular health is linked to dementia risk, it’s reasonable to hypothesize a connection between high-fat cheese and dementia risk, said Michelle King Rimer, MPH, MS, RDN, a clinical assistant professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who’s not affiliated with the study.

“However, this study did not test mechanisms, so the findings remain speculative rather than confirmed,” Rimer said.

Low-Fat Dairy and Milk Showed No Impact on Brain Health

Somewhat surprisingly, the researchers found no association between dementia risk and consuming , high- or low-fat milk, butter, or fermented dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, or buttermilk.

The researchers said they are not sure why high-fat cheese and cream may be linked to a lower dementia risk. Some possible explanations include differences in fat content, nutrients, and the food matrix, which can vary between high-fat and low-fat dairy products.

“These findings suggest that when it comes to brain health, not all dairy is equal,” said Emily Sonestedt, PhD, an author of the study and a senior lecturer in nutrition epidemiology at Lund University, in a statement. “More research is needed to confirm our study results and further explore whether consuming certain high-fat dairy truly offers some level of protection for the brain.”

Major Limitations of the Study

The researchers also noted several limitations. The study included only participants from Sweden, meaning the findings may not apply to people in other countries. In Sweden, cheese is more commonly eaten cold, while in the United States it is often heated—such as in macaroni and cheese—or paired with meat, which could affect the results.

The neuroprotective benefits may also reflect other factors such as an overall , a healthier lifestyle, better general health, or other variables the study did not measure.

It’s also worth noting that the participants’ diets were assessed only once during the first week of the study in 1991, followed by an interview the second week. The researchers then relied on a follow-up questionnaire with a subset of participants after five years to evaluate dietary changes.

Can Cheese Actually Protect Your Brain?

While certain nutrients in cheese might have brain health benefits, it’s important to consider the entire nutritional package, Rimer said. “High-fat dairy contains saturated fat, and decades of research support recommendations to limit  due to its impact on  and cardiovascular disease risk,” she added.

Evidence increasingly shows that a mix of healthy lifestyle habits may do more to protect brain health than changing diet alone, said  senior director of Health Services Research at the Alzheimer’s Association.

Neumann said the “recipe” to  involves a combination of regular physical activity, better nutrition, cognitive and social engagement, and routine health monitoring. The MIND diet, which is recommended as part of the approach, focuses on foods such as dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, and fish, while limiting sugar and unhealthy fats.

Research has consistently , she added.

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With the updated guidance shifting the focus to protein, healthy fats, and vegetables, Michelle shared her expertise as a Wisconsin nutritionist and educator—answering listener questions and breaking down what these changes really mean for everyday eating.

We’re proud to see Zilber faculty bringing evidence-based public health expertise to important conversations that impact families and communities across Wisconsin.

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