ADRC News

The Penn Memory Center (PMC) sits at the intersection of rigorous science and compassionate care. For Holly Elser, MD, PhD, that intersection is where she finds her professional purpose. As both a Clinical Fellow in cognitive and behavioral neurology and a Clark Scholar, Dr. Elser is dedicated to understanding both the biological mechanisms of dementia and the deeply personal experiences of the families navigating it.  Dr. Elser’s approach to medicine has always been defined by a simple principle: she is more interested in the patient who has the disease than the disease itself. This perspective is what drew her to cognitive neurology, a Read More The post Meet PMC Clinical Fellow and Clark Scholar Holly Elser  appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Meet PMC Clinical Fellow and Clark Scholar Holly Elser 

The Penn Memory Center (PMC) is dedicated to training the next generation of leaders in dementia care and research. Each year, the Clinical Fellowship program supports physicians as they deepen their expertise in cognitive neurology while navigating the complexities of memory loss alongside patients and their families.   This year, Rogan Magee, MD, PhD, joins PMC as a Clinical Fellow, continuing his journey at an institution he has long admired.  Dr. Magee’s path to cognitive neurology was driven by a sense of hope. He observes that dementia often threatens a person’s sense of identity just as their life feels most fully realized. In the clinic, his Read More The post Meet PMC Clinical Fellow Rogan Magee appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Meet PMC Clinical Fellow Rogan Magee

We often think of dementia as an interior condition, one that happens within a person’s mind, independent of the outside world. However, as dementia and design experts note, we are in constant contact with our environments, and people with dementia are profoundly impacted by the spaces they occupy. How do we design a world for people with cognitive change? And what do the environments traditionally designed for older adults say about their current role in society? In this episode of The Age of Aging, we look at how architecture and design can both benefit those with dementia or become a detriment Read More The post The Miracle Kitchen: How Architecture & Design Can Transform Care appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading The Miracle Kitchen: How Architecture & Design Can Transform Care

Being intentional about our diet is one of the best things we can do for the health and longevity of our brain. But what exactly is a healthy brain diet—and how do we make it realistic? In the season 5 premiere of the Age of Aging, we break down the science and strategy behind the MIND diet and what it looks like to shop and eat for cognitive longevity. Inside this episode: Terrence sits down with Dr. Jason Karlawish to discuss the results and implications of the U.S. POINTER study for healthy brain aging. Dr. Karlawish explains the science behind the Read More The post A MINDful Diet: Recipes for a Healthy Brain appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading A MINDful Diet: Recipes for a Healthy Brain

In season 4 of the Age of Aging, we decided to end every interview with the same question: what do you wish people understood more about aging? In this special bonus episode of the podcast, we share some of their answers. They remind us of the prevalence of ageism, the many benefits of old age, and that we always have the ability to grow and change at any age. Special thanks this episode to Lucy Davenport, Amanda Lee Williams, James Bonas, Tracey Leigh, Leo Marks, Jennifer Craft Morgan, PhD, Bruce Miller, MD, Leah Lawler, Candace Kemp, PhD, and Jake Broder. The Read More The post What Do You Wish People Understood More about Aging? appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading What Do You Wish People Understood More about Aging?

The year 2025 was full of breakthroughs, debates, and big questions in Alzheimer’s research. One event that shaped many of these conversations? The Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) Conference. It may not have been on everyone’s radar, but its impact was undeniable. In this special episode, Penn Memory Center Co-Directors Dr. Jason Karlawish and Dr. David Wolk share what stood out at CTAD, what’s changing in the field, and what to watch next. Inside this episode: Anti-amyloid therapies update: Where things stand with lecanemab and donanemab, and what the next generation of these drugs could look like GLP-1 disappointment: Why Read More The post Rx for Alzheimer’s appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Rx for Alzheimer’s

Art that tries to teach you things “stinks,” says playwright and actor Jake Broder. “And yet there is a profound need for education, for awareness, for reducing stigma, for supporting the community and for medical education,” he said. A few years ago, while writing his latest play about the two individuals with frontotemporal dementia, he wrestled with how he could do both. In the season 4 finale of the Age of Aging, we tell the story of UnRavelled, a play about perseverance through neurodegeneration, burgeoning creativity late in life and an artistic relationship across time. Producer Jake Johnson shares his first-hand experience Read More The post A Disease’s Final Kiss: The Story of ‘UnRavelled’ appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading A Disease’s Final Kiss: The Story of ‘UnRavelled’

If you asked most caregivers, they would probably say there’s nothing funny about caring for someone with dementia. The stress, grief, and frustration can feel overwhelming. But what if the principles of improv comedy — being present, saying “yes,” and working together — could make caregiving easier and more joyful? In this episode of the Age of Aging, we explore the surprising connection between improv and dementia care. You’ll hear how techniques from the stage are helping caregivers reduce stress, improve communication, and find moments of joy. What’s inside: A peek inside the Penn Memory Center’s Cognitive Comedy class, where caregivers Read More The post Yes And…How Improv Can Help us Care for People Living with Dementia appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Yes And…How Improv Can Help us Care for People Living with Dementia

Artificial intelligence is everywhere in 2025, and elder care is no exception. As the older adult population continues to grow, AI has the potential to provide desperately needed support. Both at home and in the hospital, AI systems are being developed that can summarize data, predict patient outcomes, and offer preventative interventions. These systems could help clinicians be more efficient as well as shoulder some of caregivers’ many responsibilities. Yet for as many problems as AI seems to solve in healthcare, many more questions arise as to how these innovative tools can be implemented ethically. On this episode of the Age Read More The post Can AI Provide Artificial Care? What’s Possible, What’s Ethical appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Can AI Provide Artificial Care? What’s Possible, What’s Ethical

Innovation in dementia care is revolutionizing the way we diagnose and treat older adults with neurodegenerative diseases. New tests have allowed doctors to diagnose patients with diseases like Alzheimer’s more accurately than ever before. The anti-amyloid therapies Lecanemab and Donanemab provide a real treatment for those living with Alzheimer’s. While these innovations are incredible for those experiencing dementia, they are also beginning to change our culture around dementia generally. On this episode of the Age of Aging, Terrence Casey sits down with Dr. Jason Karlawish to talk about major steps forward in dementia care and how they’re changing the way we Read More The post Democratizing Dementia: How diagnostics and therapeutics will change how we think about dementia appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Democratizing Dementia: How diagnostics and therapeutics will change how we think about dementia