ADRC News

When we think about justice, older adults aren’t always top of mind. Yet in the United States, seniors often face stigma, exploitation, and insufficient social support, all while navigating cognitive and physical decline. As lifespans continue to grow globally, aging is a future we all hope to reach. So how do we ensure that future is just? And what does justice for older adults truly look like? Welcome to Season 4 of The Age of Aging! We’re kicking off with a vital and multifaceted topic: elder justice. Joining us are three leading voices who help unpack the legal, cultural, and systemic Read More The post New Age of Aging Episode: Just Aging appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading New Age of Aging Episode: Just Aging

  Nutrition plays a critical role in brain health and dementia care. In this Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania webinar, Dr. Kyra O’Brien, assistant professor of Neurology and medical director of the Penn Medicine GUIDE Program, shares insights on brain-healthy dietary changes, how dementia impacts appetite and nutrition, and practical tips for caregivers. The post Nourishing the Brain with Dr. O’Brien appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Nourishing the Brain with Dr. O’Brien

  Welcome to a mid-year bonus episode of The Age of Aging! While the podcast takes a short break between seasons, we wanted to bring you a special update on the state of Alzheimer’s today. Penn Memory Center Co-Directors Dr. Jason Karlawish and Dr. David Wolk sat down with Terrence Casey to share their reflections from this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), which they attended earlier this summer. They discuss their biggest takeaways, including the impact of NIH funding cuts, the rapid innovations that continue to shape the field, and what they’re keeping their eye on for next year’s conference Read More The post New Age of Aging Episode: This Moment in Alzheimer’s: Taking Stock and Look Forward appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading New Age of Aging Episode: This Moment in Alzheimer’s: Taking Stock and Look Forward

By Meghan McCarthy An Irish proverb says, “Aithnítear cara i gcruatán” — a friend is known in hardship. For Norma “Momom” Hall, this rang true in the later years of her life as she lived with advanced dementia. Momom grew up in picturesque Glenurla, Ireland, surrounded by lush green pastures and sweeping coastal cliffs. While breathtaking, the landscape held danger. As a child, Momom lost her beloved sister, Mary, in a tragic biking accident off one of those cliffs. More than sisters, Momom and Mary were inseparable, best friends by all accounts. The loss shattered Momom. Yet, decades later, their Read More The post Understanding Hallucinations in Dementia appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Understanding Hallucinations in Dementia

By Meghan McCarthy Editor’s Note: This article is part of the Disability and Dementia Series, an ongoing project highlighting the experiences of individuals with intellectual disabilities who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs). “Take her home and love her.” That was the advice Ellen Boyle’s parents received the day she was born, a simple but radical directive in 1965. Ellen had just been diagnosed with Down syndrome (DS), and in a time when institutionalization was often recommended, one pediatrician offered a different path. Take her home. Love her. And they did. A Sunday Birth  Ellen was born Read More The post Take Her Home & Love Her appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Take Her Home & Love Her

The Penn Memory Center is now enrolling patients and their caregivers in the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model, a new national Medicare program designed to improve care for people living with dementia and increase support for their caregivers. Dementia affects millions of individuals across the United States, with that number expected to rise sharply over the coming decades. Despite its prevalence, many patients do not receive consistent, coordinated dementia care. Unpaid caregivers often carry the burden alone, which can have negative impacts on both patients and caregivers. To address this, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched Read More The post Penn Memory Center Enrolling Patients in New National Dementia Care Program appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Penn Memory Center Enrolling Patients in New National Dementia Care Program

If you’ve been tuning in to The Age of Aging, you already know Jake Johnson’s voice. As producer and co-host of the Penn Memory Center’s biweekly podcast, he leads conversations about aging, brain health, and the lived experiences of individuals and families navigating cognitive change. Now, Johnson takes on a new role as communications coordinator at the Penn Memory Center (PMC).  Since joining PMC as a communications assistant in 2023, Johnson has contributed to messaging and storytelling efforts across platforms. His work has helped broaden the center’s reach and support conversations around research, clinical care, and community engagement. But the Read More The post Jake Johnson Takes on New Role as Communications Coordinator at Penn Memory Center  appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Jake Johnson Takes on New Role as Communications Coordinator at Penn Memory Center 

Jeffrey Maneval, MD, is departing the Penn Memory Center (PMC) after a tenure defined by compassionate clinical excellence and a commitment to the next generation of dementia specialists.  Dr. Maneval is the new director of cognitive and behavioral neurology at MaineHealth in Portland. In this new role, he’ll lead a clinic working to expand access to dementia care and clinical research across rural Maine.  During his time at PMC, Dr. Maneval cared for individuals and families navigating memory loss, contributed to clinical research, and helped shape the next generation of neurologists through hands-on teaching and mentorship. He says some of Read More The post Dr. Jeffrey Maneval Begins a New Chapter in Dementia Care  appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Dr. Jeffrey Maneval Begins a New Chapter in Dementia Care 

By Meghan McCarthy  In 2008, while running a memory disorders clinic Michael Rafii, MD, PhD, noticed an increasing number of adults with Down syndrome (DS) among his patients. Recognizing their unique needs and the lack of specialized care, Dr. Rafii acted by opening a second clinic specifically dedicated to adults with DS. At the time, he was also working on the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) project.  “For me, it was an obvious question: Could there be an ADNI for Down syndrome given that they seem to be getting a genetic form of Alzheimer’s disease?”   The answer, at the time, Read More The post From Clinic to Consortium: A New Era of Alzheimer’s Trials for Individuals with Down Syndrome  appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading From Clinic to Consortium: A New Era of Alzheimer’s Trials for Individuals with Down Syndrome 

By Meghan McCarthy  Editor’s Note: This article is part of the Disability and Dementia Series, an ongoing project highlighting the experiences of individuals with intellectual disabilities who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs).  Mary Sparkes-Merriman was born on September 18, 1965—exactly two years after her brother Pete.   Over the years, Mary joked to Pete that she was the ‘best birthday present’ he would ever receive. What began as a shared birthday and a childhood filled with laughter would become a lifelong bond, one that would be tested, deepened, and ultimately defined by love, resilience, and advocacy.  Read More The post A Sister’s Advocacy Amongst Down syndrome & Dementia  appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading A Sister’s Advocacy Amongst Down syndrome & Dementia