ADRC News

March 21, 2024 Arts on the Mind festival begins at Franklin Institute

Last week, the Penn Memory Center celebrated the kick-off of the Arts on the Mind festival, a series of events highlighting the profound connection between the creative arts and the human mind. This collaboration unites the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Penn Memory Center, The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Film Society, the Free Library, and ARTZ Philadelphia, bringing events to iconic venues. Together, artists, educators, physicians, and neuroscientists connect to create, observe, and discuss art in ways that illuminate its vital role in the development and maintenance of our minds, particularly as we age. Last Week: The Franklin Institute’s Conversation Lab On Read More The post Arts on the Mind festival begins at Franklin Institute appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Arts on the Mind festival begins at Franklin Institute

March 8, 2024 FDA Delays Decision on Alzheimer’s Drug Donanemab

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has postponed its decision on the Alzheimer’s drug donanemab, which was expected by the end of March. Instead, the FDA will ask an independent panel of experts to review questions about the drug. Eli Lilly and Company, the drug’s manufacturer, confirmed this development. The FDA’s request for an advisory committee follows a longer than expected wait for a decision that was expected by the end of 2023 and then sometime in the first quarter of 2024. The published and presented data on donanemab describe a drug that’s much like lecanemab, an effective treatment for persons with mild Read More The post FDA Delays Decision on Alzheimer’s Drug Donanemab appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading FDA Delays Decision on Alzheimer’s Drug Donanemab

February 28, 2024 Trump, Biden and Cognition: Diagnosing impairment requires careful assessment by trained clinician

By Judy George, MedPage Today The 2024 ballot may have the oldest pairing of presidential candidates, with President Joe Biden at age 81 and former President Donald Trump at age 77. Each candidate has publicly shown moments of forgetfulness in recent weeks, but what that means isn’t clear. The failure to remember a specific event or date may or may not point to cognitive problems, maintains geriatrician Jason Karlawish, MD, co-director of the Penn Memory Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and author of The Problem of Alzheimer’s: How Science, Culture, and Politics Turned a Rare Disease Into a Crisis Read More The post Trump, Biden and Cognition: Diagnosing impairment requires careful assessment by trained clinician appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Trump, Biden and Cognition: Diagnosing impairment requires careful assessment by trained clinician

February 15, 2024 Andrew Beltrán liderará la iniciativa de Alcance Comunitario Latino

Por Meghan McCarthy  A medida que el Penn Memory Center (PMC) continúa desarrollando nuevas oportunidades de investigación para los latinos en Filadelfia, le presentamos a un nuevo coordinador dedicado a estos esfuerzos: Andrew Beltrán.  Según el Instituto Nacional sobre el Envejecimiento (NIA, por sus siglas en inglés), los latinos están desarrollando la enfermedad de Alzheimer y demencias relacionadas a un ritmo más alto que cualquier otro grupo racial o étnico en los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, con frecuencia no están representadas en la investigación. Comenzando con la contratación de Beltrán, PMC está construyendo relaciones con las comunidades latinas en Filadelfia, Read More The post Andrew Beltrán liderará la iniciativa de Alcance Comunitario Latino appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Andrew Beltrán liderará la iniciativa de Alcance Comunitario Latino

February 15, 2024 Andrew Beltran to lead PMC’s Latino outreach initiative 

For a translated version of this article, please click here. By Meghan McCarthy  As the Penn Memory Center (PMC) continues to develop new research opportunities for Latinos in Philadelphia, it has a new coordinator dedicated to these efforts: Andrew Beltran.  Latinos are developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) at a rate higher than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And yet they are frequently underrepresented in research.   Starting with the hire of Beltran, PMC is building relationships with Latino communities in Philadelphia, conducting health needs assessments, Read More The post Andrew Beltran to lead PMC’s Latino outreach initiative  appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Andrew Beltran to lead PMC’s Latino outreach initiative 

February 6, 2024 Empowering Caregivers: Making the Move to a Residential Care Community

  Making the Move to a Residential Care Community Deciding whether to move your loved one from home to a memory or personal care community is a time full of unknowns, myths, and misunderstandings. Join Lorri Bernstein and Mindy Mozenter from Senior Living Specialists Philly as they dispel these myths and cover decision-making, expected costs, and emotional support. Mindy Mozenter has been in the industry for more than 15 years serving seniors and has a deep understanding of the required support systems of older adults, and assisting families in good decision-making. She is the vice-chair of the nonprofit Penn’s Village and a board Read More The post Empowering Caregivers: Making the Move to a Residential Care Community appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Empowering Caregivers: Making the Move to a Residential Care Community

February 1, 2024 Time is Brain: Lecanemab’s Promise and the Imperative for Diversified Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials 

  By Victor Ekuta, MD Penn Memory Center Clark Scholar  I was in my 3rd year of medical school when I first heard the phrase that “time is brain.” Coined in a 1993 editorial by Dr. Camilo Gomez, this pivotal concept emphasizes the critical importance of early intervention in preserving brain health after a stroke. “Unquestionably,” Dr. Gomez wrote, “the longer therapy is delayed, the lesser the chance that it will be successful, and early intervention will probably be a major determining factor in the limitation of the damage of neurons.”  Recent advancements in stroke neuroimaging have not only affirmed Read More The post Time is Brain: Lecanemab’s Promise and the Imperative for Diversified Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials  appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Time is Brain: Lecanemab’s Promise and the Imperative for Diversified Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials 

January 4, 2024 An Announcement from Felicia Greenfield

Greetings, and Happy New Year! During this time of year when we pause and reflect, it’s important to embrace whatever journey we are on, to cherish what’s important, and to be open to what lies ahead. The turn of the new year celebrates renewal, and it is in that spirit that I announce my next chapter. After 20 years of service at Penn, I am leaving to start my own therapy and consultation service. I’ve devoted decades to supporting families living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias at the Penn Memory Center. Now, I will bring my experience to broader Read More The post An Announcement from Felicia Greenfield appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading An Announcement from Felicia Greenfield

December 4, 2023 Celebrating Communications Specialist Cait Kearney

Felicia Greenfield, Cait Kearney, Leah Fein, and Meg Kalafsky at AAIC   By Meghan McCarthy  When Cait Kearney joined the Penn Memory Center (PMC), she was a recent college graduate without full-time work experience.  In the three years since, Kearney has had positions at PMC created for her, published hundreds of newsletters, led training programs, represented the center at an international conference, and most recently completed her master’s in professional writing from Northern Arizona University.   Simply put, our communications team would not be the same without her. As she embarks on her newest chapter, we’re looking back at her journey Read More The post Celebrating Communications Specialist Cait Kearney appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Celebrating Communications Specialist Cait Kearney

November 27, 2023 4 ways our sleep changes as we age and tips on how to adjust, according to a Penn sleep expert

By Jake Johnson Sleep can change in key ways as we age, and while these changes are normal, this transition can be confusing and frustrating for some older adults.  However, there is good news, said UPenn Associate Professor of Medicine Nalaka Gooneratne, MD, MSc: By making a few adjustments to how you approach sleep, you can reduce these frustrations and continue to get good quality sleep.  1. Older adults need less sleep, so adjust your sleep schedule accordingly The biggest change in sleep you may experience as you get older is that you need less of it.   “Typically, older adults Read More The post 4 ways our sleep changes as we age and tips on how to adjust, according to a Penn sleep expert appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading 4 ways our sleep changes as we age and tips on how to adjust, according to a Penn sleep expert

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