ADRC News

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 

By Meghan McCarthy  When I applied for a communications internship at the Penn Memory Center (PMC), I didn’t expect to be chosen. I was a full-time premedical student at Villanova University juggling chemistry lectures and four-hour labs. My availability was limited, and my writing experience was, frankly, thin.   Yet, I did have a personal connection to dementia and a deep desire to learn.  After my interview with the communications team, I remember ending our call with one overwhelming feeling: this place was different. For such a prestigious institution, I was taken aback by the warmth and passion exuding from each Read More The post A Love Letter to the Penn Memory Center  appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading A Love Letter to the Penn Memory Center 

By Meghan McCarthy  Brent Forester, MD, Dr. Frances S. Arkin chair and professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, first considered electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for the behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) when all other options had failed. His patient, a woman in her early sixties, had become nonverbal, combative, and aggressive over her 10-year disease progression. Her care team had tried 34 different medication combinations with little success, leaving her family desperate for an alternative.   That’s when Dr. Forester’s team turned to ECT.  After six treatments, she smiled again. After the seventh, she returned Read More The post Exploring Electroconvulsive Therapy for Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease  appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Exploring Electroconvulsive Therapy for Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease 

By Meghan McCarthy  The connection between mental health and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) is often overlooked and understudied. Research shows that individuals with psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorder or anxiety have a significantly heightened risk of developing ADRDs. Approximately 30 to 50% of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients also experience symptoms of depression, and roughly 40% exhibit symptoms of anxiety.  Researchers continue to ask: How do cognitive symptoms of psychiatric illness evolve into AD? And why do some individuals with no prior history of mental illness develop anxiety or depression for the first time after a dementia diagnosis?  Read More The post Bipolar Disorder and Aging appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Bipolar Disorder and Aging

By Meghan McCarthy Lucid episodes in dementia describes moments of unexpected clarity in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs). These episodes, which may be verbal or nonverbal, can evoke deep emotional responses from caregivers and other loved ones. Experts, Jason Karlawish, MD, co-director of the Penn Memory Center, and Justin Clapp, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care and Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the Perelman School of Medicine, discuss the nature, frequency, and implications of these episodes. What are lucid episodes in the context of dementia? Lucid episodes are distinct moments of clarity that Read More The post Understanding Lucidity in Persons Living with Dementia: Perspectives from Experts at Penn Memory Center appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Understanding Lucidity in Persons Living with Dementia: Perspectives from Experts at Penn Memory Center

By Meghan McCarthy  At the Penn Memory Center (PMC), Marie Ingegneri wears many hats: events assistant, strategic planner, morale booster, and memory maker. But at the heart of her role is a simple principle: fostering genuine connection and appreciation. Whether she’s planning a creative internal activity for staff or organizing a major community event, Ingegneri approaches each task with intention, always striving to make people feel seen and valued. “I’m an experience creator and relationship builder,” she said—and it shows.   A Career Rooted in Connection  Ingegneri brings more than 20 years of diverse marketing experience to PMC. Before joining Read More The post Making Memories with Marie Ingegneri  appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Making Memories with Marie Ingegneri 

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 living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  In the rich tapestry of the human experience, no two minds are the same. Our differences shape how we connect, create and grow.   Beauty in Neurodiversity, a painting featured in the Disability and Dementia series at the Penn Memory Center, invites viewers to see the brain not simply as a singular vessel of function or decline, but as a vibrant canvas of individuality. Painted in Read More The post Beauty in Neurodiversity appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Beauty in Neurodiversity

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).  Why do some individuals develop Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) while others do not?   Cognitive resilience and resistance offer promising lens for understanding this complexity. This dual phenomenon is at the heart of ongoing research led by Rory Boyle, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center (FTD) Center. Along with an international team of colleagues, Dr. Boyle is working Read More The post Resilience & Resistance: Exploring Cognitive Health in Down Syndrome appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Resilience & Resistance: Exploring Cognitive Health in Down Syndrome

By Meghan McCarthy  Recently, the Penn Memory Center (PMC) welcomed Farraday Johnson as a clinical research coordinator for the Anti-amyloid Therapy Monitoring (ATM) study. A Personal Connection to Alzheimer’s Disease  Johnson grew up in Covington, Tennessee, a small town with a population of approximately nine thousand. Throughout her childhood, both of her parents were devout in attending her basketball games.   “In high school, I noticed things were off when my dad forgot one of my games,” Johnson shared. “One thing about my mom and dad is that they never forgot a game.”   Johnson’s interest in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is deeply Read More The post Farraday Johnson’s Path from STAR Intern to PMC Coordinator appeared first on Penn Memory Center. Continue reading Farraday Johnson’s Path from STAR Intern to PMC Coordinator