Penn Memory Center

01/13/2026

📹 Why do people say yes to research?

In this video, two Penn Memory Center research participants share what brought them in, what kept them coming back, and what they wish others knew before signing up. They talk about purpose, trust, healthy aging, and the moments that stayed with them.

Watch their stories and explore how you or a loved one can take part in research at Penn Memory Center.

Two Penn Memory Center research participants reflect on why they joined a study, what the experience has meant, and what advice they’d share with others. The...

01/09/2026

How common is Alzheimer’s?

A new study from Norway suggests that nearly 1 in 10 adults over 70 may be living with signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and the numbers are even higher in those over 85.

Researchers used blood tests and memory checks to reach these estimates, and their findings raise important questions about screening and prevention.

Dr. Jason Karlawish, co-director of Penn Memory Center, responded in Nature, urging caution:
“In the wrong hands, blood tests could cause a lot of harm.”

He also pointed to a key disparity, individuals with less education showed higher levels of Alzheimer’s markers.

A survey of Alzheimer’s disease prevalence in Norway confirms earlier estimates and might show how education level relates to risk.

01/07/2026

Season 4 finale of The Age of Aging takes you inside UnRavelled, a play inspired by composer Maurice Ravel and painter Anne Adams, whose creativity surged in the early stages of frontotemporal dementia.

Through theater, music, and lived experience, this episode explores what remains when the brain changes, and how creativity and connection persist.

🎧 Listen to to the full episode here: bit.ly/4qnwjZc

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and our sponsors, the TIAA Institute and Rothkoff Law Group.

01/05/2026

Last month, Chris Davis performed his solo show One-Man Nutcracker in Philadelphia. After the performance, he sat down with Penn Memory Center Co-Director Dr. Jason Karlawish to reflect on why he wrote the piece, how memory lives in movement, and what dance reveals about aging, creativity, and change.

🎭 Learn more about Chris Davis: realchrisdavis.com
▶️ Watch the full conversation: https://bit.ly/49GZbVV

12/23/2025

What if neurodegeneration didn’t just take away but also gave something back?

In the season finale of The Age of Aging, we explore UnRavelled, a new play inspired by two individuals with frontotemporal dementia: composer Maurice Ravel and cell biologist–turned–painter Anne Adams. Their shared diagnosis unlocked an unexpected creative surge.

We go behind the scenes of the premiere and Brain Health Festival, hear from playwright Jake Broder and FTD expert Dr. Bruce Miller, and reflect on identity, caregiving, and the strange dualities of brain change.

🎧 Listen to to the full episode here: bit.ly/4qnwjZc

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and our sponsors, the TIAA Institute and Rothkoff Law Group.

12/19/2025

Leah Lawler helped launch the Cognitive Comedy program at Penn Memory Center. Years later, she still teaches improv to older adults even while working at Saturday Night Live.
Why?
Because every class reminds her how much older adults bring to the room.

“They gas me up. They’re the funniest people I know. They’ve got the best stories, the deepest insights, and they’re always trying to set me up with their grandsons.”

In this episode of The Age of Aging, Leah shares how improv helps older adults express themselves, feel joy, and connect in the moment.

🎧 Listen to to the full episode here: bit.ly/44je12N

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and our sponsors, the TIAA Institute and Rothkoff Law Group.

12/17/2025

Who’s pushing the boundaries of Alzheimer’s research?
What breakthroughs are shaping the future?
Get the inside story in inSight, the Penn Memory Center’s biweekly newsletter.
Sign up for updates on science, care, and hope: bit.ly/PMC-InSight

12/16/2025

Improv and caregiving might seem like an odd match, until you hear Dr. Candace Kemp explain it.

In our latest Age of Aging episode, Dr. Kemp shares research showing how improv-based training helps caregivers reduce stress, build trust, and stay present.
Her favorite takeaway?
💬 “Every encounter with a person living with dementia is an opportunity for engagement.”

Dr. Kemp and Dr. Jennifer Craft Morgan led a study showing that improv isn’t just fun, it works. Caregivers who participated said they felt more confident and connected long after the workshops ended.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: bit.ly/44je12N

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and our sponsors, the TIAA Institute and Rothkoff Law Group.

12/15/2025

Caregiving during the holidays?

The season can feel full, and for caregivers, it often comes with extra pressure. Travel plans, packed schedules, family dynamics, and keeping your loved one comfortable all at once.

Revisit this episode of The Age of Aging where Director of Social Work at Penn Memory Center Alison Lynn shares practical ways to make the holidays smoother.

Listen here: bit.ly/AoA-Holiday-Tips

12/11/2025

What if the best response isn’t correcting or comforting, but asking a question?

In The Age of Aging podcast, Dr. Anne Basting shares a powerful alternative to “truth” or “therapeutic lying” when a person with dementia says something that isn’t factually true.

Instead of saying, “Dad’s not at the store” or “Dad died years ago,” she says:

Try: “Tell me about Dad.”
Try: “How did you meet?”

This is creative care. And it creates connection, not correction.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: bit.ly/44je12N

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and our sponsors, the TIAA Institute and Rothkoff Law Group.

12/10/2025

Norma “Momom” Hall lost her sister Mary as a child in rural Ireland. Decades later, Mary returned, not in life, but in memory.

As Momom’s dementia progressed, she began seeing Mary again. To her, Mary sat beside her, joked with her, comforted her.

Hallucinations like this affect up to half of those with late-stage Alzheimer’s and related dementias. But they don’t always cause fear.

Read this story and explore expert guidance on navigating hallucinations in dementia with empathy and calm.

12/09/2025

You might not think “caregiving” and “comedy” belong in the same sentence. This episode of the Age of Aging will change your mind.
Through the lens of improv, we explore how humor, presence, and flexibility are transforming dementia care. Hear from caregivers, artists, and researchers who use these techniques to ease stress, deepen connection, and bring joy to everyday moments.

👥 Meet the guests:

• Dr. Anne Basting shares how creative care offers a third option between truth and denial
• Karen Stobbe uses improv to care for her parents and trains caregivers around the world
• Leah Lawler, who founded Cognitive Comedy at PMC, explains why older adults remain her favorite improv partners
• Drs. Candace Kemp and Jennifer Craft Morgan found real evidence that improv reduces caregiver stress
• Amanda Lee Williams reflects on how improv reshaped her own relationship with her father

Listen to the full episode here: bit.ly/44je12N

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and our sponsors, the TIAA Institute and Rothkoff Law Group.