Penn Memory Center

10/29/2026

“We are born to dance.”
For David Leventhal, program director of Dance for PD ®, dancing is about much more than learning steps.

What began as a class for six people living with Parkinson's disease has grown into an international program bringing people together through movement.
And as David explains, you don't need dance experience to benefit.

Hear his story in our latest episode of The Age of Aging, “Dancing Around Dementia,” exploring the connection between dance and brain health: ageofaging.org/episodes/dancing-around-dementia

Coming next week: What happens when a physician is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at 57?
Dr. Brent Beasley joins Dr. Jason Karlawish to share his experience with diagnosis, treatment and finding hope while living with Alzheimer's.

Subscribe now so you don't miss next week's conversation!

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund, Lena Chow, the TIAA institute, and generous donors.

10/28/2026

Considering a new Alzheimer’s treatment raises a lot of questions. Having someone to turn to makes a difference.

Meet Danielle Lo, MSN, RN, Penn Memory Center’s new Brain Health Navigator! Danielle works closely with patients and caregivers exploring anti-amyloid therapies, helping them understand their options and navigate each step of the process.

Her approach is personal, shaped by her nursing experience and growing up helping her immigrant parents navigate the health care system.

“The most meaningful part of my role is when patients and their caregivers feel empowered to make an informed decision, regardless of whether they choose to pursue these treatments.”

Get to know Danielle and learn what inspires her work with patients and families. ⬇

When patients and families are trying to make sense of a new treatment option, questions tend to come quickly. For Danielle Lo, MSN, RN, helping them find answers has been a central part of her work since joining Penn Memory Center (PMC) as its Brain Health Navigator in June 2026. Lo works with pati...

10/27/2026

Missed our latest Empowering Caregivers session? The recording is now available.

Incontinence is common in dementia care, yet families often have few opportunities to talk about it openly.

Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, explains why toileting changes happen and shares practical strategies caregivers can use to reduce accidents and make them easier to manage.

Learn more about Empowering Caregivers and upcoming sessions:
pennmemorycenter.org/empowering-caregivers-workshop-series/

Incontinence is a common change in dementia care, yet it often goes...

10/26/2026

What if your summer research experience helped shape your future career?

Applications are now open for the Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s 2027 Summer Training in Aging Research (STAR) Program!

This nine-week program gives undergraduate, graduate and medical students an opportunity to explore research focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Through hands-on research experience and faculty mentorship, students will gain exposure to the field while exploring where their interests might take them.

Participants will receive a $4,500 stipend.
Program dates: June 7 to August 13, 2027
Application deadline: February 19, 2027

Learn more and apply: med.upenn.edu/adrc/training.html

Know a student who might be interested? Share this opportunity with them!

10/23/2026

What happens in your brain when you dance?
More than you might think.
When you learn a dance routine, your brain is working to remember the steps, coordinate movements and follow the rhythm. Add music and other people, and something even more interesting happens.

Dr. Julia Basso, director of the Embodied Brain Lab at Virginia Tech, studies how dance affects the brain. Her research suggests dancing strengthens communication between brain regions involved in learning and memory, while encouraging social connection.

And here's the encouraging part: You don't need years of dance experience to see benefits. Research involving beginners has found changes in as little as four to eight weeks.

In our latest episode of The Age of Aging, "Dancing Around Dementia," Dr. Basso explains why dance offers a unique combination of physical activity and mental stimulation, and what the research tells us about healthy brain aging.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: ageofaging.org/episodes/dancing-around-dementia

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund, Lena Choww, the TIAA institute, and generous donors.

10/22/2026

How do we find meaningful ways to connect with a loved one living with dementia?

Join Partners in Care: Learning a New Language, a free event for caregivers and loved ones living with dementia.

Caregiver and author Debra Hallisey will share insights on understanding dementia and finding new ways to connect. Meanwhile, Fox Rehab will lead activities for loved ones living with dementia.

📅 Thursday, November 5
⏰ 10 a.m. to noon, doors open at 9:30 a.m.
📍 Yardley Country Club, Yardley, PA
🎟️ Free and open to all, with breakfast provided

Registration is requested by October 25.
RSVP: bit.ly/Partners-in-Care

10/21/2026

Incontinence is one of the common challenges in dementia care, yet one of the least talked about.
Why does it happen, and what helps?

Join Penn Memory Center on October 23 for our next Empowering Caregivers workshop with occupational therapist Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L.

Learn practical strategies to manage toileting changes, reduce accidents, and make daily care a little easier for both caregivers and their loved ones.

📅 Friday, October 23 | Noon to 1:30 p.m.
📍 Virtual via Zoom

Free and open to all caregivers. Register: here: http://pennmedicine.zoom.us/.../Dckt3GOoSN-USaJyGAOUvw

10/20/2026

What started as a 30-second K-pop dance turned into something Carolyn Hewson never expected: a dance club inspired by brain health!

At 55, Carolyn agreed to learn a dance routine for her son's school celebration, nearly 50 years after an embarrassing childhood ballet recital convinced her to give up dancing.

Learning the moves was harder than she expected. But something surprised her even more: how good she felt afterward.

Inspired by the mental challenge and the friendships formed along the way, Carolyn and her fellow dancers decided to keep going. Today, they meet monthly to learn new routines and challenge themselves.

In our new episode, "Dancing Around Dementia," Carolyn shares her story as we explore a fascinating question: What does dancing do for our aging brains?

🎧 Listen to the full episode: ageofaging.org/episodes/dancing-around-dementia

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund, Lena Chow, the TIAA institute, and generous donors.

10/16/2026

What happens in the brain when an Alzheimer’s treatment successfully removes amyloid plaques?

A rare study from Penn Medicine offers new clues.

By examining the donated brain of a former clinical trial participant, researchers found striking differences: Areas where amyloid plaques had been cleared showed minimal buildup of tau, a protein linked to brain cell damage. Nearby areas where amyloid remained showed substantially more damage.

The findings suggest that removing amyloid may help protect the brain from further damage, potentially strengthening the case for earlier treatment.

The research, published in JAMA, was led by a Penn team including Penn Memory Center Co-Director David Wolk, MD, Christopher Brown, MD, PhD, and Edward Lee, MD, PhD.

Read more about the findings and what they mean for the future of Alzheimer’s treatment in ScienceDaily.

A rare examination of an Alzheimer’s patient’s brain revealed that regions cleared of amyloid plaques had remarkably little of the harmful tau buildup associated with memory loss, while neighboring areas showed extensive damage. The discovery suggests that removing amyloid may have lasting prote...

10/15/2026

“When I moved here, this was the first time that I met 100-year-olds.”

Dana Minaya found something unexpected after moving to Morningside Gardens in New York City: a community where growing older also meant staying connected.

In the latest episode of The Age of Aging, Dana shares how the social life around her has shaped her experience of aging.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: ageofaging.org/episodes/lonely-minds

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund, Lena Chow, the TIAA institute, and generous donors.