Penn Memory Center

09/03/2026

“I think we have to not let our beliefs about our biomarkers become what we think are the facts. And just to simply listen to the data.”

For Jason Karlawish, that was one of the key lessons from the 2026 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) .

As Alzheimer’s biomarkers become more useful in clinical care, the field is also facing harder questions about what those results mean for patients and how much certainty they should carry.

In the new Age of Aging bonus episode, Jason joins David Wolk and Chris Brown to reflect on the science that stood out in London and what comes next.

🎧 Listen to the episode: ageofaging.org/episodes/this-moment-in-alzheimers-2026

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

09/02/2026

No one should have to navigate dementia alone.

Meet Whitney Pollard, GUIDE Care Navigator at the Penn Memory Center.

Whitney works closely with patients and caregivers, helping families find support and navigate the challenges that come with cognitive change. She finds the greatest reward in building lasting relationships, celebrating small victories, and helping families feel less alone along the way.

Learn more about Whitney here pennmemorycenter.org/whitney-pollard and stay tuned as we continue introducing the faces of the Penn Memory Center.

08/31/2026

“We really do need to maybe take a step back from ultra sensitivity to ultra reliability.”

That was one of Chris Brown’s takeaways from the 2026 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) .

As blood-based biomarkers move closer to routine clinical care, the question is shifting. It’s no longer only about how early we detect Alzheimer’s-related changes. It’s also about how confidently those results guide decisions for patients.

In the new Age of Aging bonus episode, Chris joins Jason Karlawish and David Wolk to reflect on what stood out in London and where Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatment may be headed next.

Listen to the episode: ageofaging.org/episodes/this-moment-in-alzheimers-2026

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

08/28/2026

Caring for someone with dementia often means facing difficult questions about what comes next, especially when home no longer feels like the right fit.

Join Felicia Greenfield, LCSW, for Home, Heart, and Hard Decisions, a free virtual Empowering Caregivers session focused on the emotional side of housing transitions.

Learn ways to approach decisions about downsizing, continuing care communities, or memory care while coping with the feelings these changes bring.

📅 Friday, September 18
⏰12 to 1:30 p.m.
📍 Zoom

Register here: https://pennmedicine.zoom.us/meeting/register/2ns88X6_QSqCFUOiIqBTdA

08/27/2026

Nine years ago, Alzheimer’s research at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) looked very different.
Today, blood tests are moving into clinical care, two anti-amyloid treatments are available, and researchers are testing new ways to target tau and deliver drugs to the brain.

So, where does the field go from here?

In the annual AAIC bonus episode from the Age of Aging, Jason Karlawish, David Wolk, and Chris Brown share what surprised them in London and what they’ll be watching next.

Listen here: ageofaging.org/episodes/this-moment-in-alzheimers-2026

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

08/24/2026

Memory Café is back this fall!

We’re kicking off the season with a visit to the Philly Goat Project at the Farm at Awbury Arboretum on September 11.

Spend the morning meeting the goats, feeding and petting them, and enjoying time together outdoors.

📅 Friday, September 11
⏰ 10:30 a.m.–noon
📍 Philly Goat Project at the Farm at Awbury

Memory Café is free and open to older adults and family caregivers in the Penn Memory Center community.

Sign up here: pennmedicine.trumba.com/penn-memory-center/Memory-Caf-Philly-Goat-Project/E206759792

08/20/2026

Some of the best support comes from being in a room with people who understand.

Meet Rachel Marx, GUIDE Social Worker at the Penn Memory Center. Rachel loves leading our caregiver classes and watching participants learn from one another. She is especially grateful for the care people show each other and for everything they bring to the conversation.

Learn more about Rachel here pennmemorycenter.org/who-we-are/rachel-marx-msw-lsw-2, and stay tuned as we continue introducing the faces of the Penn Memory Center.

08/19/2026

What does taking care of your brain look like over a lifetime?

Many of the same habits that support overall health also play a role in brain health. Managing blood pressure and cholesterol matters. So does staying socially connected, addressing hearing or vision loss, getting enough sleep, and eating well.

Penn Memory Center Co-Director Jason Karlawish, MD, reminds us that while dementia is common, it is not inevitable. Many risk factors are connected, especially those involving heart and brain health.

These healthy habits benefit your whole body—including your brain—and may help contribute to lower dementia risk over time.

08/17/2026

Why are communities most affected by dementia still underrepresented in aging research?

In “Building Trust,” we revisit the role trust and community relationships play in creating more equitable dementia research and care.

Penn Memory Center Assistant Outreach Manager Morgann Adams shares how she builds connections with Black and African American communities in Philadelphia. Eddie Lee, MD, PhD, discusses how social and structural factors affect brain health, while Reverend Leroy Miles reflects on Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church’s relationship with the Penn Memory Center.

Revisit “Building Trust” from The Age of Aging at ageofaging.org/episodes/building-trust

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

08/13/2026

How might lifestyle choices help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease?

Join the Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center for the 20th Annual Martin Family Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Symposium on Friday, September 4.

Ozioma Okonkwo, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin, will present “Pushing Back Against Alzheimer’s Disease: Evidence for the Role of Lifestyle” as part of the Austrom Commemorative Lecture.

The event will be held in Indianapolis, with a virtual option available.

Register here: bit.ly/4vTohtJ