Penn Memory Center

What if a stroke or heart issue could increase your risk for dementia? That’s the case with vascular dementia, a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. It’s more common than many realize. This video from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) explains how vascular dementia develops, signs to watch for, and what can be done to help prevent its progression. ?? Watch now and share with your network. (Link in comments)

?? What does spring smell like? ?? What’s a beautiful sound? If those questions made you pause, you’re not alone. They’re called “Beautiful Questions”—designed to spark reflection, connection, and creativity. In a special episode of The Age of Aging podcast, MacArthur fellow Dr. Anne Basting joins us to explore how these questions can open new doors to communication—especially for older adults with cognitive impairment. Listen now! (Link in comments)

In a new op-ed for STAT, Dr. Jason Karlawish, co-director of Penn Memory Center, shares the real-world impact of proposed $880 billion cuts to Medicaid. His message is grounded in stories from our clinic — caregivers and patients who would lose the lifelines keeping them safe and supported. ?? Read how these changes would roll back decades of progress in dementia care. (Link in comments) ?? Photo courtesy: STAT

With advances in biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s, disclosing a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia is more complex than ever. Yet, many clinicians still struggle with when and how to have these conversations. A new perspective from Dr. Kyra O’Brien and colleagues at Penn Medicine offers a practical roadmap for clinicians, emphasizing that disclosure should be the default—while also recognizing cases where timing and approach matter. “As with most things, the more clinicians discuss this topic and disclose diagnoses, the more comfortable they will become,” says Dr. O’Brien. Tap the link in comments to read more.

The way we speak may provide critical insights into cognitive health. At the last Alzheimer's Association International Conference, Penn researchers presented studies on speech analysis as a tool for early detection of cognitive decline in ALS-FTD and primary progressive aphasia (PPA). ?? Sanjana Shellikeri found that ALS-FTD patients spoke in shorter segments, used fewer adjectives, and had longer pauses. ?? Galit Agmon developed an algorithm that quantifies syntactic complexity in speech, tracking cognitive decline over time. Learn more about their work by tapping the link in comments.

A new book is raising concerns about the integrity of Alzheimer’s research—but does the evidence hold up? In his latest piece, Penn Memory Center Co-Director Dr. Jason Karlawish argues that while misconduct exists in science, the claim that anti-amyloid therapies like lecanemab and donanemab are fraudulent is an overreach—and that this narrative is causing harm by shaking public trust in legitimate treatments and research. Read Dr. Karlawish’s full response. (Link in comments)

?? MRI technology is a critical tool in both clinical care and research. In this video, PMC Co-Director Dr. Dave Wolk explains how MRI helps advance our understanding of memory and neurological conditions. Learn more about how imaging contributes to cutting-edge studies at Penn Memory Center.

New findings published in Science Advances explore the role of hormones, menopause, and the X chromosome in brain aging—revealing insights that impact both women and men. With 2/3 of Alzheimer’s patients being women, this research is more critical than ever. Yet, women remain underrepresented in clinical trials and biomedical studies. Tap the link in comments to learn more about the research.

AI is increasingly used in healthcare, but how can it ethically support patients and caregivers in end-of-life decisions? Penn Nursing Ph.D. student Oonjee Oh is leading research on the intersection of AI, palliative care, and bioethics—examining machine learning models, chatbots, and NLP for caregiver support. With faculty mentors Dr. George Demiris and Dr. Connie M. Ulrich, Oh’s work explores fairness, accountability, and the patient’s voice in AI-driven care. Learn more about her research and its implications for the future of healthcare. (Link in comments) ?? Photo courtesy of Penn Today

Deadline fast approaching! Apply now for the Christopher M. Clark Scholars Program at Penn Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC)! ? 2-year training for postdocs, grad students & junior faculty ? Up to $20K per year in financial support ? Mentorship & career development in ADRD research Deadline: March 17 Start Date: July 1 Apply today!?(Link in comments)