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When Susan Sargent was living with frontotemporal dementia, communicating with her husband, Mitch Goldman, became increasingly difficult. But laughter offered them a way to reconnect. 

The couple participated in Penn Memory Center’s Comedic Connection program, which brings people living with cognitive impairment together through improvisational comedy. 

Their experience with humor took on new meaning during a visit to the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, where classic comedy and interactive exhibits sparked memories, conversation and shared laughter. 

Alzheimer’s disease ended his career as a physician and threw his life into chaos, but Dr. Brent Beasley says he feels hopeful. In fact, he said the new anti-amyloid therapies available for patients like himself have made him an “Alzheimer’s survivor.” In this episode, Dr. Jason Karlawish sits with Dr. Beasley to hear his story, how his community has continued to sustain him, and why there’s reason to be hopeful about an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2026.

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 patients and caregivers who are considering anti-amyloid therapies, treatments designed to remove amyloid plaques from the brain and slow cognitive decline in people with early Alzheimer’s disease. Patients are referred to her by their PMC providers and, with their consent, receive support throughout the process, from understanding treatment options and scheduling appointments to addressing questions about side effects, insurance and cost. 

For families facing complicated medical decisions, Lo offers a familiar point of contact they can turn to with questions and concerns. In some ways, the role feels familiar to her, too. 

There are a few things we know can help keep our brains healthy as we age like exercise, social connection, learning a new skill, and creative expression. One activity combines all of these, but it might also bring back memories of early childhood embarrassment. In this episode, we explore dance as a tool for healthy aging, and why it might be and why it may be one of the best things we can do for longevity.

At The Age of Aging, we often talk about the importance of physical activity and a healthy diet for brain longevity. However, one of the best things you can do to promote brain health as you age may also seem unlikely: hanging out with your friends.

In this episode, we explore the growing body of research linking social isolation and loneliness to cognitive decline and dementia risk. We’ll hear from older adults navigating loneliness, researchers studying its effects on the brain, and members of a unique housing community designed to help older adults stay connected.

Later, Terrence Casey, Jake Johnson, and Executive Producer Dr. Jason Karlawish reflect on what loneliness looks like in clinical practice, why social isolation can complicate dementia diagnosis and care, and what listeners can do to build stronger social connections throughout their lives.

At the Age of Aging, we often speak with researchers and clinicians who have devoted their careers to understanding dementia and caring for the people living with it. Less often, we hear what happens when dementia becomes personal for those same experts.

In this episode, neuropsychologist Dr. Emma Rhodes shares her experience caring for her father, Jack, following his diagnosis of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. In conversation with Penn Memory Center Director of Social Work Allison Lynn, Emma reflects on grief, stigma, caregiving, and the challenges of navigating life as both a dementia expert and a daughter. Then, Executive Producer Dr. Jason Karlawish and Editorial Director Terrence Casey unpack some of the interview’s most powerful moments, connecting Emma’s experience to broader lessons about caregiving and dementia care.

What makes a house a home? And what happens when that home no longer works for the person living in it? In this episode, we explore the emotional and practical challenges of downsizing and moving later in life — from letting go of decades of possessions to navigating dementia, family dynamics, and the fear of what comes next.

Welcome to our annual summer bonus episode of the Age of Aging, where our Penn Memory Center experts reflect on the latest research from the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC). On today’s episode, Age of Aging Executive Producer and PMC Co-Director Dr. Jason Karlawish sat down with Co-Director Dr. David Wolk and Dr. Chris Brown to unpack their biggest takeaways from their time in London. They discuss everything from new blood-based biomarkers to the latest data on anti-amyloid and tau-targeting therapies as well as what the future of Alzheimer’s treatment may look like.

The Age of Aging will return for Season 6 in September, so please make sure you’re subscribed wherever you get your podcasts, and we’ll see you soon.

From time to time, the Penn Memory Center will share selected pieces from Making Sense of Alzheimer’s, a project that explores how people understand and live with Alzheimer’s disease. Through essays, stories, and reflections, this series brings forward voices from patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, artists, and writers.

Constance McBride took a long look around the assisted living facility, struck by the gender imbalance among her mother’s peers.

They were predominantly women — wives and mothers, shaped as children by the Great Depression, who had gone on to outlive their spouses. Many of these members of “The Lonely Girls” club were also plagued with memory loss.

Shortly after, the inspired McBride developed The Lonely Girls, a collection of seven sculptures depicting women suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. She is quick to point out that the sculptures are not meant to represent any specific woman, for the most part.

From time to time, the Penn Memory Center will share selected pieces from Making Sense of Alzheimer’s, a project that explores how people understand and live with Alzheimer’s disease. Through essays, stories, and reflections, this series brings forward voices from patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, artists, and writers.