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The year 2025 was full of breakthroughs, debates, and big questions in Alzheimer’s research. One event that shaped many of these conversations? The Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) Conference. It may not have been on everyone’s radar, but its impact was undeniable.

In this special episode, Penn Memory Center Co-Directors Dr. Jason Karlawish and Dr. David Wolk share what stood out at CTAD, what’s changing in the field, and what to watch next.

Inside this episode:

• Anti-amyloid therapies update: Where things stand with lecanemab and donanemab, and what the next generation of these drugs could look like

• GLP-1 disappointment: Why Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide trials for Alzheimer’s disease came up short

• Lifestyle interventions: The latest findings from the POINTER Study and what they mean for brain health

Art that tries to teach you things “stinks,” says playwright and actor Jake Broder.

“And yet there is a profound need for education, for awareness, for reducing stigma, for supporting the community and for medical education,” he said. A few years ago, while writing his latest play about the two individuals with frontotemporal dementia, he wrestled with how he could do both.

In the season 4 finale of the Age of Aging, we tell the story of UnRavelled, a play about perseverance through neurodegeneration, burgeoning creativity late in life and an artistic relationship across time. Producer Jake Johnson shares his first-hand experience of the play’s premiere and how it combined theater with community outreach and education.

What’s inside:

• A historical perspective on composer Maurice Ravel’s brain condition and his work, “Bolero.”

• An explanation from Dr. Bruce Miller on the relationship between frontotemporal degeneration and creativity.

• Jake Broder’s insight into the inspiration and creation of the play as well as the associated Brain Health Festival.
• The perspective of the show’s director and cast on creating the play and its core themes.

If you asked most caregivers, they would probably say there’s nothing funny about caring for someone with dementia. The stress, grief, and frustration can feel overwhelming. But what if the principles of improv comedy — being present, saying “yes,” and working together — could make caregiving easier and more joyful?

In this episode of the Age of Aging, we explore the surprising connection between improv and dementia care. You’ll hear how techniques from the stage are helping caregivers reduce stress, improve communication, and find moments of joy.

What’s inside:

• A peek inside the Penn Memory Center’s Cognitive Comedy class, where caregivers and people living with dementia learn improv basics.

• Dr. Anne Basting on why asking questions and staying present matters in tough caregiving moments.

• Improv teacher and elder care educator Karen Stobbe shares her personal story of using improv to care for her mother with Alzheimer’s.

• Researchers Dr. Candace Kemp, Dr. Jennifer Craft Morgan, and Amanda Lee Williams discuss the science behind improv’s benefits for caregivers.

• Leah Lawler, creator of Cognitive Comedy, explains why teaching improv to older adults is her passion.

Whether you’re a caregiver, a healthcare professional, or simply curious about creative approaches to aging, this episode offers practical insights and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about care.

Innovation in dementia care is revolutionizing the way we diagnose and treat older adults with neurodegenerative diseases. New tests have allowed doctors to diagnose patients with diseases like Alzheimer’s more accurately than ever before. The anti-amyloid therapies Lecanemab and Donanemab provide a real treatment for those living with Alzheimer’s. While these innovations are incredible for those experiencing dementia, they are also beginning to change our culture around dementia generally.

On this episode of the Age of Aging, Terrence Casey sits down with Dr. Jason Karlawish to talk about major steps forward in dementia care and how they’re changing the way we speak about dementia.

At the Penn Memory Center, we often recommend exercise, social engagement, and a solid support system to help people age well. Owning a dog is not on that list, but maybe it should be. For many older adults, dogs are more than companions. They’re motivators to stay active, reasons to connect with neighbors, and steady sources of comfort through life’s challenges. Emerging research suggests that that this age-old bond between humans and dogs may be one of our healthiest friendships. On this episode of The Age of Aging, we celebrate dogs, and how they might help us live long, healthy lives.

First, we hear from caregivers and dog owners about how their dogs help them care for their loved ones with dementia. Then, Professor Philip Tedeschi explains how humans’ co-evolution with dogs has made us perfect support system for one another. Lynn Cronomiz recounts how a powerful moment between a therapy dog and her mother with Alzheimer’s helped her process her mother’s passing. Finally, we explore humans’ inseparable connection with nature through the biophilia hypothesis.

By Meghan McCarthy 

Over the past decade, cannabis legalization has dramatically shifted consumption habits across the United States. As of 2024, cannabis is legal in 39 states for medical use and 24 states for recreational use. 

Estimates from 2023–2024 suggest that 15% of Americans report marijuana use—up nearly 10% from 2013. Young adults (19%) are more likely to use cannabis than adults age 55 and older (10%). 

As usage increases, questions arise about how cannabis may affect brain health over a lifetime. What is its relationship to dementia risk and care? We explored recent studies to better understand both the cognitive risks of cannabis and its emerging therapeutic uses.