Latest News

Postdoc researcher bolsters PMC’s biomarker disclosure work

Posted on September 19, 2022

By Meghan McCarthy

From reducing stigma to disclosing disease biomarkers, Claire Erickson, PhD, MPA, hopes to improve lives by improving the care given to older adults.

Dr. Erickson recently joined the University of Pennsylvania as a postdoctoral researcher. As a member of the Penn Program on Precision Medicine for the Brain (P3MB), she will continue her work on biomarker disclosure for patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

In AD, biomarkers are hallmark molecules such as tau or amyloid that help clinicians with diagnoses. Biomarker disclosure is the process of informing patients about the results of their biomarker testing.

Claire Erickson

Dr. Erickson began work on biomarker disclosure for cognitively unimpaired participants while pursuing her PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a part of the Neuroscience and Public Policy dual degree program, she also focused on the policy implications of her work. While putting together her thesis, Dr. Erickson collaborated with P3MB researcher and expert in biomarker disclosure Emily Largent, JD, PhD, RN, on her thesis.

“I am delighted that Dr. Erickson has joined us at Penn, and am looking forward to working with her on pressing issues at the intersection of Alzheimer’s disease and policy,” said Dr. Largent. “Her recent article on the social and policy implications of preclinical biomarker disclosure highlights her unique scholarly perspective.”

In wake of dashed hopes, researchers and advocates seek changes in study communications

Posted on September 13, 2022

By Meghan McCarthy

The morning of March 21, 2019, began unremarkably for Nancy and Mike Childs.

After waking up, they began their simple morning routine. Then they turned on the news, and their world shifted.

Reports informed them that the Phase III trial of the drug aducanumab run by Biogen and Eisai — a trial in which Mike was participating — had ceased, effective immediately. It was one thing to have their hopes of a successful treatment dashed without warning; it was another to have learned this news from the television.

After Mike Childs was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in 2014, he decided to enroll in the aducanumab trial, which aimed at slowing the progression of symptoms from MCI or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Mike enrolled with hope for himself and the future of his disease.

The trial became more than a potential treatment; it became a community for the Childses.

Fall Programming at the Penn Memory Center

Posted on August 23, 2022

Empowering Caregivers Workshop Series
Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 18, Dec. 9, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Experts will present on a variety of intensive caregiving topics and take audience questions.

Learn more about our Empowering Caregivers Workshop Series

Creative Expressions through Music
Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., starting Oct. 18, in-person

Join in on group singing, drum circles, and the creation of new musical works. This program is led by musicians from the Curtis Institute of Music.

RSVP for Creative Expressions Through Music

Mindfulness and Meditation
Thursdays, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., starting Oct. 13, virtual

Explore short meditation and mindfulness exercises that help reduce stress and ground you in the present moment.

RSVP for Mindfulness and Meditation

Creating Meaningful Connections with Persons Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Sept. 29, Oct. 13, Oct. 27, Nov. 10, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

In this 4-session, virtual program, caregivers will learn strategies to bring out their loved one’s abilities and communication skills.

RSVP for Creating Meaningful Connections

Shake It Up!
Mondays, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., virtual
Shake It Up! is an exercise program for all levels of mobility and experience.

RSVP for Shake It Up!

Cognitive Comedy
Tuesdays, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., virtual
Cognitive Comedy is a improv comedy workshop for people with cognitive impairment and their loved ones.

RSVP for Cognitive Comedy

Grief Yoga for Caregivers
Last Thursday of every month, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Licensed clinical social worker and yoga instructor Beth Segaloff will lead a yoga session to help process caregiving experiences and connect with others.

RSVP for Grief Yoga

Largest Alzheimer’s conference showcases ‘transformative time’ for dementia research

Posted on August 9, 2022

By Cait Kearney and Meghan McCarthy

Editor’s Note: This article is a broad summary of research at and beyond the University of Pennsylvania. We will revisit these topics in greater depth in the coming weeks.

University of Pennsylvania researchers at AAIC 2022

Penn Memory Center scientists gathered last week with colleagues from around the world in San Diego, California, to share their pioneering research at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2022 — the world’s largest academic conference for dementia research.

Promising advancements in Alzheimer’s diagnostics, interventions, and the understanding of the basic science of the disease were on display at this year’s conference.

“We are in a transformative time,” said Penn Memory Center (PMC) Co-director David Wolk, MD.

She went from volunteer to presenting at the world’s largest Alzheimer’s conference

Posted on August 3, 2022

By Cait Kearney

Kimberly Halberstadter came to the Penn Memory Center in 2018, trying to get her foot in the door as an undergraduate volunteer. Today she’s a full-time employee representing the University of Pennsylvania at the world’s largest Alzheimer’s academic conference.

As an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, Halberstadter started working on the development of the Mobile Cognitive App Performance Program (MCAPP) and documented her work for her undergraduate thesis. After graduation, she rejoined the Penn Memory Center (PMC) as clinical researcher coordinator, collecting data for MCAPP.

Now, she’s presenting the results of the first round of data collection at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2022.

Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton (left) and Kimberly Halberstadter (right) presenting their research poster at AAIC

Researcher looking for LBGTQIA+ caregivers to participate in important study

Posted on August 3, 2022

Are you caring for someone with memory loss?

Please consider taking part in our research study, Qcare/Quidar, by participating in an interview online or by telephone that explores your lived experiences, including physical, mental, and social health, related to being a racial/ethnic minority, and a LGBTQIA+ caregiver to someone with memory loss. You are eligible if you meet all of the following criteria:

Identify as a racial/ethnic minority
Identify as LGBTQIA+
Ability to complete an interview for no longer than 2 hours, either in
English or Spanish
Ability to confirm you provide care to someone with memory loss
using a short screening tool

Exclusion criteria: Current and severe substance use/abuse, psychiatric disorders, and/or inability to provide verbal consent.

You will receive a $50 gift card for your participation, and will have the option to participate in Spanish or English.

For more information or to participate in this study, please contact the principal investigator Krystal Kittle at the University of Nevada Las Vegas:
krystal.kittle@unlv.edu

Sex and gender minority (SGM) caregivers experience more health issues, discrimination

Posted on August 2, 2022

By Meghan McCarthy

Caregiving is an essential element to the safety and wellbeing of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Yet, little has been done to understand the diverse experiences of caregivers who inevitably have different lives and identities.

Although there isn’t nationally representative data, an estimated 11 percent of ADRD caregivers identify as sex and gender minorities (SGM).

Krystal Kittle, PhD, is a visiting research assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the school of public health, social and behavioral health department. Dr. Kittle’s current research focuses on caregiving experiences, health, and wellbeing of racial/ethnically diverse SGM ADRD caregivers.

Dr. Kittle is dedicating her current research to fill this gap.

UPenn researchers ‘truly disappointed’ over alleged data fabrication, stand by role of amyloid

Posted on July 27, 2022

Graphic representation of a neuron with amyloid plaques (2) and tau tangles (1), signs of Alzheimer’s disease. (by Nina Miller)

Last week, the journal Science reported that an Alzheimer’s disease scientist may have fabricated research data, particularly in one influential study on the role of amyloid as one of the causes of the neuron death seen in persons with Alzheimer’s disease.

The journal Nature, which in 2006 published the work of Sylvain Lesné of the University of Minnesota (UMN), Twin Cities, announced the paper is under investigation.

“My colleagues and I are truly disappointed over these accusations of image manipulation and presentation of false data. Science lives by an honor code that is essential to the progress we all hope to make. Unfortunately, these kinds of issues with scientific integrity have arisen in many fields of research, and it is clear that Alzheimer’s disease research is one of those,” said Dr. David Wolk, director of the Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) and co-director of the Penn Memory Center.

“Fortunately in this case, there has been much parallel work in the field. Failed attempts of replication of the data of this particular scientist have avoided significant misdirection of work stemming from these findings. However, this does further accentuate the need for replication studies to be well-funded and published to assure novel findings are correct.”

Though this one particularly study “may be problematic,” it does not change that beta-amyloid plays an important role in Alzheimer’s disease, said Dr. Edward Lee, a neuropathologist and associate director of the Penn ADRC.

“I have seen some of the data images. They do seem to show that changes were likely made. However, I am a strong believer in due process and urge everyone to wait for a full investigation to be conducted. More importantly, science is very rarely driven by a single piece of data or one published paper. Rather, our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease comes from many decades of research where different studies and publications forms layer upon layer of corroborating evidence,” he said.

“Just because one study may be problematic does not cause the entire field to collapse. My read of the literature, with or without this one study, is that beta-amyloid remains one of several important factors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Dr. Estevana Isaac heads to Mount Sinai Hospital; PMC and welcomes new clinical fellow Dr. Catherine Norise

Posted on July 27, 2022

By Meghan McCarthy

Estevana Isaac

PMC is saying goodbye to clinical fellow Estevana Isaac, MD, and is welcoming Catherine Norise, MD, into the clinical fellowship program.

As a clinical fellow, Dr. Isaac trained for her subspecialization in cognitive and behavioral neurology. This has included clinical work, research, and professional development.

“My favorite experience has been working with families and patients in clinic. Having one on one time, hearing their stories, and being part of their journeys was incredibly meaningful,” said Dr. Isaac.

During her time, Dr. Isaac took full advantage of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Specifically, her research focused on disparities in health outcomes for patients with diverse cultural backgrounds.

Now, at the end of her fellowship, she will continue working with patients who have Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY.

“Within dementia care, I am interested in healthcare models that will help vulnerable patient populations access healthcare,” said Dr. Isaac.

For ‘brain training,’ try engaging experiences

Posted on July 19, 2022

The first of three tips from AARP’s Global Council on Brain Health. Find tips 2 and 3 below and the complete infographic here.

By Meghan McCarthy

Each night, before bed, William* takes out his book of sudoku puzzles. Patiently, he pencils in numbers 1 through 9 across the puzzle — always in pencil, as he inevitably ends up needing to erase some guesses.

Some nights he completes the whole puzzle, other nights he finishes just one section, but when he feels he’s hit enough of a milestone, he turns out his light, takes off his glasses, and goes to sleep.

The routine was suggested by William’s wife, who heard that brain games like sudoku help with cognitive functioning. When William began displaying symptoms of dementia, she bought a collection of puzzle books and left them on his bedside table. And so, sudoku became their nightly ritual.

Sudoku is one example of brain games, which are tasks that are advertised as ways to exercise your brain and sharpen cognition.

Brain training is a subset of brain games.

“Brain training is typically some kind of computerized task that is done on a schedule to try to strengthen a particular area of thinking,” said Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton, PhD, ABPP/CN, director of the Cognitive Fitness Programs and Neuropsychological Services at the Penn Memory Center.

Dr. Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton (center)

Certain websites and apps market brain training products as a resource to slow or prevent cognitive decline. But there isn’t thorough evidence to support that these products improve cognitive functioning in older adults. Dr. Mechanic-Hamilton argues that the best way to keep your brain active comes from engaging experiences.

“Learning and challenging your brain throughout your life has a protective effect over the course of your life” said Dr. Mechanic-Hamilton. “I tell people to pick tasks and hobbies which will be challenging and enjoyable to stick with.”

When picking an activity to challenge your brain, it is important to pick something that continues to get harder.

Unlike computerized products, which can be isolating, best types of activities for the brain are what Dr. Mechanic-Hamilton calls a “two for one,” because they involve both socialization and learning. This includes taking an exercise class with friends, attending book clubs, or going to lectures on a favorite topic.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to brain engaging activities, however.

An older adult with unimpaired cognition will require different challenges than an individual living with dementia. Brain-engaging activities will also change throughout one’s life.

For the recently retired, Dr. Mechanic-Hamilton suggests taking up hobbies or interests that were once a part of earlier life or something they’d always wanted to try.

To try to help a loved one stay cognitively active, Dr. Mechanic-Hamilton suggests activities of nostalgia, such as looking through and discussing photo albums, playing a loved one’s favorite music, or cooking family recipes.

*Pseudonym

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