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By Cynthia Clyburn

A recent report published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and funded by Novartis evaluated the effects of three neurological conditions — migraine, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) — on people in the workplace.

With increased life expectancy and extended retirement ages, more older adults are part of the workforce. As a result, a growing number of employees are either living with AD or caring for someone with AD.

“Previously, by the time we saw these patients, they would be quite disabled and their history would include how they stopped work,” Penn Memory Center Co-Director Jason Karlawish wrote. “More often than not, now they have milder symptoms [of AD] and people are still at work [as they were diagnosed earlier].”

The Philadelphia Financial Exploitation Prevention Task Force

By Christine Willinger

A 77-year-old widow requests a withdrawal of $20,000 from her bank account. She just purchased a second home and needs the funds for home improvement, she says, and an account manager approves the request. 

One week later, she withdraws $30,000 for the same reason. The request goes through easily. 

Another week goes by; now she requests $100,000 for an “investment.” Concerned, the account manager offers to vet this investment opportunity, but she declines. The request goes through. 

The withdrawals were for neither home improvements nor investment opportunities; she was making payments to a “friend,” made on an online dating site, who claimed to need financial support to visit her in the U.S. 

This is a real case described by Nancy Heffner, CRCP, Director of Compliance at Lincoln Investment Planning and panelist at this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event, held by the Philadelphia Financial Exploitation Prevention Task Force.

01 Siemens MAGNETOM Trio by Image Editor. CC-BY-2.0 via Flickr.

By Christine Willinger

Measuring blood flow in the brain with MRI may help predict decreases in brain volume due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a recent study published by Penn Memory Center researchers in the journal Hippocampus. 

By Janissa Delzo

David Dyke has a hard time remembering details and dates.

“But he knows when this is,” Sue Dyke says of her husband, a patient at the Penn Memory Center. “It’s written down in his calendar, he knows it’s time to come to the Memory Café.”

By Leah Fein

Music is a shared language, the sounds often allowing for complex sharing of emotions and experiences.

The piece begins with sounds of anticipation, moves to excitement and stress, and ends in feelings of relief. With the help of musicians from the Curtis Institute of Music, Penn Memory Center (PMC) community members translated their emotions of moving into music.

By Linnea Langkammer

Faster cognitive decline in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with a gene once thought to only be connected to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), new research from the University of Pennsylvania finds.

Versions of the gene, TMEM106B, have long been associated with a higher risk and disease severity in a subtype of FTD called FTLD-TDP. But emerging evidence demonstrates TMEM106B may play a role in other neurodegenerative diseases, like PD and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

By Leah Fein

The use of dietary supplements will not improve brain health or prevent cognitive decline, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new report from the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH).

Dietary supplements are products that contain a “dietary ingredient,” like vitamins and minerals. Supplements can come in many forms too, such as pills, powders, liquids, and food bars.

“It’s tempting to think you can pop a pill and prevent dementia—but the science says that doesn’t work,” said Sarah Lenz Lock, AARP senior vice president for policy and GCBH executive director. “The good news is, we know what will help to keep your brain healthy: exercise, a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, challenging your thinking skills, and connecting with others.

“Rather than buying a dietary supplement, spend your money on new walking shoes or a salmon dinner.”

The Penn Memory Center continued its new Empowering Caregivers speaker series this year with Jerry Rothkoff, Esq., who presented “Elder Care Issues and the Law.”

Empowering Caregivers gives caregivers access to area experts who present on a variety of intensive topics, from in-home activities to end-of-life care.

All sessions are full. We appreciate your enthusiasm

Penn Memory Center Co-Director Jason Karlawish, MD, recently lead a discussion about ways to keep an aging brain healthy at a packed house at the Ralston Wellness Center.  

From debunking the Alzheimer’s-preventing ability of Sodoku and cognitive supplements to recommending a heart-healthy, Mediterranean diet, Dr. Karlawish spent the majority of the hour answering questions from the crowd.

As a foundation to the discussion, Dr. Karlawish explained commonly-heard terms, such as mild cognitive impairment and “memory center,” and clarified the distinction between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Healthy aging requires adults to challenge your brain and stay both physically active and socially engaged, according to the Global Council on Brain Health, of which Dr. Karlawish is a member.