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Dance for Health

Saturdays, Sept. 29 to Nov. 17, 2018
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Ralston Center, 1st Floor Wellness Center
3615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Dance for Health, weekly dance sessions and social activities that promote brain health and healthy living among participants in West Philadelphia, will return to the Ralston Center this fall. With the support of the Penn Medicine CARES grant, the program is free and open to the public. Classes will be held at the 1st Floor Wellness Center in Ralston Center, 3615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

By Kaleah McIlwain

There’s a dance people do when they start listening to music and are getting a feel for it.

Some people sway back and forth, others bob their head.

On a Saturday morning, David Earley did both as he waited for the class participants to arrive.

Wearing a coordinated outfit of all-white Nike Air Force shoes, black jeans, a white and red jersey with the words “you’re in good hands,” and a red baseball cap, Earley set up his small gray boombox at the front of the room and began playing “Same Ole 2step” by Ent Distrikt. The music was a cue for everyone in the room to get up and start dancing.

September Memory Café
Friday, September 28
10:30 a.m. to Noon
Christ Church Neighborhood House
20 N. American Street, Philadelphia
RSVP: alison.lynn@uphs.upenn.edu

By Danielle Kennedy

As a Penn MPH student, I wondered how Penn researchers could strengthen their relationship with West Philadelphians. Working with Dance for Health in the spring enabled me to give back to the research community through social dance classes. Dance for Health (DFH), a partnership between the Penn Memory Center and Ralston House, creates a space for older adults in Philadelphia to get active through dance and preserve their cognitive health.

In the beginning, I was unsure if I would take part in learning the dance routines. I had never taken a line dancing class; but when the music started, it felt natural to join in. Dancing with DFH participants every Saturday helped me connect with them. Each time I started dancing on the wrong foot or turned left instead of right, I was encouraged to keep going by the DFH participants’ warm smiles.

As the weeks progressed, I noticed the dance instructors were not giving us as many instructions as they used to. I realized then that the instructors were testing participants’ memories of the choreography. I also looked forward to strengthening my relationship with DFH participants each Saturday and learned that they enjoyed the social aspect of the program as well. The older adults told me they appreciated that DFH provided them with a break from their usual routine and a chance to connect with others. Some participants brought friends or family members to class while others enjoyed making new friends and bonding over shared experiences between dances.

Interestingly enough, previous research suggests a positive correlation between social interaction and health. Working with DFH, I was able to witness firsthand how social dance can bring you joy and health.

Danielle Kennedy was a 2017-2018 Penn Memory Center intern.

Jerry Mikszewski, MD

PMC neurologist Jerry Mikszewski, MD, Clinical Associate of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine, announced his retirement on Friday. In his time at the Penn Memory Center, Dr. Mikszewski has been an integral member of the PMC clinical team. A neurologist, his expertise in dementia and cognitive impairments has been invaluable for the care of PMC patients and the education of the PMC community.

“It has been truly a pleasure working with Jerry during his time at Penn,” David Wolk, MD, PMC Co-Director, says. “I believe we have all learned much from him and his unique perspective on the care of patients with cognitive impairment and dementia. I also greatly appreciate his kind manner and gentle humor – I am sure his patients do as well!”

Felicia Greenfield, Executive Director, says, “I will miss working with Jerry. His unwavering support of the social work team demonstrated his commitment to improving patient outcomes. I will miss his welcoming smile and his warm, approachable demeanor. I wish Jerry and his family all the very best on this new chapter in life. He will be missed!”

PMC Co-Director Dr. David Wolk presents at the 2018 Research Partner Thank You Luncheon.

By Erin Alessandroni

The number of Alzheimer’s cases and related deaths has been sharply increasing, making it what some call a “global epidemic” and “public health crisis”. While the cost of care to our nation is rising, research shows that early diagnosis of cognitive decline could lead to individual and national long-term savings.

This year’s Alzheimer’s Disease 2018 Facts and Figures report includes the alarming fact that by 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is estimated to reach 7.1 million, an increase from the 5.5 million age 65 and older affected in 2018.

John Witzman (left) was always by his wife Jacqueline’s side as she participated in a clinical trial at the Penn Memory Center. Jacqueline has Alzheimer’s disease. (Photo by Terrence Casey)

By Joyce Lee

In the world of clinical research, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) studies stand out due to their requirement of study partners: often a spouse, child, or close friend who provides support for the patient undergoing memory testing, MRI brain scans, and trial drug infusions.

But the importance of study partners also extends to the preclinical setting. As researchers start to study and identify individuals at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease with genes and biomarkers, study partners can help reduce participants’ anxiety and distress, report to researchers how participants are doing, and ensure findings of these studies have practical applications.

This is why Penn Memory Center Co-Director Jason Karlawish, MD, and University of California, Irvine Professor Joshua Grill, PhD, argue that study partners should be required in all preclinical Alzheimer’s disease studies. Their review article was published in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy.

By Erin Alessandroni

Research suggests that cognitive complaints are associated with greater self-reported negative psychological feelings. This relationship could have implications on Alzheimer’s prevention trials and management of clinical populations in research.

PMC Co-director Jason Karlawish, MD; PMC Scholar Shana Stites, PsyD, MS, MA; PMC Senior Research Coordinator Kristin Harkins, MPH; and Manager of Psychometrics for the National Board of Medical Examiners Jonathan Rubright examined the relationship between self-reports of cognitive complaints and quality of life in people with varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Their findings were published in the Alzheimer’s Disease & Associated Disorders International Journal.