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I-MEASURED is a study that seeks to better understand the experiences and priorities of persons living with dementia and their loved ones in order to improve the way we test new treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). I-MEASURED is led by Dr. Catherine Auriemma of The PAIR Center in partnership with Dr. Jason Karlawish of the Penn Memory Center.

By Meghan McCarthy 

In July of 2023, Quest Diagnostics released the Quest AD-Detect, a blood test marketed for individuals who have cognitive and memory problems and/or a family history of dementia. The test is not FDA approved.

Yet, instead of inciting excitement in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs), the test release left experts across the country concerned over test reliability and practice.

Here’s what you should know.

By Meghan McCarthy 

Rose looks down at a stack of bills on her kitchen counter and bottles of prescriptions besides them. The bills need to be paid. The pills, organized.

A month ago, the sight would cause immediate overwhelm for Rose. After her diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) earlier in the year, managing such tasks has become increasingly difficult.

Yet Rose doesn’t feel overwhelmed. After her diagnosis, Rose recognized that she needed more familial support. It was then that her clinician first taught her about supported decision making.

Just a month earlier, she and her niece developed a supported decision-making agreement. In it, they specified that Rose’s daughter would spend the first Saturday of the month helping pay bills and organize medications.

Supported decision making is a process by which somebody who has cognitive impairment finds a trusted other or network of others who can help them make their own decisions.

A supported decision-making agreement, like the one between Rose and her niece, is a customizable agreement between a deciding individual and their supporter. The document can specify support in areas ranging from personal care and money to health choices and work arrangements. It can be provided to third parties, such as the patient’s doctors, lawyer, or financial managers.

For individuals like Rose, or those with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (ADRDs), there will come a time when an individual’s capacity to make decisions declines or becomes limited.

At the Penn Memory Center (PMC), decision making capacity and the ability to support loved ones as this capacity changes is at the heart of the work done by Emily Largent, PhD, JD, RN, Jason Karlawish, MD, and Andrew Peterson, PhD. Their collaboration is a blend of skills in law, public policy, ethics, dementia care and the philosophy of mind.

By Jake Johnson

Jina Ko, PhD, one of the UPenn Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) Developmental Project recipients, was recently awarded a grant through the National Institute on Health’s (NIH) High-Risk, High-Reward Research program.  

“I am very excited and highly honored to be chosen for this award, which supports the high-risk, high-reward ideas and projects that I have always been passionate about pursuing,” said Dr. Ko. 

Dr. Ko, an assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, was one of three Penn researchers and among 85 scientists across the country to be selected for the funding. 

The program seeks to support scientists in the field of biomedical and behavioral science with research proposals that are creative, innovative, and have the potential to be widely impactful. The funding provided by this program is integral for these proposals whose inherent risk might cause them to struggle in the typical peer-review process. 

The awarded grant will go directly towards Dr. Ko’s work in developing medical diagnostic tools that can detect diseases early, monitor treatment response, and predict the effectiveness of these therapies. In particular, Dr. Ko’s team hopes to use these tools to detect neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease early.  

“This funding will enable us to build a platform that can measure previously undetectable signatures, opening up a new era and a paradigm shift in diagnostics and medicine,” said Dr. Ko. 

By Meghan McCarthy 

Some say a single moment can change your life. For Julio Galvez, DMD, this moment was when he met Dave Hoefner.

Years ago, the pair met in an elevator at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA). While strangers, both were headed to sculpture class.

Dave, a retired engineer, had taken numerous sculpting classes at PAFA. Julio, on the other hand, was new to the academy. A practicing dentist at the time, Julio was considering a transition to a career in the arts.

“I asked him many questions: ‘What do you think about the school?’ ‘Do you think it’ll be a good fit for me?’” said Julio. “It was a one-time interaction, but it helped me decide to stay at PAFA.”

It was a simple encounter. After a few minutes, the pair went their separate ways.

Yet the moment had an impact.

Julio was a graduate from Penn’s School of Dental Medicine. After twenty-five years of practice, in a radical move to redirect his life and pursue his passions, Julio started art school.

Dave’s advice inspired Julio to dive into coursework and ultimately begin working seven days a week at the academy, leaving dentistry behind.

Sculpture wouldn’t reconnect the kindred spirits until years later.

Dave began sculpture work after his first wife, MaryLou, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). She was only 52.

After her diagnosis, Dave retired from a career in engineering to care for her over 10 years. Whether it was carrying her through the house or spending quality time together, he was always by her side. But, like many caregivers facing burnout and stress, Dave needed to find respite and identity outside of his newfound caregiver role.

In his free time, Dave pursued stone carving at PAFA.

The Penn Memory Center (PMC) is offering a variety of free programs for people living with dementia, caregivers, and their loved ones. Scroll down to browse our selection of programs and sign up to attend.

By Meghan McCarthy

Since childhood, Matt Van Dongen, MD, has approached life as a climb. Whether adventuring through backyard woods or navigating patient care as a physician, he depends on his passion and curiosity.

He takes that perspective into his current role, as Penn Memory Center (PMC) clinical fellow.

Dr. Van Dongen grew up in rural West Virginia, with nature as his playground.

“There wasn’t a lot going on,” he said. “I kept myself busy because we lived right up against the woods. I think I naturally climbed onto whatever I could as I kid.”

By Meghan McCarthy

Penn Memory Center (PMC) Clark Scholar Victor Ekuta, MD, has recently been selected as a postdoctoral fellow scholar for the ANDI Health Equity Scholars Program (HESP).  

The prestigious program offers training, mentorship, and a generous research stipend to support developing physicians and scientists in the field of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).  

“I’m extremely humbled and honored to be selected for HESP,” said Dr. Ekuta. “I know that this award will be an important steppingstone toward becoming a culturally competent Alzheimer’s Disease physician-scientist ready to join the fight against Alzheimer’s disease inequities.” 

University of Pennsylvania clinicians and researchers who specialize in neurodegenerative diseases had a substantial presence at this year’s American Neurological Association (ANA) Annual Meeting, which took place September 9-12, in Philadelphia, PA.

Roy Hamilton, MD, MS, FANA, professor and vice chair for Inclusion and Diversity in the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, received the Audrey S. Penn Lectureship Award for his work promoting health equity in the field of neurology.

Three UPenn researchers, Defne Amado, MD, PhD; George Kannarkat, MD, PhD; and Daniel T Ohm, PhD; were recognized as ANA Emerging Scholar Speakers, early-career researchers who are conducting cutting-edge science.