An Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Penn Memory Center (PMC) Co-Director Jason Karlawish, MD, delivered the 2023 Renée C. Fox Lecture in Medicine, Culture, & Society.
In his talk, Dr. Karlawish explored the difference between the physical brain, able to be seen and measured, and the extension of self known as the mind in persons living with dementia.
Dear PMC Care Partners,
Do you remember the day you and your loved one learned about a dementia diagnosis? Whether the diagnosis the doctor delivered was mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, or another cognitive impairment, it’s always described as a scary moment for both the patient and the care partner.
As executive director of the Penn Memory Center (PMC), I have a background in social work that helped me develop, deliver and grow the robust support system we have been providing to families in our care since 2008. From counseling and coaching to classes for caregivers, support groups, memory cafes, Time Together, and the many other ways we support families living with dementia, our goal is to bridge the gaps in dementia care and help families cope with changes, navigate the complexities of managing these progressive illnesses, and tend to their social and emotional wellbeing.
By Cait Kearney
Roy Hamilton
Penn Memory Center (PMC) neurologist Roy Hamilton, MD, MS, was awarded the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Changemaker Award for his “tremendous dedication” to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“Winning the AAN Changemaker Award is one of the highlights of my career as a neurologist and as a diversity advocate,” said Dr. Hamilton.
Dr. Hamilton co-directs PMC’s Summer Training in Aging Research (STAR) program — an academic opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in aging research of underrepresented groups.
Brain scans show clearance of amyloid plaques, shown in red, in two patients, A and B, who received donanemab, compared to higher levels of amyloid in a patient who received placebo (bottom) in Eli Lilly’s trial. (time.com)
The investigational drug donanemab was found to slow cognitive decline in people living with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, Eli Lilly announced this morning.
In the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 study of 1,700 participants, including at the Penn Memory Center, donanemab slowed cognitive decline by 35 percent in people who received the drug compared to those taking a placebo.
“This is the first Phase 3 trial of any investigational medicine for Alzheimer’s disease to deliver 35 percent slowing of clinical and functional decline,” said Daniel Skovronsky, MD, PhD, Eli Lilly’s chief scientific and medical officer.
Donanemab carries the risk of brain bleeding and swelling, known as ARIA. About 2 percent of study participants experienced serious ARIA.
Drs. Jason Karlawish and David Wolk, PMC co-directors, said they look forward to a formal presentation of these results in published research and at a conference in late July but offered that this could be “a true inflection point for the field.”
They draw three clear lessons from this announcement, particularly following the success of Biogen’s lecanemab:
Penn researchers are particularly interested in learning more about the strategies for dosing and stopping donanemab, which could make this a more practical and less expensive option for treatment in the future.
Once PMC researchers have had a chance to access and review more data, a community discussion will be held for patients and families.
The Penn Memory Center (PMC) is thrilled to announce that former social work intern, Rachel Marx, has accepted a position as the PMC’s very first Social Work Fellow.
Marx will be training under PMC’s director of social work, Alison Lynn, MSW, LCSW, to gain advanced and specialized skills in providing brief treatment psychotherapy (6-8 weeks in duration) to people living with dementia and their family caregivers.
Rachel Marx
Marx’s services will be provided free of charge to PMC patients and their family members in order to ensure that anyone who needs supportive therapy can access it regardless of financial means or insurance coverage.
To read more about what psychotherapy looks like in the context of dementia, click here: Demystifying psychotherapy: How therapy can help you.
Marx will start working with patients both in-person and via telemedicine in early June. In the meantime, if you or a family member are interested in seeing her, please contact Alison Lynn at alison.lynn@pennmedicine.upenn.edu or 267-239-1968 to join the waiting list.
Por Meghan McCarthy y traducido por Jessica Moreno, Valerie Ramos y Camila Loaiza
Las comunidades latinas de adultos mayores son algunas de las más sedentarias del condado, pero una investigadora de la Universidad de Pensilvania ha demostrado que las clases de educación en bienestar y la actividad física en grupo pueden ayudar a mejorar los resultados de la salud.
Estos mejoramientos universales podrían conducir a una mejor salud cognitiva.
“Para mí, se trata de la memoria”, dijo Adriana Pérez, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN, de la facultad de enfermería de Penn. “El cerebro es capaz de aprender cosas nuevas sin importar la edad”.
El CDC informa que el 32.1 % de los latinos mayores viven un estilo de vida inactivo fuera del trabajo: el más alto entre todos los grupos de raza/etnicidad.
Esto se debe en gran parte a los determinantes sociales y estructurales de la salud, como el acceso alimenticio, atención médica, vivienda y vecindarios e ingresos seguros. Estas necesidades cotidianas son esenciales para el envejecimiento saludable del cerebro.
Los latinos son más propensos que sus pares a enfrentar dificultades para caminar al aire libre debido a temperaturas extremas o problemas de seguridad. Al contrario de las poblaciones blancas, es más probable que las comunidades latinas tengan dificultades para pagar programas de actividad física o membresías en gimnasios. Las barreras del idioma también pueden obstaculizar las clases grupales de actividad.
Participantes de Tiempo Juntos con la promotora de salud comunitaria, Ruby Rivera y la Dra. Pérez
By Meghan McCarthy
Latino older adult communities are some of the most sedentary in the country, but one University of Pennsylvania researcher has shown that group fitness and wellness education classes can help improve universal health outcomes.
These universal improvements could lead to improved cognitive health.
“To me, it speaks to memory,” said Adriana Perez, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN, of Penn’s School of Nursing. “The brain is capable of learning new things no matter what age.”
The CDC reports that 32.1% of older Latinos live an inactive lifestyle outside of work—the highest amongst all race/ethnicity groups.
This is largely due to social and structural determinants of health such as access to healthy food, healthcare, safe housing and neighborhoods, and reliable income. These everyday necessities are essential for healthy brain aging.
Latinos are more likely than their peers to face difficulty walking outdoors due to extreme temperatures or safety concerns. It is more likely for Latino communities to struggle to afford physical activity programs or gym memberships than white populations. Language barriers can make group fitness classes difficult.
Participants of Tiempo Juntos with community health promoter, Ruby Rivera and Dr. Perez
To confront this challenge, Dr. Perez studies effective, culturally relevant strategies to engage the Latino community in Tiempo Juntos Por Nuestra Salud, which is a clinical trial that translates to “Time Together for Our Health.”
By Meghan McCarthy
Psychedelics are more than recreational drugs with a questionable reputation.
Psychedelics – drugs that alter the mind – are being tested throughout the country for their medicinal use, including early investigations of psychedelics as an intervention for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs).
Albert Garcia-Romeu, PhD, and Paul B. Rosenberg, MD, researchers at Johns Hopkins, are investigating if psychedelics can help people living with ADRDs cope with their condition.
By Cait Kearney
University of Pennsylvania researcher Edward Lee, MD, PhD, received the Alzheimer’s Association Excellence in Neuroscience Mentoring Award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the mentoring of dementia scientists.
In accepting the award, Dr. Lee reflected on the opportunity to provide mentorship to those who needed it most.
By Meghan McCarthy
Anne Clark rarely discussed work with her late husband, Chris. While both had successful careers, their 35-year marriage was centered on quality time.
Anne and Chris
Yet after Chris passed, Anne was tasked with cleaning out his office desk. Methodically, she worked to organize the space. Hidden within a desk drawer, one folder stood out. Quotations, it read. Inside, Chris filed a single John Lennon lyric:
“There are no problems, only solutions.”
In the eleven years since his passing, Anne lives by this sentiment to honor Chris’ legacy.