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By Meghan McCarthy 

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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.  

The Penn Memory Center invites you to join us for a fundraiser on June 14, 2023, at the Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS) Pop Up Garden on South Street, 1438 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146. The evening will honor the resilient families we care for, celebrate the accomplishments of our dedicated clinicians and researchers, and raise dollars to fund expanded research and care.

Announcement from the University of Pennsylvania:

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our colleague, Murray Grossman, MDCM, EdD, who passed away peacefully at home on April 4, surrounded by his family. Dr. Grossman was highly respected and cherished by his medical school colleagues, clinical faculty, and trainees. He made remarkable contributions to the field of neurology and was a role model for all, embodying the tripartite mission for academic neurology. His impact on the field of neurology was extraordinary.

Emily Largent

By Meghan McCarthy 

Penn researcher Emily Largent, JD, PhD, RN, was awarded the 2023 Baruch A. Brody Award for her research on supported decision making as cognition declines.

“It was an honor to receive the Brody Award,” said Dr. Largent.

The Baruch A. Brody Award and Lectureship is given by the Baylor College of Medicine Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, the Houston Methodist Hospital System, and the Rice University Department of Philosophy in honor of Dr. Baruch Brody.

The recipient is someone who blends legal analysis with empirical research methods to address ethical issues and who exemplifies the values and scholarly excellence of Dr. Brody. 

“Dr. Brody was a giant in the field of bioethics due to his ability to blend rigorous analysis with real-world impact,” said Dr. Largent.

Dr. Largent received her accolade and delivered a lecture on her groundbreaking work last month in Houston, Texas.

“Supported decision making may be the ‘just right’ decision making tool for people with marginal capacity,” said Dr. Largent. “Importantly, this process allows individuals with impaired capacity to make their own decisions while also having tailored support.”  

Dr. Largent said that she will continue to strive to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families through her research.

Click here to watch a recording of Dr. Largent’s lecture.

By Meghan McCarthy

For Amari, it started with forgetting simple things, like whether he paid a monthly bill or getting lost on the way to the post office.  

Then, the forgetting became more frequent. 

Sure, he discussed it in his yearly physicals. But his doctor never pressed him to make a formal diagnosis of dementia, so Amari never looked for one.  

Years prior, when he developed knee pain, Amari sought guidance from his doctor and ultimately had a knee replacement. Why were the changes in his brain any different?  

Stigma.