What makes a house a home? And what happens when that home no longer works for the person living in it? In this episode, we explore the emotional and practical challenges of downsizing and moving later in life — from letting go of decades of possessions to navigating dementia, family dynamics, and the fear of what comes next. 

Inside this episode: 

1:06 – Deconstructing Home: Dr. Jason Karlawish explores what makes a home more than just four walls and why dementia can change the way someone experiences their environment. 

8:24 – Professional Downsizers: Move managers Susan Blumenfeld and Charlotte Schutzman explain the emotional and logistical challenges of helping older adults decide what stays, what goes, and what their possessions are really worth. 

13:19 – 10x Harder: Kristi Mabe shares what it was like to move her own mother into assisted living, and why helping a family member can be much harder than helping a client. 

20:56 – “It’s the People, It’s Not the Place”: Mary Ellen Weber shares how moving to a retirement community helped her and her husband find connection, independence, and a richer daily life. 

25:00 – Tied to the Mast of Aging in Place: Dr. Karlawish discusses the risks of being too committed to living in one place when a home becomes isolating or no longer meets someone’s needs. 

36:36 – Coming Home: Jake and Dr. Karlawish turn to The Odyssey to consider what really makes a place home. 

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below 

Special thanks this episode to Kristi Mabe, Charlotte Schutzman, Susan Blumenfeld, and Mary Ellen Weber, as well as today’s co-host, Jason Karlawish, MD. 

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production hosted by Producer Jake Johnson and Executive Producer Jason Karlawish. Contributors include Morgann Adams, Terrence Casey, Dalia Elsaid, Emily Largent, and Allison Lynn. 

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub Fund. 

Welcome to our annual summer bonus episode of the Age of Aging, where our Penn Memory Center experts reflect on the latest research from the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC). On today’s episode, Age of Aging Executive Producer and PMC Co-Director Dr. Jason Karlawish sat down with Co-Director Dr. David Wolk and Dr. Chris Brown to unpack their biggest takeaways from their time in London. They discuss everything from new blood-based biomarkers to the latest data on anti-amyloid and tau-targeting therapies as well as what the future of Alzheimer’s treatment may look like.  

The Age of Aging will return for Season 6 in September, so please make sure you’re subscribed wherever you get your podcasts, and we’ll see you soon.  

Inside this episode: 

2:40 – How AAIC Has Changed: The group compares this year's meeting to AAIC 2017 and discusses how the science has shifted to a more clinical focus. 

9:26 – Predicting Brain Health: Dr. Brown and Dr. Wolk discuss where p-tau 217 stands as a biomarker as well as new markers like neuronal pentraxin (NPTX) for measuring synaptic health beyond amyloid and tau.  

22:42 – The Blood-Brain Barrier: The clinicians provide an update on the two anti-amyloid therapies currently available as well as discuss the brain "shuttle" technology, which appears to significantly improve amyloid clearance and safety. 

29:59 – Tau has its Moment: Results from the CELIA antisense oligonucleotide study show a "Goldilocks dose" effect, plus a look at a negative Lilly tau-lowering trial. 

 35:25 – Closing Highlights & What’s Next: Jason spotlights the LiBBY study, testing a THC/CBD combination for agitation in advanced dementia, before the group previews next year's AAIC 2027 meeting in Chicago. 

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below  

Special thanks this episode to Jason Karlawish, MD, David Wolk, MD, and Christopher Brown, MD, PhD. 

If this episode, or another episode, has resonated with you, please subscribe, leave us a review, or share it with somebody who would appreciate it. This makes a real difference in helping others find the show. And if you have a topic you’d like to hear, email us at [email protected]. 

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production, hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson. Contributors include Morgann Adams, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, Alison Lynn, and Mischa Norton.  

The show is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub Fund and Lena Chow. 

At the Age of Aging, we are sometimes lucky enough to have too many great stories to fit into a single podcast episode. We ran into this fortunate circumstance last season with our episode, “Ambiguous Loss,” which shared the stories of two caregivers grappling with their loved one’s decline from dementia. On today's mid-summer bonus episode, we share a third story we recorded that didn’t make the cut – not because it wasn't good enough, but because it was too complete to be a piece of something else.  

Margo Woodacre is an author, teacher, former state senator, and for eight years, the primary caregiver for her husband, Ernie, who was living with Alzheimer's. In this standalone conversation, Woodacre reflects on caregiving, grief, identity, and the slow work of asking, “Who am I now?” that followed the loss of Ernie. 

Inside this episode: 

2:02 – Becoming a Caregiver: Woodacre reflects on the early signs of Ernie’s Alzheimer’s disease, the fear that followed his diagnosis, and the emotional challenge of caring for someone whose personality was beginning to change. 

6:18 – Learning to Dance in the Rain: After a difficult moment in Ernie’s illness, Woodacre shares how a neighbor’s advice helped her reframe caregiving, change her own responses, and meet Ernie where he was. In doing so, she learned how to reduce conflict, preserve connection, and keep finding meaningful moments with him. 

10:26 – Delayed Grief: Woodacre reflects on the surprising sense of relief that followed Ernie’s passing, the administrative work of closing a life, and the delayed grief that emerged once the busyness faded. 

13:49 – Losing and Reclaiming Identity: After years of caregiving, Woodacre found herself asking who she was without Ernie and without the caregiving role that had shaped her daily life. She discusses journaling, meditation, teaching, politics, support groups, and solo travel as part of her path back to herself. 

16:20 – Traveling Alone Again: Woodacre shares the story of her first solo trip after Ernie’s death, a dude ranch vacation that began in loneliness and became a turning point in rebuilding confidence, openness, and independence. 

19:08 – Advice for Grieving Caregivers: Woodacre offers guidance for people beginning the grieving process: take your time, allow yourself to grieve, but don’t stay so long in pain that you miss the next lesson life may still have to offer. 

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below  

Special thanks this episode to Margot Woodacre for sharing her story with us. 

If this episode, or another episode, has resonated with you, please subscribe, leave us a review, or share it with somebody who would appreciate it. This makes a real difference in helping others find the show. And if you have a topic you’d like to hear, email us at [email protected]. 

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production, hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson. Contributors include Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, Alison Lynn, Morgann Adams, and Mischa Norton.  

The show is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub Fund and Lena Chow. 

At The Age of Aging, we know that the stories we tell about dementia shape the perceptions, resources, and, ultimately, the lived experience of people with the condition. As such, it is our number one priority to understand what narratives serve an aging population and which ones are better left in the past.  

For the Season 5 finale, our team reflects on a special report from Hastings Center for Bioethics, Living with Dementia: Learning from Cultural Narratives of Aging Societies. Through a series of personal audio essays, some familiar voices from this season explore how cultural narratives influence the lived experience of dementia—and how new stories might help us build a more compassionate, creative, and supportive future. 

Inside this episode: 

4:21 – Managing Dependence: Dr. Jason Karlawish discusses Mercer Gary's essay on assistive technologies in dementia care. He explores the tension between fears of technological dependence and hopes that technology can eliminate dependence altogether. 

11:47 – Creativity, Collaboration, and Dementia: Terrence Casey, editorial director and co-host of The Age of Aging, reflects on Julia Henderson's essay examining participatory arts programs and how projects like Anne Basting's Penelope Project challenge conventional narratives about dementia. 

16:19 – Learning from History: Dr. Emily Largent discusses Jesse Ballenger's essay on the history of dementia. She explores how modern anxieties about cognitive decline are shaped by changing ideas about identity, aging, and selfhood. 

20:15 – New Narratives for a More Just Future: Producer and Co-Host Jake Johnson examines how cultural narratives influence dementia care and why imagining ourselves into the lives of people living with dementia and caregivers is essential to meaningful social change. 

25:34 – Rethinking Housing and Care: Dr. Holly Elser discusses supportive housing as a promising model for people living with dementia, offering an alternative to the traditional divide between aging in place and institutional care. 

28:14 – Season 5 Reflections: Dr. Jason Karlawish, Jake Johnson, and Terrence Casey discuss their favorite episodes from the season, lessons learned from reporting on aging and dementia, and what listeners can expect this summer and in Season 6. 

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below 

Special thanks this episode to Jason Karlawish, MD, Emily Largent, PhD, JD, RN, Jake Johnson, and Holly Elser, MD, PhD, MPH. 

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production, hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson. Contributors include Dalia El Said, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, Alison Lynnn, and Morgann Adams. 

The show is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub Fund and Lena Chao. 

Caring for an aging loved one isn’t easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. At Rothkoff Law Group, families across New Jersey and Pennsylvania receive guidance through every stage of the aging journey. Their team of elder care attorneys, geriatric care coordinators, care coordinators, and public benefits specialists advocate for your loved one’s well-being and your peace of mind. 

Rothkoff Law Group — your partner in elder care advocacy and senior care planning every step of the way. Visit RothkoffLaw.com for more information. 

The air around us is invisible, but its effects on the brain are becoming harder to ignore. Research now links long-term exposure to air pollution with increased Alzheimer's pathology, cognitive decline, and greater dementia risk, and older adults face the greatest threat. 

On this episode of The Age of Aging, we go inside that science. Dr. Eddie Lee shares new findings from the University of Pennsylvania connecting lifetime particulate matter exposure to amyloid and tau buildup in the brain. Toxicologists, lung health experts, and clean air advocates explain what air pollution actually is, why Philadelphia's air quality ranks among the most concerning of major American cities, and what individuals and communities can do to protect themselves. And Dr. Holly Elser joins host Terrence Casey to explore the broader relationship between environment, place, and brain health — and why the fight for clean air is also a fight for healthy aging.  

Inside this episode: 

5:45 – Air Pollution and Alzheimer’s Disease: Dr. Eddie Lee explains how his team linked lifetime exposure to particulate air pollution with increased amyloid and tau pathology in the brain. 

9:27 – What Is Air Pollution?: Dr. Trevor Penning and Bev Stewart break down the science of particulate matter, ozone, and toxic gases, and explain why older adults are particularly susceptible to their harmful effects. 

13:06 – Philly’s Air Quality: Clean Air Council advocate Russell Zerbo discusses the biggest contributors to air pollution in Philadelphia, including transportation, industry, and urban density, and what local efforts are underway to improve air quality. 

15:01 – Protecting Yourself: Experts share practical steps individuals can take to reduce exposure to poor air quality, from tracking the Air Quality Index and wearing N95 masks to improving indoor air filtration. 

22:08 – Environment and Brain Health: Dr. Holly Elser joins Terrence Casey to discuss the emerging science connecting environmental exposures and dementia risk, the importance of policy solutions, and how climate and place shape healthy aging. 

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below 

Special thanks this episode to Eddie Lee, MD, PhD, Trevor Penning, PhD, Russell Zerbo, Bev Stewart, and Holly Elser, MD, PhD, MPH. 

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production, hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson, in partnership with the Penn FTD Center, the Penn Institute on Aging, and Penn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Alison Lynn. 

The show is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub Fund and Lena Chow 

Caring for an aging loved one isn’t easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. At Rothkoff Law Group, families across New Jersey and Pennsylvania receive guidance through every stage of the aging journey. Their team of elder care attorneys, geriatric care coordinators, and public benefits specialists advocate for your loved one’s well-being and your peace of mind. 

Rothkoff Law Group — your partner in elder care advocacy and senior care planning every step of the way. Visit RothkoffLaw.com for more information. 

At the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center in Philadelphia, our Golden Gems Senior Program offers a welcoming space for older adults to stay active, connected, and inspired. We meet every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for uplifting devotions, engaging activities, educational workshops and a shared lunch. Members also enjoy occasional outings and special trips throughout the year. For just $18 a month, participants gain access to a vibrant community focused on wellness, friendship and purpose. To learn more or join us, visit the Kroc Center and become part of our Golden Gems family. 

A longer lifespan is one of humanity’s greatest achievements. It also raises urgent questions about caregiving, financial security, and how we prepare for life after 65. On this episode of The Age of Aging, we take a look at the financial challenges that come with living longer. 

First, Terrence Casey moderates a wide-ranging conversation with Surya Kolluri of the TIAA Institute and Dr. Mary Naylor of Penn Nursing’s NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health about the financial realities of longevity in America. Later in the episode, financial experts Bode Hennegan and Christine Moriarty share practical strategies for planning ahead, avoiding common financial mistakes, and building long-term stability. 

Inside this episode:  

3:15 – A Different Life Structure: Surya Kolluri and Mary Naylor discuss the financial implications of an extended lifespan and why it will require fundamental changes on individual and societal level. 

18:17 – The Sandwich Generation: Kolluri and Dr. Naylor Examine the growing pressures facing adults caring for both children and aging parents, and the policies needed to support them. 

29:32 – 5 Financial Pitfalls: Bode Hennegan shares her top 5 most common pitfalls she sees older adults make when planning for later life. 

35:24 – Money Peace: Christine Moriarty gives her top 5 financial planning tips for older adults. 

41:24 – Start Saving and Communicating: Terrence Casey and Jake Johnson wrap up the episode by sharing the statistics that stayed with them most, and the changes they plan to make in their own lives.  

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below 

Special thanks this episode to Surya Kolluri, Mary D. Naylor, PhD, RN, FAAN, Bode Hennegan, and Christine Moriarty 

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production, hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson, in partnership with the Penn FTD Center, the Penn Institute on Aging, and Penn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Alison Lynn. 

The show is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub Fund. 

Caring for an aging loved one isn’t easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. At Rothkoff Law Group, families across New Jersey and Pennsylvania receive guidance through every stage of the aging journey. Their team of elder care attorneys, geriatric care coordinators, and public benefits specialists advocate for your loved one’s well-being and your peace of mind. 

Rothkoff Law Group — your partner in elder care advocacy and senior care planning every step of the way. Visit RothkoffLaw.com for more information. 

The history of dementia research is a story of scientific progress stalled and derailed for nearly a century. 120 years ago, psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer made a groundbreaking discovery in the brain of a 55-year-old woman named Auguste Deter. Unfortunately, social and political turmoil would mean that his findings would not be widely understood until the end of the 20th century.  

On this episode of The Age of Aging, Terrence Casey and Dr. Jason Karlawish reflect on Alzheimer’s discovery as well as the work of his colleague Oskar Fischer — a scientist on par with if not more consequential than Alzheimer in understanding the neuropathology of dementia — whose work was cut short by antisemitism and Nazi persecution. Together, they uncover how that finding was almost swallowed by the ideologies, politics, and global conflicts of the early 20th century — and the uncomfortable parallels between that time and our current moment. 

Inside this episode:  

0:48 – The First Case: Terrence Casey introduces the story of Auguste Deter, whose 1901 admission to a Frankfurt asylum would become the foundation of modern Alzheimer’s research. 

4:34 – A Disease Without a Name: Why Deter’s symptoms didn’t fit existing diagnoses and how Alzheimer’s early observations challenged assumptions about aging and “senility.” 

13:27 – A Revolutionary Idea: In 1911, Alzheimer proposed that “senile” and “presenile” dementia might be the same disease. 

17:31 – Science Interrupted: How World War I, economic collapse, and political upheaval derailed progress in dementia research across Europe. 

19:10 – The Forgotten Pioneer: How the contributions of Oskar Fischer to dementia research were nearly erased by antisemitism and Nazi persecution. 

23:01 – The “Dark Ages” of Dementia: Why much of the 20th century viewed dementia as inevitable aging rather than disease. 

30:48 – Lessons for Today: Why scientific progress depends on social, political, and economic stability — and what current global trends could mean for the future of dementia research. 

32:41 – Rediscovery and Progress: The late 20th-century revival of Alzheimer’s research, including advances in diagnosis, biomarkers, and treatment. 

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below 

Special thanks this episode to Jason Karlawish, MD. 

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production, hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson, in partnership with the Penn FTD Center, the Penn Institute on Aging, and Penn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Alison Lynn. 

The show is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub Fund. 

Caring for an aging loved one isn’t easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. At Rothkoff Law Group, families across New Jersey and Pennsylvania receive guidance through every stage of the aging journey. Their team of elder care attorneys, geriatric care coordinators, and public benefits specialists advocate for your loved one’s well-being and your peace of mind. 

Rothkoff Law Group — your partner in elder care advocacy and senior care planning every step of the way. Visit RothkoffLaw.com for more information. 

 Opera Philadelphia presents Viva Verdi!, a documentary that takes audiences inside a retirement community. Built by composer Giuseppe Verdi for musicians in their later years, the film follows opera singers, instrumentalists, and conductors as they continue to perform, mentor, and create, proving that passion doesn't fade with age. A screening will be held at 1:00 PM on May 15th at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia followed by a panel discussion on creative aging featuring Penn Memory Center co-director Dr. Jason Karlawish. Details at operaphila.org. 

Opera Philadelphia promotional music – “Requiem,” by Giuseppe Verdi. 

What does it mean to age well? For soprano Lucy Shelton, the answer may lie in music itself. At 82, Shelton recently made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera — performing in the world premiere of Innocence, a Finnish opera about a school shooting, sung in nine languages. On this episode of The Age of Aging, Dr. Jason Karlawish sits down with Shelton to explore her remarkable career, the relationship between music and the aging mind, and what it means to keep creating — and performing — well into the eighth decade of life.  

Inside this episode: 

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below 

Special thanks this episode to Jason Karlawish, MD, and Lucy Shelton.  

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson, in partnership with the Penn FTD Center, the Penn Institute on Aging, and Penn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Alison Lynn.  

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund. 

Caring for an aging loved one isn’t easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. At Rothkoff Law Group, we guide families across New Jersey and Pennsylvania through every stage of your aging journey. Our team of elder care attorneys, geriatric care coordinators, and public benefits specialists advocate for your loved one’s well-being and your peace of mind. Rothkoff Law Group — your partner in advocacy and senior care planning, every step of the way. Visit RothkoffLaw.com. 

What if medicine could go beyond treating disease ... and actually rewrite it? 

Join The Franklin Institute on Tuesday, April 28 for a live Conversation Lab exploring how gene therapies are transforming medicine and improving lives. 

Featuring 2026 Franklin Institute Awards honoree and gene editing pioneer Dr. David Liu, this interactive discussion takes you inside how these treatments evolve from bench to bedside. 

Use code CONVOLAB26 for 50% off tickets at fi.edu.  

Exercise is one of the greatest things we can do for longevity and, according to Dr. Art Kramer, it’s never too late to start. On this episode of The Age of Aging, we look at one of the most accessible forms of exercise: running. We hear from competitive older runners about how they started, what keeps them going, and what running has given them over time. 

Inside this episode: 

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below 

Special thanks this episode to Emily Largent, PhD, JD, RN, Anthony Pugliese, Guy DeLillio, Art Kramer, PhD, Tom Jennings, Lauren Siegel, Claudia Simpson, Delvin Dinkins, and Bill McKenna. 

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson, in partnership with the Penn FTD Center, the Penn Institute on Aging, and Penn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Alison Lynn. 

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund. 

Caring for an aging loved one isn’t easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. At Rothkoff Law Group, we guide families across New Jersey and Pennsylvania through every stage of your aging journey. Our team of elder care attorneys, geriatric care coordinators, and public benefits specialists advocate for your loved one’s well-being and your peace of mind. Rothkoff Law Group — your partner in advocacy and senior care planning, every step of the way. Visit RothkoffLaw.com.  

How do you grieve someone who is still standing in front of you? In this episode, we go beyond the medical diagnosis to explore Ambiguous Loss, the “long goodbye” that defines the dementia experience. It is a journey of grieving every day while the person you love is still living. 

Inside this episode: 

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below 

The excruciating grief of watching a spouse become a stranger | STAT

Special thanks this episode to Jason Karlawish, MD, Eileen Ware, Cindy Weinstein, PhD, and Alison Lynn, MSW, LCSW. 

The Age of Aging is a Penn Memory Center production hosted by Editorial Director Terrence Casey and Producer Jake Johnson, in partnership with the Penn FTD Center, the Penn Institute on Aging, and Penn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Alison Lynn. 

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund. 

Caring for an aging loved one isn’t easy — but you don’t have to do it alone. At Rothkoff Law Group, we guide families across New Jersey and Pennsylvania through every stage of your aging journey. Our team of elder care attorneys, geriatric care coordinators, and public benefits specialists advocate for your loved one’s well-being and your peace of mind. Rothkoff Law Group — your partner in advocacy and senior care planning, every step of the way. Visit RothkoffLaw.com.