Age of Aging

By Penn Memory CenterScience Medicine Health & Fitness Mental Health Life Sciences

Age of Aging episodes

April 21Sprechstimme
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:
0:00 – Shepherd on the Rock: Dr. Karlawish introduces Lucy Shelton with her recording of "Shepherd on the Rock" by Franz Schubert and shares why he wanted to interview her.
4:17 – Met Opera Debut at 82: Shelton and Dr. Karlawish discuss her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Innocence, a Finnish opera performed in nine languages.
9:08 – A Musical Life: Shelton reflects on growing up in a musical family, discovering her voice, and building a career as a singer — not an opera singer.
15:23 – Singer vs. Opera Singer: Shelton explains what sets her apart from traditional opera singers, including the vocal techniques that have allowed her to keep performing into her eighties.
20:56 – Art Meets Life in Lucidity: Shelton describes performing Lucidity, a chamber opera written for her about a singer living with dementia — and what it meant to hold her score on stage, not just as a prop, but out of personal necessity.
26:34 – Bringing Lucidity to Philadelphia: Dr. Karlawish and Shelton discuss the possibility of bringing the opera to Philadelphia.
27:26– Music, Memory, and the Mind: Dr. Karlawish and Terrence Casey explore the connection between music and the aging brain, including PMC's partnership in the Community Voices Choir — a collaboration welcoming adults of all levels of cognition through music.
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
Review of “Innocence,” in The Wall Street Journal
The New York Times Review of “Innocence.”
More information on “Innocence.” (The New York Times)
Visit Lucy Shelton’s website
Learn more about Shelton’s previous opera, “Lucidity.” (NPR)
Learn more about sprechstimme (Britannica)
More information on the Community Voices Choir
What Is the Association Between Music-Related Leisure Activities and Dementia Risk? A Cohort Study (International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry)
Longitudinal effects of choir singing on aging cognition and wellbeing: a two-year follow-up study (Frontiers in Human Neuroscience)
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.
38 min
April 07"Make Way for the Masters"
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:
4:13 – “Make Way for the Masters”: Masters athlete and Penn Relays coordinator Anthony Pugliese shares what makes the masters events at the Penn Relays so meaningful.
8:28 – Healthier Minds: Dr. Art Kramer explores how exercise benefits brain structure and function.
13:16 – A Half Hour Vacation: Masters runners reflect on how running helps them manage stress and clear their minds.
18:39 – Take it Slow: Bill McKenna and Anthony Pugliese offer advice for getting started with running and finding local track and field clubs.
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
More information on Emily Largent
Visit the Penn Relays website
About the masters events at the Penn Relays
More information on Dr. Art Kramer
Study on Olga Kotelko’s brain
Fitness Effects on the Cognitive Function of Older Adults: A Meta-Analytic Study (Sage Journals)
Aerobic Exercise Training Increases Brain Volume in Aging Humans (The Journals of Gerontology)
Mental Health Benefits of Running (WebMD)
Visit Greater Philadelphia Track Club website
Learn more about track clubs and meets at usatf.org
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.
30 min
March 24Ambiguous Loss
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:
2:59 – "I Want to Go Home": Dr. Jason Karlawish uses poetry to dissect a fading mind.
12:01 – From Partner to Solo Parent: Eileen Ware’s journey with her husband Steve’s early-onset Alzheimer’s.
20:15 – Finding the Words: Dr. Cindy Weinstein on reclaiming her relationship with her father while grieving for 15 years.
31:30 – The Dual Process Model: Alison Lynn on why mourning in dementia is never linear.
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
Learn more about Pauline Boss and ambiguous loss (Cleveland Clinic)
Read Dr. Karlawish’s poem, “Ambiguous Loss” in JAMA.
Learn more about Dr. Cindy Weinstein and her memoir, Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief and the Brain
More information on Alison Lynn
More information on PMC’s support groups
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.
52 min
March 10Getting Back to Life
Nearly a year and a half ago, we released the Season 2 episode “In Sickness and in Health,” which explored new anti-amyloid therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, lecanemab and donanemab, known commercially as Leqembi and Kisunla.
After more than three years of lecanemab and nearly two years of donanemab in clinical use, how do patients, caregivers, and clinicians view these treatments today?
In this episode of The Age of Aging, we revisit the therapies reshaping Alzheimer’s care and hear from those experiencing them firsthand.
Inside this episode
Patients receiving anti amyloid therapy share reflections on treatment, uncertainty, and hope.
Dr. Justin Clapp discusses research on how patients, caregivers, and clinicians understand these therapies.
Dr. Kyra O’Brien reflects on prescribing the treatments and changes within clinical practice.
Dr. Jason Karlawish shares perspectives from patient conversations and clinical care.
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
Listen to “In Sickness and in Health”
Learn more about Justin Clapp
Learn more about Kyra O’Brien
More information on anti-amyloid therapies
Special thanks this episode to Dave and Evelyn, Justin Clapp, PhD, MPH, Kyra O’Brien, MD, Joanne and Bruce Thomas, Sandy Shulan, and 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 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.
35 min
February 24The Miracle Kitchen
We often think of dementia as an interior condition, one that happens within a person’s mind, independent of the outside world. However, as dementia and design experts note, we are in constant contact with our environments, and people with dementia are profoundly impacted by the spaces they occupy. How do we design a world for people with cognitive change? And what do the environments traditionally designed for older adults say about their current role in society? In this episode of The Age of Aging, we look at how architecture and design can both benefit those with dementia or become a detriment to their longevity.
Inside this episode:
The Miracle Kitchen: Dr. Jason Karlawish discusses the Greenhouse Project and alternative approaches to dementia care design.
The History of Concealment: Architectural historian Annmarie Adams explains how concealment has historically defined spaces for the sick and the elderly.
Inclusive Design: Dementia Design Specialists Greg and Fiona Walsh share how they implement inclusive designs to reduce stress and promote independence.
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
Learn more about the Greenhouse Project
Read “Concealment and Compassion” by Shannon Mattern
Listen to Sally Chivers’ podcast, “Wrinkle Radio”
Read “Deception and Design: The Rise of the Dementia Village”
Explore the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s “The Apartment”
Learn more about Shannon Mattern
Learn more about Annmarie Adams
Visit Fiona Kenney’s website
Visit the Dementia Design Specialist Architects website
Special thanks this episode to Jason Karlawish, MD, Shannon Mattern, PhD, Annmarie Adams, PhD, Sally Chivers, PhD, Fiona Kenney, Greg Walsh, and Fiona Walsh.
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, and Alison Lynn.
The Age of Aging is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund.

Today’s episode is sponsored by The TIAA Institute, a think tank committed to building knowledge that advances lifelong financial security and well-being while considering the intersections of health and wealth. Their cutting-edge research provides actionable financial and longevity insights that help individuals and employers navigate the complex journey of aging.

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.
40 min
February 10A MINDful Diet
Being intentional about our diet is one of the best things we can do for the health and longevity of our brain. But what exactly is a healthy brain diet—and how do we make it realistic?
In the season 5 premiere of the Age of Aging, we break down the science and strategy behind the MIND diet and what it looks like to shop and eat for cognitive longevity.

Inside this episode:
Terrence sits down with Dr. Jason Karlawish to discuss the results and implications of the U.S. POINTER study for healthy brain aging.
Dr. Karlawish explains the science behind the MIND diet and how he implements it in his daily life.
Registered dietitian nutritionist (and Terrence’s sister) Trish St. Ledger shares how to create nutritious meals that are both simple and affordable. St. Ledger provides an overview of a what typical day of breakfast, lunch, and dinner might look like following the MIND diet.
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
More information on the MIND Diet (Cleveland Clinic)
More information on healthy eating and longevity (National Institute on Aging)
Learn more about Trish St. Ledger
Special thanks this episode to Jason Karlawish, MD and Trish St. Ledger, MS, RD, LDN.
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.
54 min
January 27 What Do You Wish People Understood More about Aging?
In season 4 of the Age of Aging, we decided to end every interview with the same question: what do you wish people understood more about aging?

In this special bonus episode of the podcast, we share some of their answers. They remind us of the prevalence of ageism, the many benefits of old age, and that we always have the ability to grow and change at any age.

Special thanks this episode to Lucy Davenport, Andrew Borba, Amanda Lee Williams, James Bonas, Tracey Leigh, Leo Marks, Jennifer Craft Morgan, PhD, Bruce Miller, MD, Leah Lawler, Candace Kemp, PhD, and Jake Broder.
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 and our sponsors, the TIAA Institute and Rothkoff Law Group. The TIAA Institute is a think tank committed to building knowledge that advances lifelong financial security and well-being while considering the intersections of health and wealth. Their cutting-edge research provides actionable financial and longevity insights that help individuals and employers navigate the complex journey of aging.

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.

15 min
January 13Rx for Alzheimer's
The year 2025 was full of breakthroughs, debates, and big questions in Alzheimer’s research. One event that shaped many of these conversations? The Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) Conference. It may not have been on everyone’s radar, but its impact was undeniable.

In this special episode, Penn Memory Center Co-Directors Dr. Jason Karlawish and Dr. David Wolk share what stood out at CTAD, what’s changing in the field, and what to watch next.

Inside this episode:
Anti-amyloid therapies update: Where things stand with lecanemab and donanemab, and what the next generation of these drugs could look like
GLP-1 disappointment: Why Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide trials for Alzheimer’s disease came up short
Lifestyle interventions: The latest findings from the POINTER Study and what they mean for brain health
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
Visit CTAD’s website
More information on anti-amyloid therapies
Novo Nordisk’s announcement of negative results “EVOKE” and “EVOKE+” trials
More information on the POINTER Study

Special thanks this episode to Jason Karlawish, MD and David Wolk, 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 Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Meaghan Sharp.

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and our sponsors, the TIAA Institute and Rothkoff Law Group. The TIAA Institute is a think tank committed to building knowledge that advances lifelong financial security and well-being while considering the intersections of health and wealth. Their cutting-edge research provides actionable financial and longevity insights that help individuals and employers navigate the complex journey of aging.

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.
28 min
December 23, 2025A Disease's Final Kiss
Art that tries to teach you things “stinks,” says playwright and actor Jake Broder.
“And yet there is a profound need for education, for awareness, for reducing stigma, for supporting the community and for medical education,” he said. A few years ago, while writing his latest play about the two individuals with frontotemporal dementia, he wrestled with how he could do both.
In the season 4 finale of the Age of Aging, we tell the story of UnRavelled, a play about perseverance through neurodegeneration, burgeoning creativity late in life and an artistic relationship across time. Producer Jake Johnson shares his first-hand experience of the play’s premiere and how it combined theater with community outreach and education.
What’s inside:
A historical perspective on composer Maurice Ravel’s brain condition and his work, “Bolero.”
An explanation from Dr. Bruce Miller on the relationship between frontotemporal degeneration and creativity.
Jake Broder’s insight into the inspiration and creation of the play as well as the associated Brain Health Festival.
The perspective of the show’s director and cast on creating the play and its core themes.
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
Listen to Maurice Ravell’s Bolero
Learn more about Dr. Bruce Miller
Listen to Unraveling Bolero (Radiolab)
Learn more about Jake Broder
More information on For Their Thoughts Foundation
Visit the official website of UnRavelled
Subscribe to the Age of Aging Newsletter

Special thanks this episode to Dr. Bruce Miller, Jake Broder, Betsy Hall, Lucy Davenport, James Bonas, Leo Marks, Tracy Leigh, and the entire UnRavelled team.
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 Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Meaghan Sharp.

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and our sponsors, the TIAA Institute and Rothkoff Law Group. The TIAA Institute is a think tank committed to building knowledge that advances lifelong financial security and well-being while considering the intersections of health and wealth. Their cutting-edge research provides actionable financial and longevity insights that help individuals and employers navigate the complex journey of aging.

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.
38 min
December 09, 2025Yes And...
If you asked most caregivers, they would probably say there’s nothing funny about caring for someone with dementia. The stress, grief, and frustration can feel overwhelming. But what if the principles of improv comedy — being present, saying “yes,” and working together — could make caregiving easier and more joyful?
In this episode of the Age of Aging, we explore the surprising connection between improv and dementia care. You’ll hear how techniques from the stage are helping caregivers reduce stress, improve communication, and find moments of joy.
What’s inside:
A peek inside the Penn Memory Center’s Cognitive Comedy class, where caregivers and people living with dementia learn improv basics.
Dr. Anne Basting on why asking questions and staying present matters in tough caregiving moments.
Improv teacher and elder care educator Karen Stobbe shares her personal story of using improv to care for her mother with Alzheimer’s.
Researchers Dr. Candace Kemp, Dr. Jennifer Craft Morgan, and Amanda Lee Williams discuss the science behind improv’s benefits for caregivers.
Leah Lawler, creator of Cognitive Comedy, explains why teaching improv to older adults is her passion.
Whether you’re a caregiver, a healthcare professional, or simply curious about creative approaches to aging, this episode offers practical insights and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about care.
Resources available on the episode webpage linked below
Check out the Penn Memory Center’s Cognitive Comedy class
Learn more about improv (UChicago News)
Explore Timeslips’ website
Learn more about Anne Basting
Check out Karen Stobbe’s “In the Moment”
Listen to Karen and Mondy’s story in This American Life
Read Dr. Kemp and Dr. Morgan’s study on improv and dementia care (The Gerontologist)
Watch more of Leah Lawler talking about Cognitive Comedy
A list of improv games/exercises (improvencylcopedia.org)

Special thanks this episode to Jean Haskell and her Cognitive Comedy participants, Barry and Ray, as well as Anne Basting, PhD, Karen Stobbe, Candace Kemp, PhD, Jennifer Craft Morgan, PhD, and Amanda Lee Williams.
T 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 Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Meaghan Sharp.

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous support from the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and our sponsors, the TIAA Institute and Rothkoff Law Group. The TIAA Institute is a think tank committed to building knowledge that advances lifelong financial security and well-being while considering the intersections of health and wealth. Their cutting-edge research provides actionable financial and longevity insights that help individuals and employers navigate the complex journey of aging.

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.
34 min

About Age of Aging

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the Age of Aging, a podcast about living well with an aging brain. The Age of Aging is a podcast released every other Tuesday, covering a wide range of stories in aging research. Co-hosted by Jake Johnson and Terrence Casey from the Penn Memory Center communications team, each episode they will explore what it means to age with independence and dignity in the modern world.