At the Penn Memory Center, we often recommend exercise, social engagement, and a solid support system to help people age well. Owning a dog is not on that list, but maybe it should be. For many older adults, dogs are more than companions. They’re motivators to stay active, reasons to connect with neighbors, and steady sources of comfort through life’s challenges. Emerging research suggests that that this age-old bond between humans and dogs may be one of our healthiest friendships. On this episode of The Age of Aging, we celebrate dogs, and how they might help us live long, healthy lives.  

First, we hear from caregivers and dog owners about how their dogs help them care for their loved ones with dementia. Then, Professor Philip Tedeschi explains how humans’ co-evolution with dogs has made us perfect support system for one another. Lynn Cronomiz recounts how a powerful moment between a therapy dog and her mother with Alzheimer’s helped her process her mother’s passing. Finally, we explore humans’ inseparable connection with nature through the biophilia hypothesis. 

Resources available on the episode webpage linked below

Special thanks to Tom Casey, Miguel Centeno, Kathy Oldfield, Philip Tedeschi LCSW, MSSW, Lynn Cronomiz, and Carlo Siracusa DVM, PhD, DACVB, DECAWBM 

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 sponsor, the TIAA Institute. 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. 

When we think about justice, older adults aren’t always top of mind. Yet in the United States, seniors often face stigma, exploitation, and insufficient social support, all while navigating cognitive and physical decline. As lifespans continue to grow globally, aging is a future we all hope to reach. So how do we ensure that future is just? And what does justice for older adults truly look like? 

Welcome to Season 4 of The Age of Aging! We’re kicking off with a vital and multifaceted topic: elder justice. Joining us are three leading voices who help unpack the legal, cultural, and systemic challenges facing older adults — and what can be done to address them. 

If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a review and share it with a friend. Got a story idea for Season 4 or beyond? Reach out to us at [email protected]. 

Resources 

Special thanks to Charlie Sabatino JD, MT Connolly JD, and Judge Lois Murphy. 

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 UPenn’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 sponsor, the TIAA Institute. 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. 

Welcome to a mid-year bonus episode of The Age of Aging! While the podcast takes a short break between seasons, we wanted to bring you a special update on the state of Alzheimer’s today. Penn Memory Center Co-Directors Dr. Jason Karlawish and Dr. David Wolk sat down with Terrence Casey to share their reflections from this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), which they attended earlier this summer. They discuss their biggest takeaways, including the impact of NIH funding cuts, the rapid innovations that continue to shape the field, and what they’re keeping their eye on for next year’s conference in London.  

We hope you enjoy and stay tuned for season 4 of The Age of Aging this fall! If you enjoy the show, leave us a review and share this episode with a friend. If you have any story suggestions for Season 4 and beyond, contact us at [email protected].  

Resources 

Special thanks 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 UPenn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Meaghan Sharp. 

When we talk about dementia on this podcast, we are often talking about its most common cause: Alzheimer's disease. However, dementia has many causes, and among the most prevalent after Alzheimer’s is Lewy Body Disease. Though it can share similarities with Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) has distinct symptoms and challenges that can complicate diagnosis, treatment, and caregiving.  

On the season 3 finale of the Age of Aging, we explore Lewy Body Disease and its impact on caregivers and families.  

We begin with a clip from the documentary Facing the Wind, which follows two caregivers as they navigate caring for their husbands with Lewy Body Disease. Then, Co-Host Terrence Casey shares his reflections on a live Q&A following a screening of the film in Philadelphia. Finally, Dr. Jason Karlawish provides a deeper insight into Lewy Body Disease, its significance in the world of aging research, and what it reveals about caregiving today. 

Resources 

Special thanks to Tony Heriza, Deirdra Fishel, and Linda Szypula for sharing their film with us and being a part of this episode. Special thanks as well to ARTZ Philidelphia for presenting the screening and Q&A.

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 UPenn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Meaghan Sharp. 

Sex and intimacy can be difficult topics to navigate, especially for caregivers and their partners facing the challenges of a dementia diagnosis. These conversations are often avoided, yet the emotional toll of intimacy-related struggles can be profound, bringing feelings of grief, confusion, and isolation. The stigma surrounding sex and dementia only deepens this silence, making open dialogue all the more essential.  

On this episode of The Age of Aging, we explore one caregiver’s deeply personal journey through love, loss, and change. Alison Lynn, Director of Social Work at the Penn Memory Center, speaks with author and advocate Lisa Marshall about her book Oh, Hello Alzheimer’s: A Caregiver’s Journey of Love.  

Lisa shares the story of her husband Peter’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and the emotional complexities that followed — including her decision to end their sexual relationship. With honesty and vulnerability, she reflects on the grief, guilt, and growth that came with that choice, offering insight and solidarity to others navigating similar paths. 

Resources 

Special thanks to Lisa Marshall and Alison Lynn, MSW, LCSW for being a part of this episode.  

 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 UPenn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Meaghan Sharp. 

The U.S. healthcare system is changing—especially when it comes to caring for older adults. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how vulnerable our aging population is, and how unprepared many parts of the system remain. Overstressed nursing homes, overworked primary care physicians, and a lack of accessible resources for dementia care remain persistent challenges.  

But there’s hope. New technologies, treatments, and care models are reshaping what aging and diagnosis can look like. The question now is: How do we deliver these advances to the people that need them most?  

In this episode of the Age of Aging, we explore the evolving landscape of elder care in the U.S. 

We start with Dr. PJ Brennan, the Chief Medical Officer of Penn Medicine who discusses the challenges the U.S. healthcare system is currently facing with its elder population. Then Dr. Kyra O’brien explains why the new anti-amyloid therapies, lecanemab and donanemab, might help more people get diagnosed and allow clinics like the Penn Memory Center to expand their resources. Finally, Dr. O’Brien dives into the new federal program “GUIDE,” which aims to reshape dementia care across the country.   

Resources 

Special thanks to PJ Brennan, MD, and Kyra O’Brien, MD, for being a part of this episode.  

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 UPenn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Meaghan Sharp. 

We often think of dementia as something that affects the oldest among us, and that’s often true; at the Penn Memory Center, the average age of diagnosis is between 70 and 75. In most of those cases, caregiving falls to a spouse, partner, or adult child. But what happens when dementia is diagnosed before the age of 65? 

In this episode of the Age of Aging, we explore early onset dementia and the young caregivers who step up when their lives are just beginning. The stories of teens and young adults reveal the unique challenges of caregiving and what they can teach us about care across all ages. 

We begin with a segment from a recent episode of Science Friday, where Executive Producer Dr. Jason Karlawish discussed the FDA’s recent approval of new diagnostic blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease. Then, Paige Censale shares the life-changing decision she faced: accept a full scholarship to college or stay home as the sole caregiver for her mother. We then learn about Lorenzo’s House, an organization dedicated to supporting young caregivers and families impacted by early onset dementia. Finally, we hear from Sierra, a 16-year-old from South Pasadena California who began caring for her father with early onset dementia when she was just 8 years old.   

Resources 

Special thanks to the Science Friday team, Jason Karlawish, MD, Paige Censale, Diana Cose M. ED, Patti LaFleur M. ED, CPD, Sierra Mercer, and Alison Lynn, MSW, LCSW, for being a part of this episode.  

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 UPenn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, and Meaghan Sharp. 

The world is getting older—and that reality is what inspired this podcast. Thanks to advances in medicine, healthier lifestyles, and improved living conditions, people are living longer than ever. That’s a good thing. However, longer lives will also require a lot of change from both individuals and society. We will have to prepare now for something earlier generations never considered possible: the second 50 years of our lives. 

In this episode of the Age of Aging, Executive Producer Jason Karlawish speaks with Debra Whitman, Chief Public Policy Officer at AARP, about her new book, The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond. Together, they explore what it means to plan not just for retirement, but for an entire second half of life—dispelling myths about aging and offering practical insights for the years ahead.  

Resources 

Special thanks to Debra Whitman and Jason Karlawish, MD, for being a part of this episode.  

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 UPenn’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 donors like you. To learn more visit www.pennmemorycenter.org/ageofaging

No one wants to think about their death, let alone talk about it. But having a meaningful conversation with your loved ones about your final days is one of the most important things you can do for them and yourself. End of life is a logistically and emotionally challenging time, so making critical decisions before the process of dying can save you and those around you from further stress and turmoil. Luckily, some experts can help you navigate this time's many legal and emotional complexities.  

On this episode of the Age of Aging, we are talking about death and what it means to plan for your final days.  

First, we speak to death doula Chelsea Duckers about what exactly a death doula does and how one can guide you through the process of end of life. Then, elder law attorney Jerry Rothkoff goes through the legal documents you will want to get in order to prepare for end of life. Finally, we hear from someone who worked with a death doula while preparing for the death of her spouse.  

Resources 

Special thanks to Chelsea Duckers, BSW, CSW, CECC, Jerry Rothkoff, Esq., and Diane Cordell. 

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 UPenn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Marie Ingegneri, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, Meg McCarthy, and Meaghan Sharp. 

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous donors like you. To learn more visit www.pennmemorycenter.org/ageofaging

At the Penn Memory Center, one of the most common questions we hear is: What can I do to keep my brain healthy as I age?  

We often reference diet and exercise as essential tools when it comes to maintaining a healthy brain. There’s another, often-overlooked way to boost brain health, fight depression, and support cognitive resilience. It’s not a pill. It’s not a trend. It’s something far more human: our hands.  

On this episode of the Age of Aging, we explore the power of our hands and why using them intentionally can be an incredible medicine for the mind. 

We begin with Dr. Kelly Lambert, a behavioral neuroscientist at the University of Richmond. She explains the link between our hands, human evolution, and depression. Then, Drs. Vasiliki Meletaki and Gyulten Hyusein from the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics discuss the benefits of hand movement as we age. Finally, artist Judith Schaechter shares her creative process in crafting stained glass pieces and how working with her hands has shaped her memory, mood, and creativity.   

Resources 

Special thanks to Kelly Lambert, PhD, Vasiliki Meletaki, PhD, Gyulten Hyusein, PhD, and Judith Schaechter for being a part of this episode. 

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 UPenn’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Contributors include Nicolette Calcavecchia, Dalia Elsaid, Marie Ingegneri, Jason Karlawish, Emily Largent, Meg McCarthy, and Meaghan Sharp. 

The Age of Aging is made possible by generous donors like you. To learn more visit www.pennmemorycenter.org/ageofaging