Penn Memory Center

Why is tau gaining more attention in Alzheimer’s research?

In a new AARP article, Penn Memory Center Co-Director David Wolk, MD, explains that abnormal tau is closely tied to symptoms and brain injury.

He noted that treatments designed to limit tau’s misfolding and spread may help slow or prevent cognitive decline.

This Brain Protein May Be Key to Treating Alzheimer’s It's called tau and may be more closely tied to cognitive decline than amyloid

We're excited to announce the return of the Community Voices Choir!

Join us every Friday as we sing, connect, and celebrate in a welcoming community of older adults and caregivers. Whether you're an experienced vocalist or simply love music, there's a place for you in the choir!

Every Friday | August 7 – October 16
1 PM – 2 PM

Open to adults ages 60+ and caregivers.

Thank you to our partners Curtis Institute of Music , Opera Philadelphia and Memory Center for facilitating this amazing progrm for our community!

Ready to join?
Contact
[email protected]
215-558-1531

What does it mean to treat the brain as infrastructure?
In a new STAT* essay, Penn Memory Center Co-Director Jason Karlawish, MD, reflects on what he saw at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference.

New blood tests and treatments are changing how dementia is diagnosed and managed. They are also creating a growing market around brain health.

Dr. Karlawish examines the promise behind this shift and the ethical questions surrounding who owns the tools shaping diagnosis, treatment, and risk.

*Receive 15% off a yearly STAT subscription with the offer code NEURO15.

Dementia finally has a business model The big takeaway from the recent Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London is an economic message: Dementia finally has a business model, writes Jason Karlawish.

Why say yes to research?

For Paul Gondek, the answer started with his family.

After seeing Alzheimer’s affect people he loves, he chose to take part in research as a way to give back. His experience as a researcher also shaped how he sees the importance of long-term studies.

At the Penn Memory Center, each participant helps bring researchers closer to understanding Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Learn more about current research opportunities at PMC: pennmemorycenter.org/research

What does a brain-healthy meal look like on a busy day?

Find out at The Family Dementia Academy: Brain Health Edition, hosted by The Dementia Center on July 30 at the Hamilton YMCA.

Patricia St.Ledger, MS, RDN, LDN, will share practical ways to follow the MIND diet and support healthy aging through food. Penn Memory Center’s Terrence Casey will also discuss brain health, Alzheimer’s research, and PMC resources.

Curious before the event? Listen to “A MINDful Diet” from The Age of Aging podcast for a closer look at how everyday food choices may support cognitive health.

📅 July 30, 9 a.m. to noon
📍 Hamilton YMCA, Hamilton, New Jersey
💵 $35

Register: bit.ly/3TCQ8Rd
Listen to “A MINDful Diet”: ageofaging.org/episodes/a-mindful-diet

What should someone consider before taking an Alzheimer’s blood test?

In a new Washington Post essay, Sharon Schindel writes about saying yes to a blood test after noticing memory changes and thinking about her family history of Alzheimer’s.

The blood draw felt simple at first. Then came the harder question: what would the result mean for her family and her future?

Penn Memory Center Co-Director Jason Karlawish explains that for people experiencing frightening memory lapses or confusion, an explanation can ease uncertainty and help them make a plan.

The essay also includes insight from Penn bioethicist Emily Largent on how testing can shape decisions about work, family, and future care.

I said yes to an Alzheimer’s blood test. Then I panicked. The blood draw was an easy proposition. But was I ready for what the result could mean for my family and my future?

One conversation with a neighbor changed how Margo Woodacre cared for her husband through Alzheimer’s disease.

Instead of waiting for life to return to normal, she learned to meet Ernie where he was. Years later, after his death, she faced a different challenge: finding herself again.

In this bonus episode of the Age of Aging, Margo shares what caregiving taught her and how she began rebuilding her life.

Listen to the full episode: ageofaging.org/episodes/dancing-in-the-rain

The Age of Aging is made possible by the Michael Naidoff Communications Hub fund and Lena Chow. See less

What happens in the brain after amyloid plaques are removed?

A rare brain autopsy gave Penn researchers a closer look. Some regions had cleared amyloid and showed little tau buildup. Nearby areas where amyloid remained had more tau tangles and signs of brain damage.

“This case represented a unique ‘Goldilocks’ scenario in which some regions cleared amyloid and others did not,” said Edward Lee, MD, PhD. “It allowed us to directly compare what happened next in neighboring brain regions.”

The findings suggest that removing amyloid early and extensively might help limit the brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

The study was presented at the 2026 Alzheimer's Association International Conference and published in JAMA.

Amyloid removal may reduce tau buildup and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease In an Alzheimer’s disease patient’s brain, regions cleared of amyloid had little tau; nearby areas with persistent amyloid had greater signs of damage.

For many years, a dementia diagnosis came with little hope and few treatment options. New research is beginning to change what is possible.

Penn Memory Center Co-Director Dr. Jason Karlawish joined NPR’s 1A from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London. He discussed what recent advances mean for people living with Alzheimer’s and their families.

New treatments are slowing the disease for some people in its early stages. Blood tests and brain scans are helping doctors make more accurate diagnoses. Researchers are also working to identify risk before memory problems begin.

In Good Health: The Alzheimer’s Research Revolution : 1A An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can have a real impact on a person and their family. There’s a lot to consider — what the future will hold, what symptoms they’ll experience, and on what timeline.About 7.5 million people in the U.S. currently suffer from Alzheimer’s. Every year, around half a mill...

The wildfire smoke hanging over the Northeast is making air pollution visible.

What is less visible is what polluted air may be doing to the brain over time.

In “Polluted Minds,” a previous episode of the Age of Aging, Penn researchers and experts explore the growing link between long-term air pollution exposure and Alzheimer’s disease.

The episode also shares practical ways to reduce exposure when the air quality is poor.

Listen to the episode to learn more: ageofaging.org/episodes/polluted-minds