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

• Learn more about the life and work of Alois Alzheimer

• More information on the story of Alzheimer and Auguste Deter (PBS)

• Read The Problem of Alzheimer's: How Science, Culture, and Politics Turned a Rare Disease into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It by Dr. Jason Karlawish

• “Oskar Fischer and the study of dementia,” by Michel Goedert (National Library of Medicine)

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 o...

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 Terr...

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.