This is Growing Old

As we continue celebrating our milestone 40th anniversary, the Alliance for Aging Research is setting its sights on another big event, Heroes in Health. If you’re new to the show or unfamiliar with our awards dinner, it’s an annual gathering in Washington, DC where advocates, experts, patients, policymakers, clinicians, and more come together to honor leaders advancing healthy aging. And this year feels especially meaningful. Joining us to share what we have in store is Alliance Development Coordinator, Lauren Belsky. Since joining the Alliance last year, Lauren has hit the ground running, playing a key role in corporate partnerships, fundraising

Alzheimer’s and related diseases don’t just affect memory. They also bring behavioral and psychological challenges known as neuropsychiatric symptoms, or NPS. These can include anxiety, depression, agitation, and sleep disturbances, making life difficult for both patients and caregivers. As symptoms progress, so do the risks of injury, isolation, and the need for institutional care, often worsened by stigma and limited support. To address this, the Alliance for Aging Research and the National Alliance for Caregiving co-hosted the “Caring Together” summit in December 2025, bringing together experts, caregivers, and people with lived experience to share practical tools and strategies—now captured in a new white paper. Joining us today to discuss these resources is Jason Resendez, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving, where he leads efforts to better support more than 63 million family caregivers nationwide.

This year marks a major milestone as the Alliance for Aging Research celebrates its 40th anniversary. That’s four decades of changing the narrative around aging and fighting for equitable access to care. And if you thought turning 40 was a sign to slow down, we’re here to tell you we’re just getting started. On this very special episode of The Check-Up, I’m joined by Alliance President and CEO Sue Peschin and Founder and Board Member Dan Perry to reflect on 40 years of service to the aging community, and to discuss our continued commitment to healthy aging.

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day (HVDAD) takes place each February 22 during American Heart Month and was launched to raise awareness of valve disease risks and symptoms, improving detection and treatment. Before the campaign began, symptoms were often dismissed as “normal aging,” when we now know they’re not. Today, HVDAD unites more than 135 partners including nonprofits, advocacy groups, hospitals, and heart centers to amplify awareness nationwide. We’re joined by Lindsay Clarke, COO and Senior Vice President of Health Education at the Alliance, who founded HVDAD and helped grow it into the movement it is today.

From multivitamins to protein powders, thousands of supplements crowd drugstore shelves offering over-the-counter answers to our nutritional needs. Yet with so many options out there, how do we know which ones to trust? Joining us is US Pharmacopeia (USP), an organization focused on building trust in the supply of safe, trusted quality medicine. USP, is an independent, scientific nonprofit organization focused on building trust in the supply of safe medicines. Through rigorous science and the public quality standards they set, USP helps protect patient safety and improve the health of people around the world.

2025 has been a challenging year for advocates fighting for equitable access to care, as the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has upended a legacy of science-based recommendations supported by the research community. In a particularly concerning move, ACIP removed its decades-long recommendation for the proven pediatric hepatitis B vaccine—a decision that puts millions of children at risk of long-term complications from this infectious disease. Joining us to discuss the implications of ACIP’s latest action, and how advocacy organizations across the country are responding, is Scott Frey, Senior VP of Public Policy and Relations here at the Alliance.

Equitable access to treatment is vital for older adults with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, especially in long-term care. CMS’s Long-Stay Antipsychotic Medication quality measure aimed to curb inappropriate use in nursing homes, but it has also led to unintended consequences, limiting safe, effective treatment options for more than 3 million residents. A new Manatt Health report, supported by the Alliance’s Project PAUSE Coalition, explores these impacts and offers recommendations to restore equitable care. Joining us to discuss the findings are Chad Worz, CEO of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and Project PAUSE convener, and geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Amita Patel.

Open Enrollment season is here, and millions of Americans are hoping the latest formulary changes will help ease costs at the pharmacy counter. This month, the Alliance released several new resources, including an educational film, to help Medicare Part D beneficiaries make informed decisions for 2026. Today, I’m joined by Adina Lasser, the Alliance’s Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, to discuss these new resources and break down what you need to know for this fall’s Medicare Open Enrollment, which runs from October 15 through December 7.

With health policy shifting so quickly, it can be hard to keep track of what’s at stake. Today, we're joined by Alliance Senior VP of Public Policy and Government Relations, Scott Frey, to break down the latest on health access and equity, and what the Alliance is doing to defend it.

With respiratory season approaching, it’s vital to protect against preventable illnesses like COVID-19, flu, RSV, and pneumonia. As debates over vaccination grow, hearing directly from experts is more important than ever. Joining us today is Dr. Kawsar Talaat, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins, WHO advisor, and Alliance Research Advisory Council member, to discuss why immunization matters, how to address hesitancy, and what to know this season.

Each year, the Alliance honors advocates and changemakers who set the standard in research, innovation, and advocacy for older adults. We’re thrilled to continue that tradition at our annual Heroes in Health Awards Dinner on September 30 in Washington, DC. Today, we’re taking a peek behind the curtain with the producers of this year’s event: Sarah Delgado, our VP of Development, and Lauren Belsky, our Development Coordinator.

Starting around age 30, we all begin to lose muscle mass and strength. For some, this progresses into sarcopenia, a condition that can reduce independence, increase disability, and heighten risks of falls, hospitalizations, and other health complications.Joining us to discuss how to prevent muscle loss with age is Dr. Stuart Phillips, muscle health expert and professor at McMaster University.This episode is brought you in part by Nestle.

are you familiar with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease? Neuropsychiatric symptoms, or NPS, are emotional and behavioral symptoms that often go overlooked and under-treated in people with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. This month, the Alliance released a six-part educational series that breaks down these symptoms, explores treatment options, and empowers caregivers with tools to better navigate NPS. Today, we unpack these new resources and discussing why they matter to you, our listeners. Joining me is Katrin Werner-Perez, Director of Health Education and Programming here at the Alliance and producer of the series.

Intellectual property may not be the first thing we think of when it comes to equitable care, but it’s what drives the innovation that saves lives. Joining us to discuss IP’s vital role is David Kappos, co-founder of the Council for Innovation Promotion and a leading voice in health innovation policy.

In our first episode of This Is Growing Old: The Check Up, we reflect on our conversation last month with Natalie Kean, Director of Federal Health Advocacy at Justice in Aging. During our chat, Natalie emphasized the serious implications of proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP for vulnerable Americans. Around the same time, we also saw reductions in federal funding and staffing at the Department of Health and Human Services, further threatening health security for people living with Alzheimer’s and related diseases, and other chronic conditions. Today, we're checking in with Adina Lasser, the Alliance’s Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, to get an update on these developments, what the Alliance is doing in response, and why it matters to you, our listeners.

Medicaid and SNAP have long provided essential support for vulnerable adults. However, a recent proposal in Congress to reduce funding for these programs threatens to undermine equitable access to care for millions of older Americans, many of whom are living with Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions. This week, we're joined by Natalie Kean, Director of Federal Health Advocacy at Justice in Aging, to explore the serious implications these proposed cuts could have on vulnerable adults.

We at the Alliance are deeply grateful for our dedicated Board of Directors, who help amplify our mission. On today’s episode of This is Growing Old, our Board Chair, Michele Markus, joins us to share insights on the year ahead.

It’s Heart Month—a busy and exciting time here at the Alliance as we gear up for Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day on February 22nd. In the spirit of the season, we’re thrilled to be joined by Amy Johnson, President and Director of Rock from the Heart. Amy will share their incredible efforts to educate people about aortic and heart valve disease, support families affected, connect patients with vital resources, and inspire us all through the healing power of music.

Caregiving is a radical act of empathy. To give care is to recognize the needs of another and provide support and companionship. All of us have received care at some point in our lives, and many of us will provide care in one way or another. Yet, the concept of care often goes underexplored, leaving caregivers unrecognized and their contributions undervalued. In honor of National Caregiver’s Month, we're joined by Stage Director, Playwright, Producer and scholar, Dr. Derek Goldman, to discuss his ground breaking play The Art of Care. This production, developed in part by its ensemble, tells a powerful story made up of real-life narratives. It shines a light on the sacrifice, hardship, and profound beauty that define the caregiving experience

Intergenerational friendships enrich our worldview and create lasting legacies through the exchange of ideas, love, and support between grandparents or grand friends and young adults. Following Healthy Aging Month, we’re joined by Dr. Abigail T. Stephens, Research Assistant Professor of Psychology at Clemson University and faculty affiliate with the Institute for Engaged Aging, to discuss the value of these bonds and share ways to foster them in our own lives.