Aging and demographics reporter

Panashe Matemba Mutasa

Panashe Matemba-Mutasa is a California Local News Fellow covering the aging beat, with a focus on how California’s shifting demographics shape communities, policy, and daily life. She has reported for the Minnesota Daily, East Bay Express, Metro Silicon Valley, Tri-City Voice and East Bay Magazine. Panashe holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Minnesota and a master’s in journalism from UC Berkeley.

R. Scott Turner points to PET scan results that are part of a study on Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s deaths increase as population ages, lifespans increase

May 11, 2026 at 9:03 a.m.

Alzheimer’s-related deaths have surged 138% since 2000.

Leni Siegel, age 80, of Berkeley, pulls out a book while showing off the items she wants to get rid of while in her garage in Berkeley, Calif., on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Siegel, a senior citizen, is in the process of downsizing her home. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Decluttering: What seniors should know about clearing out their homes

April 29, 2026 at 8:40 a.m.

For many seniors, decluttering isn't just about cleaning — it's about safety, independence, and finally feeling "lighter."

Barb Jerabek, 68, displays her tattoos at her home in Lafayette, Calif., on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

‘If not now, when?’ Why more older adults are getting tattoos

April 11, 2026 at 8:21 a.m.

From marking milestones to reclaiming autonomy, seniors are embracing tattoos later in life.

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