bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EXPLORING MOBILE PAIN APPLICATIONS WITH DIVERSE ELDERS
Authors: Milidonis Mary , Rupp Hayley , McGinty Patrick , Kopera-Frye Karen
Published: January 2025

Mobile pain applications (apps) may improve health communication. Mobile health apps do not always consider the needs of diverse older adults. This qualitative project examines perceptions of smartphone pain apps between African American and Caucasian older adults. The sample consisted of 19 older adults (mean age = 68 years), with majority female (88%), predominantly Caucasian (76%), African American (24%) and majority some college education (70%). Participants were randomly assigned to evaluate 2 of 5 free pain apps. Respondents answered questions about pain apps using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). The MARS assesses descriptive and technical aspects of an eHealth apps using five categories including four quality scales: engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information and one subjective quality scale. Participants experienced persistent pain from 3 months to 12 years. Participants self-reported an average of 2.6 comorbidities on the Functional Comorbidity Scale. Important characteristics identified by both groups of older adults as critical for useable app included: Clear instructions and good navigation. The African American group differed on what would deter use of the app which included fear of use, uncertainty about the app and preferred use of personal physician. The Caucasian group themes for what deterred app use included complexity and lack of engagement. Both groups identified the important features were tracking pain and treatment ideas. These are important considerations in designing health technology for use with diverse older adults who need recurrent pain self-management.
EXPLORING THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF PLACE AND GENDER AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN GHANA
Authors: Burns Shane , Best Latrica , Amoatey Solomon
Published: January 2025

Ghana’s older adult population is growing rapidly and projected to double by 2050. It is well-documented that social, health, and housing factors influence disparate rates of disability. However, little is known how the intersection of place (i.e., urban; rural) and gender (i.e., woman; man) inform rates of disability among older Ghanaians. We seek to examine this gap in the literature through an intersectional approach. Using logistic regression with Wave 1 (2007/08) data from the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Ghana, we investigate the prevalence of activities of daily living (ADL) disability among respondents ages 50+ (n=4,106). To document gender differences by place, we compute separate adjusted odds ratio models among urban and rural respondents while accounting for health, social, and housing factors that might explain gender differences. Compared to urban men, urban women’s ADL disability disadvantage was explained by marital status, particularly widowhood. In contrast, rural women consistently reported an ADL disability disadvantage when compared to rural men. Additionally, we found that the morbidity profiles of those who reported ADL disability differed by place and certain ADL difficulties (i.e., bed transferring; toileting) were especially common among women. Women, both urban and rural, were especially vulnerable to ADL disability. Marital status explaining urban women’s ADL disability disadvantage suggests that partnership attenuates disability risk. Also, we speculate that varied morbidity associations with ADL disability are due to different stressors in urban versus rural environments. These findings also generate further interest about rural women’s disability disadvantage.
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES GSA & AGE JOINT SYMPOSIUM
Authors: Sutphin George , LeBrasseur Nathan
Published: January 2025

For a fifth consecutive year, the Biological Sciences section of GSA and the leadership of the American Aging Association have partnered to identify abstracts that reflect on their shared effort to advance the understanding of mechanisms of aging and their impact on aging and disease. This symposium will discuss biomarkers and mediators of functional decline, sarcopenia, and frailty.
FMO-4 SLOWS AGING DOWNSTREAM OF MTOR AND DR THROUGH ER TO MITOCHONDRIA CALCIUM SIGNALING
Authors: Tuckowski Angela , Beydoun Safa , Kitto Elizabeth , Bhat Ajay , Howington Marshall , Sridhar Aditya , Bhandari Mira , Chambers Kelly , Leiser Scott
Published: January 2025

The geroscience field has identified several pathways that regulate aging across species. Of these pathways, dietary restriction and the reduced mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling are among the best studied but still not fully understood interventions. Recent work from our lab and others established the flavin containing monooxygenase family of enzymes as regulators of longevity across species. While others found that Fmos are induced by longevity interventions in mice, we found that Cefmo-2 promotes longevity, stress resistance, and healthspan by rewiring endogenous metabolism. These results suggest that the FMO family could regulate longevity in multiple species, including humans. Our new work focuses on the role of C. elegans FMO-4, which is structurally similar to FMO-2 but expressed in a different tissue. Our data show that fmo-4 confers stress resistance and is required for DR- and mTOR-mediated longevity. We also find that fmo-4 does not act similar to fmo-2 but downstream of it, and interacts with calcium signaling and stress response to promote healthy aging. Under the hypothesis that modified calcium signaling is crucial for ER and mitochondrial homeostasis, we find evidence of 1) the metabolic, stress, and aging processes in which FMO-4 activity plays a role, and 2) the likely mechanisms for these roles. Overall, our data highlight the importance of FMOs in longevity, and reveal a novel mechanism for FMO regulation of longevity and metabolism.
PLASMA PROTEOMIC SIGNATURE OF DEVELOPMENT AND PROGNOSIS OF SARCOPENIA
Authors: Wu Chenkai , Liao Jinhui , Xu Jianhong
Published: January 2025

Sarcopenia, characterized by muscle loss and functional decline, poses a significant health concern in aging populations. Understanding the proteomic signatures associated with the development and prognosis of sarcopenia is crucial for targeted management. Data from 52,689 participants (aged 39-70 years) in the UK Biobank were analyzed, with 2,920 proteins assayed using Olink. We used the multinomial logistic regression to identify proteins cross-sectionally associated with sarcopenia at baseline; Cox regression was used to examine proteins associated with all-cause mortality among 2,886 individuals who were sarcopenic at baseline. Subsequently, we used the LASSO regression to screen for important proteins for predicting death among sarcopenic persons and the light gradient boosting machine model to determine relative importance of these proteins. Pathway analysis was performed using Enrichr. A total of 738 proteins were cross-sectionally associated with sarcopenia at baseline, while 627 proteins were significantly associated with mortality among initially sarcopenic individuals (Bonferroni-corrected p-value < 0.05). LASSO regression identified 306 and 65 proteins associated with sarcopenia status and death, respectively. Among the 34 overlapping proteins, GDF15, WFDC2, EDA2R, and CHRDL1 were the top signals. The prediction model with these 34 proteins had a C-statistic=0.81 and performed better than a base model with key socio-demographic variables (net reclassification index=0.27). Differential expression analysis revealed enrichment of proteins in cellular signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, cancer initiation and progression, and metabolic regulation pathways. Identification of proteomic signatures of sarcopenia provides insights into its pathogenesis and prognosis. The refined predictive models offer potential clinical utility in personalized management strategies for sarcopenia.
THE NEUTROPHIL-LYMPHOCYTE RATIO AND WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT ASSOCIATE WITH MUSCLE ENERGETICS AND GAIT SPEED IN SOMMA
Authors: Kramer Philip , Cawthon Peggy , Lui Li-Yung , DeConne Theodore , Lane Nancy , Leng Xiaoyan , Newman Anne , Kritchevsky Stephen
Published: January 2025

Systemic inflammation drives sarcopenia and cachexia, which impair the mobility and independence of older adults. We and others have demonstrated that muscle mitochondrial energetics are strongly associated with gait speed, leg power, and mobility limitations. However, the contribution of systemic inflammation to lower muscle mitochondrial energetics is not fully understood. In this analysis of the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA), two pro-inflammatory biomarkers, the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and total WBC count (WBC), were measured in adults aged 30-94 (30-69, n=81; 70-79, n=864). We report associations with maximal muscle mitochondrial energetics (MaxOXPHOS) and 400m gait speed. Individuals in higher NLR tertiles (< 1.685 vs. ≥1.685 - < 2.430 vs. ≥2.430) had significantly lower MaxOXPHOS (63.9±22.5 vs. 61.7±19.9 vs. 59.0±16.8, p=0.019) and gait speed (1.08±0.19 vs. 1.08±0.18 vs. 1.03±0.16, p=0.0002), had a greater multimorbidity burden (p < 0.0001), and were older (p=0.008) compared to individuals in lower NLR tertiles. The associations of NLR and WBC with MaxOXPHOS (NLR, β=-1.38, p=0.05; WBC, β=-2.45, p=0.0003) were partly explained by age and BMI (NLR, ∆β=-37%, p=0.18; WBC, ∆β=-34%, p=0.01), and were further explained when accounting for all other covariates, including multimorbidity burden (NLR, ∆β=-28%, p=0.36; WBC, ∆β=-43%, p=0.15). However, the association of NLR and WBC with gait speed (NLR, β=-0.019, p=0.0009; WBC, β=-0.034, p< 0.0001) could not be fully explained by age, BMI or other covariates (NLR, ∆β=-10.5%, p=0.002; WBC, ∆β=-61%, p=0.019). In conclusion, systemic inflammation, especially as related to age, obesity, and disease, associates with lower muscle energetics and gait speed in adults.
AS MUCH AS I CAN PREVENT… I’M GOING TO DO IT: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF WAYS PEOPLE MANAGE DEMENTIA-RELATED ANXIETY
Authors: Maxfield Molly , Peckham Allie , James Dara , Koffer Rachel
Published: January 2025

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are prevalent, without cures, and associated with declining independence. Beyond their cognitive effects, ADRDs can create social, psychological, and financial challenges for the individual diagnosed, their family, friends, and caregivers. Dementia-related anxiety (DRA) is the fear or anxiety about a current or future diagnosis of ADRD. The present study examined self-identified ways of managing DRA. Semi-structured qualitative interviews focused on thoughts and feelings about dementia among 50 community-dwelling adults (58 to 89 years old, M = 70.80, SD = 6.02) without dementia diagnoses. A reflexive inductive thematic approach examined ways people managed DRA. Based on an iterative process, we adopted and revised themes, ultimately identifying five themes: 1) monitoring cognitive status (e.g., self-monitoring or objective assessment), 2) active coping strategies (e.g., using external reminders, normalizing age-related change), 3) interpersonal relationships and support (e.g., anticipating benefit of support from others), 4) planning and preparing for potential outcomes (e.g., securing power of attorney and/or advance directives, saying goodbyes), and 5) personal responsibility to manage dementia risk or accept a diagnosis (e.g., lifestyle factors to reduce dementia risk, thereby reducing risk for burdening others). Findings suggest people use internal and external means for coping with DRA that are likely to vary in their usefulness. We consider these findings within the context of terror management theory and the lifespan theory of control, attending to potential clinical interventions for individuals experiencing DRA.
WORKING WITH NATIVE HAWAIIANS TO RECLAIM TRADITIONAL PRACTICES
Authors: Braun Kathryn , Mokuau Noreen , Yoshimoto Kukuna
Published: January 2025

With colonization, Native Hawaiians were strongly discouraged from speaking Hawaiian and practicing their traditions, and these practices went underground. Thus, few elders today know the language or traditional Hawaiian practices. Amendments to the Hawai‘i Constitution in 1978 supported the bringing back of language and culture. For example, Native Hawaiian immersions schools began to be funded by the state, and today students can earn their elementary, secondary, and tertiary degrees in the Hawaiian language. However, after years of being hidden, much of the knowledge of language and traditional practices had to be resurrected and, to some extent, recreated. The 3-person research team, which included two Native Hawaiian scholars, collected stories from Native Hawaiian kumu loea (expert teachers) of traditional practices, soliciting information on how they learned their craft, how they are currently practicing it, and how they are teaching others. Interviewees included practitioners of Hawaiian spirituality, care of the dead, land management, healthy eating, language, song, conflict resolution, herbal healing, traditional massage, cordage, weapons, martial arts, law, and medicine. Analysis included several rounds of member checking. Findings illustrate how knowledge was passed down despite its suppression and the challenges interviewees faced accruing knowledge as adult learners, rather than as native oral learners. All demonstrated personal resilience, dedication to culture, and pride in their role in bringing back practices that were almost lost. The research process could be replicated by other investigators dedicated to hearing and documenting the process of indigenous knowledge regeneration.
“WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY”: STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE IN THE STORIES OF SOUTH ASIAN OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Khan Mushira
Published: January 2025

Productive aging is deeply connected to the realms of communal and associational life (Russell, 2011). Asset-based approaches facilitate productive aging by harnessing existing gifts and strengths within individuals and their communities and fostering a sense of purpose in older adults (Hornby-Turner et al., 2017). Despite this evidence, little is known about the specific experiences of South Asian American (SAA) older adults in relation to well-being. To address this gap, this qualitative study explored the strengths that contribute to their well-being through in-depth interviews with 32 SAA adults (44% female; mean age=58.3 years) ages 50+. Each interview lasted between 30 and 90 minutes and was audio-recorded with the participant’s consent. Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed that several key assets facilitated a sense of purpose in SAA older adults, including robust local and global social support networks, often maintained through social media platforms such as WhatsApp and participation in cultural events, strong affectual ties between generations, self-transcendence through meditation and mindfulness-based practices, a sense of resilience, and creative coping strategies, particularly among late-life immigrants. These findings suggest that an asset-based approach can empower and support the well-being of SAA older adults by recognizing and leveraging their existing strengths, resources, and personal, familial, and cultural assets. For example, enhancing digital literacy in this population may offset loneliness through more effective engagement with digital social activities. Overall, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers may want to capitalize on these strengths when developing interventions or programs aimed at promoting productive aging among SAA older adults.
FINDING FULFILLMENT IN NEW BEGINNINGS: EXPLORING LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG RESETTLED BHUTANESE OLDER ADULTS IN OHIO
Authors: Karmacharya Isha , Ghimire Saruna
Published: January 2025

Background

The decision for refugees to flee their home country is often driven by persecution, conflict, or other dire circumstances, leading to a significant disruption in their lives. The US, along with the state of Ohio, has provided a safety net for a significant number of Bhutanese refugees. However, resettled refugees, particularly older adults, face significant challenges in adjusting to their new environment. This study aims to assess the life satisfaction of resettled Bhutanese older adults in Ohio, USA, and to identify the factors influencing their life satisfaction.

Methods

Through snowball sampling facilitated by local Bhutanese organizations, a survey was conducted among 276 resettled Bhutanese individuals aged 55 and above in four major Ohio cities (Columbus, Akron, Cleveland, and Cincinnati). Life satisfaction was assessed using the widely popular and validated Satisfaction with Life Scale, and binary logistic regression was employed to model the factors associated with life satisfaction.

Results

One in ten participants reported dissatisfaction with their lives. Participants experiencing depressive symptoms had higher odds of life dissatisfaction (OR:9.02, 95% CI: 2.28-35.77, p=0.002), whereas those with greater social support (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.85-0.94, p<0.0001) and resilience (OR:0.92, 95% CI: 0.88-0.97, p<0.002) had lower odds.

Conclusion

Despite enduring significant challenges throughout their journey from displacement and refugee camps to resettlement in the USA, a notable proportion of participants expressed satisfaction with their lives. However, future studies should delve into their life transitions before and after resettlement to gain a deeper understanding of how the resettlement process shapes their life satisfaction.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT AMONG OLDER HISPANICS: INTRAGROUP DIVERSITY, WORKPLACE BENEFITS, AND CITIZENSHIP STATUS
Authors: Lopez Bruna
Published: January 2025

Hispanics play a significant role in the self-employment landscape among older workers, yet research on this subject often ignores intragroup heterogeneity. Investigating these intragroup differences may highlight differential access to safety-net programs (e.g., health insurance, retirement savings programs) and economic opportunities (e.g., business incorporation). In response, this study utilized data from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, obtained from IPUMS-CPS, to assess differences in incorporated (I-SE) and unincorporated (U-SE) self-employment rates among those 50 to 64 years old by seven Hispanic subgroups within the U.S. (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Salvadoran, Central and South American, and Other Hispanic). Using pooled data between 2017 and 2022 to reduce sampling noise, we estimated health insurance access, retirement savings program access, and citizenship status by subgroup and incorporation status. We found notable differences by subgroup in overall self-employment rates (e.g., Cubans had the highest rates: 5% I-SE, 6% U-SE%; Puerto Ricans had the lowest rates: 2% I-SE, 2% U-SE). Salvadorans had the lowest health insurance coverage rates (48% I-SE, 58% U-SE). Those falling within the “Other Hispanic” category, including Spaniards, participated the most in workplace retirement savings programs (26% I-SE, 7% U-SE). Excluding Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens, Dominicans in unincorporated self-employment (46% citizens) and Salvadorans in incorporated self-employment (41% citizens) were the least likely to hold citizenship status. These findings identify important gaps in access to health insurance and retirement savings programs, as well as more lucrative incorporated self-employment opportunities, by subgroup.
DAILY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HAPPINESS, SUBJECTIVE AGE, AND SUBJECTIVE ECONOMIC STATUS IN TURKIYE
Authors: Can Reyyan , Neupert Shevaun
Published: January 2025

Subjective economic status, which includes feelings of financial strain, is linked with important health and well-being indicators such as happiness. In addition, threats to economic status may be especially harmful for middle-aged and older adults. We aimed to characterize and explore predictors of daily happiness among middle-aged and older adults in Turkiye. Conducted during the summer of 2022, a period marked by high inflation, the study involved 98 participants aged 50 to 90 (M = 59.57, SD = 7.8) who reported on their happiness, subjective economic status, and subjective age for 14 consecutive days. Results from Multilevel Modeling revealed significant variations in happiness, subjective economic status, and subjective age over the 14-day period at both within and between person levels. Increases in subjective economic status were associated with increased daily happiness, whereas feeling older corresponded to decreased happiness. Subjective economic status and subjective felt age together accounted for 44% of the variance in within-person happiness variability, underscoring the importance of these factors in shaping happiness. Moreover, our study highlights economic volatility experienced by individuals in Turkiye calling for attention from policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to address the vulnerabilities faced by this group.
AFFECTIVE AND COGNITIVE CONSEQUENCES OF PERCEIVING DAILY EXPECTATIONS FOR ACTIVE AGING
Authors: Wirth Maria , Rothermund Klaus
Published: January 2025

Older individuals face increasing social expectations and demands to remain active and participate in society. Perceived expectations for active aging (PEAA) refer to older adults’ recognizing such expectations as being directed at them personally. Previous studies, investigating PEAA as a relatively stable trait-like construct, showed that most individuals can cope well with activation demands. However, some individuals might be distressed by them. A deeper understanding of PEAA and their consequences can be reached when both are assessed in everyday life. In a 14-day diary pilot study with 93 participants (Mage = 65.40, 50-84 years), we assessed daily PEAA in the physical, cognitive, social, and appearance domains and related them to daily positive and negative affect as well as subjective age. Complementing previous work, we showed that daily PEAA not only differed between but also within individuals and that these variations were related to affective experience and subjective age. In multilevel models controlling for daily hassles and uplifts, we showed that on days on which individuals perceived more expectations for active aging, they also reported more positive affect. Daily PEAA and daily negative affect were not related. Moreover, on days on which individuals reported more daily PEAA, they also reported feeling younger. These findings point to the importance of assessing and understanding PEAA within older individual’s daily context.
UCSF’S EMANCIPATORY SCIENCES LAB AS PRAXIS: TOWARD THEORY AND ACTION
Authors: Pond Brittney
Published: January 2025

This presentation discusses the UCSF Emancipatory Sciences Lab as a model for intergenerational, international, and cross-institutional collaboration to advance public scholarship centering anti-oppression and healing oriented research, policy, and practice. The lab promotes participation in public scholarship and activism and currently has over 140 members. The Emancipatory Sciences Lab highlights the importance of public scholarship via the production of a podcast, blog series and posts, and engagement on social media including X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. Our podcast, titled EDGES: Engaging Dialogues Generating Emancipatory Sciences, interviews scholars, practitioners, artists, students, and activists to elevate their work and share critical discussions with a broader audience. The Emancipatory Sciences Lab provides tools, resources, and spaces for people within and beyond academia to engage in collaborative work with scholars, practitioners, and students. One example is the Student Writing Series that I created and facilitated, which has provided a monthly space for students to set writing goals, co-write together, and share resources for writing for nearly one year. The Emancipatory Sciences Lab website features a searchable clearinghouse of publications for people in our network in the emancipatory sciences, which is valuable in providing resources and elevating critical work. We host webinar series and promote events from folks in our network to provide space for collaboration, discussion, and learning. Given my background as a first-generation scholar from a low socioeconomic status community, I am excited to share about the work stemming from the Emancipatory Sciences Lab that creates collaborative spaces to share and learn.
EXAMINING LIFE COURSE TRAJECTORIES WITH LINKED FULL COUNT IPUMS CENSUS DATA
Authors: Flood Sarah , Flood Sarah
Published: January 2025

Understanding life course trajectories requires data with a long time horizon or sufficiently detailed retrospective recall measures; extending this to include intergenerational processes or mortality outcomes places further demands on data. Historical full count census data from IPUMS are a rich and underutilized source of information on early life conditions and can be harnessed to summarize millions life histories for individuals and trace families over multiple generations. IPUMS full count census data covers 1850-1950 and boast nearly 800 million individual records, which can be linked longitudinally across decennial censuses as well as to external data sources to answer questions about exposures and outcomes across the life course. This session will feature research presentations on the power of linked full count US census data to explore life course trajectories including substantive applications focused on racial equity in older-age mortality, negative economic shocks and long-term wellbeing, segregation and exposure to air pollution, and developing scores for estimating lifespan using commonly available socioeconomic and demographic measures. This session will highlight the value of historical census data to understanding current population and aging issues. The presentations will showcase research that links full count census data in multiple ways and demonstrates the flexibility and wealth of information available in these data.
THAT’S ONE WAY TO DO IT: THE EXPERIENCE OF SUCCESSFULLY PURSUING AND IMPLEMENTING THE AFU DESIGNATION
Authors: Friberg-Felsted Katarina
Published: January 2025

Gerontology education and research has been present at the University of Utah (UofU) for 51 years. This has led to multiple programs, staff, faculty, and alumni desiring to improve age-friendly environments, advocate for lifelong learning, and choosing to pursue the Age-friendly University (AFU) designation. This presentation will describe the experience of successfully pursuing and implementing AFU at the UofU. A matrix of age-friendly initiatives across campus, representing each of the 10 Age-Friendly University Principles, was developed and used to garner support from vital entities such as the Professors Emeriti Club, the Dean of the College of Nursing, and the Center on Aging. These partners helped facilitate presentations to the Senior Vice President and the university’s Academic Council of Deans, leading to endorsement from the UofU President. Following receipt of AFU designation, AFU representatives worked with the university’s Marketing and Communications team on a campus wide press release. Strategic planning for improving age-friendliness across campus is ongoing, focusing on three main initiatives: 1) piloting a baseline needs assessment of age inclusivity, 2) creating an Age-friendly University task force, and 3) exploring a collaboration with the Associate Chief of Age-friendly Health Systems to standardize an Age-friendly model for our academic health center.
SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY’S ROADMAP TO AGE-FRIENDLY UNIVERSITY DESIGNATION
Authors: Dobish Heidi
Published: January 2025

Our AFU dedicated team first met in August, 2022 to discuss the process for becoming an Age-Friendly University. The AFU team consisted of a psychology department faculty member, the director of the university’s Lifelong Learning Program, and a local community member. Our first step was to map our university’s core values and current age-friendly inclusive activities onto the 10 Principles of an Age-Friendly University. This exercise provided evidence that many ongoing, university-engaging events highlighted four of the Age-Friendly principles. In October, 2022, the team met with our provost and proposed why Shepherd University should endorse the Age-Friendly initiative. Our provost agreed and signed our application letter in November, 2022. With the Age-Friendly University Global Network restructuring, it was a rather long wait for their response but we received our acceptance letter in August, 2023. We sent out press releases and were interviewed by a local columnist. Our first step as an AFU member was to create a six-person AFU Advisory Board with representation from Shepherd faculty, staff, and community members. We meet monthly and are currently working on a mission statement, by-laws, and S.W.O.T. analysis. We are also conducting information sessions for the university community to inform them about AFU and receive input on potential age-friendly activities. The board is keeping a log of activities undertaken as required by the AFU Global Network.
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY LEVERAGES LAND-GRANT MISSION TO PURSUE AGE-FRIENDLY STATUS
Authors: Buys David , Jackson Christine , Boddie-Forbes Ra’Sheda , Dyer Jamie , Fountain Brent , Jackson Gary , Ralston Margaret , Seal Susan
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Mississippi is experiencing outmigration and a decreasing birthrate, resulting in an aging population, which is of growing concern across sectors. The state’s Department of Health led an Age-Friendly Public Health System application and is facilitating a broader Age-Friendly Ecosystem Initiative. As a member of the ecosystem advisory board, MSU was asked to lead the state in pursuing Age-Friendly University (AFU) status.

Methods

The University representative on the taskforce worked with MSU Divisions of Academic Affairs and Access, Opportunity, and Success (AOS) to assemble a working group to consider this opportunity. The group consisted of individuals from the Office of Outreach and Engagement, Interdisciplinary Studies, the Gerontology Education Program, the new College Of Continuing and Professional Studies and Cooperative Extension. The group 1) reviewed the AFU principles, 2) assessed where MSU has current initiatives that align with AFU goals, 3) considered where there are opportunities to develop new AFU-relevant work, 4) developed a proposal for the Provost and President, and 5) prepared and submitted an application to the AFU Global Network (AFUGN). Throughout the process the group has centered the unique role of the land-grant university mission in meeting the needs of the older adults. Results and

discussion

Upon acceptance of the application by the AFUGN in August 2023, the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Success agreed to manage the designation as a convening body and “conscience” for the University. AOS convenes the working group monthly, promotes AFU-relevant activities, and monitors activities for AFUGN required reporting.
SEQUENTIAL ANALYSIS OF DEMENTIA FAMILY DYADIC COMMUNICATION: CARE RECIPIENT CHALLENGING/NEUTRAL COMMUNICATION
Authors: Kim Sohyun , Chen Will , Sun-Mitchell Shan
Published: January 2025

Care-recipient challenging communication is nonresponsive, resistive, withdrawing, and critical communication showing disengagement. Care-recipient neutral communication is nonverbal behavior either engaging or challenging depending on the context. This study examined temporal relationships between antecedent care-recipient challenging and neutral communication and subsequent family caregiver communication (facilitative, disabling, and neutral) during 75 in-home care video observations. Secondary analysis of 5- to 60-second timed-window analysis with 5-second intervals was conducted. 95% confidence intervals, p-values, and Yule’s Q statistics were used. The results showed that all types of family caregiver communication were less likely to occur at differing frequencies within each time window following care-recipient challenging verbal and neutral communication. Caregiver facilitative verbal, disabling nonverbal, and neutral communication were less likely to occur within all time widows after care-recipient challenging verbal communication (OR = 0.32 – 0.86, p < 0.001 – p = 0.001-0.037, Yule’s Q = -0.106 – -0.519). Caregiver facilitative and disabling communication were less likely to occur until 35 seconds after care-recipient neutral communication (OR = 0.34 – 0.87, p < 0.001 – p = 0.002 – 0.044, Yule’s Q = 0.093 – 0.459). Care-recipient challenging verbal and neutral communication were significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of subsequent caregiver communication, with a small to large probability of non-occurrence. These results highlight that caregivers often fail to respond to care-recipient challenging and neutral communication. Healthcare providers and researchers should prioritize providing caregiver education focusing on awareness and support of challenging verbal behaviors and other nonverbal behaviors of persons living with dementia.
TIME HELP FROM ADULT CHILDREN: DIFFERENCES AMONG BIOLOGICAL AND STEP-CHILDREN IN NON-STEPFAMILIES AND STEPFAMILIES
Authors: Lin I-Fen , Seltzer Judith , Chin Janecca , Wiemers Emily , Strauss Anna Wiersma , Hotz V
Published: January 2025

Objectives. Adult stepchildren help their parents less than biological children, but findings based on parent-child dyads ignore that some biological children are in stepfamilies because one or both parents have children from previous unions. Additionally, little is known about how a widespread crisis may disrupt the normal patterns of assistance from adult children to parents. We take a family systems approach to investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped adult children’s time help to parents by considering dyadic relationships embedded in family structure. Methods. We leveraged the panel design of the Health and Retirement Study to examine changes in time help to parents. We compared adult children’s responses to parental need prior to and during the pandemic using the 2016, 2018, and 2020 core interviews. We also examined how children responded to parental need using the 2020 COVID-19 module. Throughout we considered biological children and stepchildren in non-stepfamilies and stepfamilies. Results. Stepchildren were least likely to provide time help, followed by biological children in stepfamilies, and lastly biological children in non-stepfamilies. However, among parents who had trouble with instrumental activities of daily living (2016, 2018, 2020 core interviews) or had trouble buying food for non-financial reasons (COVID-19 module), biological children in non-stepfamilies and biological children in stepfamilies were equally likely to help their parents. Discussion. Our findings suggest general stability in biological versus step children’ helping differentials even in times of crisis but also challenge the view that the presence of a stepchild weakens ties between biological children and their parents.
ASSOCIATION OF CUMULATIVE RISK FACTORS AND HANDGRIP STRENGTH AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS IN INDIA
Authors: Kulkarni Snehal
Published: January 2025

Objective

The present study aims to establish the reference values of HGS in Indian older adults and to evaluate the influence of cumulative risk factors on HGS.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Pune city of India among 1016 community-dwelling older adults. Data on demographic characteristics, functionality, chronic illness, and physical activity was collected using a structured questionnaire. Objective measurements such as slowness of walking and balance impairment were measured using the Timed-up and go test and sharpened Romberg’s test. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and one-way ANCOVA were to examine the influence of risk factors on HGS.

Results

The mean HGS of the study group was 16.28 + 5.84 kgs. Male older people had a higher handgrip (20.37±6.91 kg) than females (14.29±5.54 kg). For both men and women, handgrip strength decreased with increasing age. The results show that participants with 4 or more risk factors had significantly low handgrip strength (14.18 kg) than participants with no risk factors (19.62 kg). Functional decline, lack of exercise, and impaired balance also reduced the handgrip among the study participants.

Conclusion

The values of handgrip strength reported in the current were lower than those reported in other studies. Accumulation of more than 4 risk factors drastically decreases the handgrip. Thus, evaluation of handgrip strength can be used as a feasible strategy to improve the health status of community-dwelling older adults.
EXPLORING FRAILTY PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS AMONG STROKE PATIENTS: A MULTICENTER CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: He Haiyan , Tang Siyuan , Peng Wenting , Liu Kehan , Wang Shuomin , Bai Yaru , Huang Chongmei , Liu Minhui
Published: January 2025

Frailty is prevalent among stroke patients, and it is strongly associated with higher risks of expected adverse outcomes. However, the risk factors for frailty remained unclear in middle-aged and older patients with stroke. We aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors of frailty in middle-aged and older patients with stroke in Chinese hospitals. A cross-sectional survey was employed using a random sampling method, involving middle-aged and older patients with stroke in two tertiary hospitals in Central and Northwest China between January 2022 and June 2022. Frailty was assessed with the Frail Scale. Candidate predictors included nine socio-demographic factors and 12 clinical factors. We used generalized linear models to examine the relationship between frailty and related factors. Among 838 patients, 560 were male and 278 were female, with the majority aged between 50-60 years (30.4%) and 60-70 years (27.6%). The prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty was 40.1% (n=338) and 31.1% (n=261), respectively. We found that the stroke type (β = -0.30, 95% CI: -0.46, -0.14; P < 0.001), abnormal nutritional risk (β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.45; P = 0.042), hyperlipidemia (β = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.39; P = 0.026), and post-stroke disability (β = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.64; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with frailty scores in stroke patients. Our finding provides evidence regarding the frailty status of stroke patients. It suggests that early screening and intervention for these factors are crucial to preventing or improving frailty among middle-aged and older patients with stroke.
ANNIE CAREGIVER TEXT PROGRAM: A LIFELINE IN MANAGING DEMENTIA BEHAVIORS AND STRESS
Authors: Martindale-Adams Jennifer , Clark Carolyn , Henderson Charles , Martin Jessica , Roth Jennifer , Nichols Linda
Published: January 2025

Caring for a loved one can negatively impact well-being for caregivers and persons with dementia. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Connected Care and Caregiver Support Program expanded Annie Text Care messages to caregivers of Veterans in 2019 beginning with caregiver stress management. As of 2024, over 25,000 caregivers have enrolled in nine different caregiver subscriptions. Dementia Behaviors and Stress Management has 2,880 caregivers enrolled. For a year, caregivers receive 7 messages per week with 4 focusing on dementia behaviors and 3 focusing on stress management. Messages are educational, motivational, and activities or strategies to help based on the Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers Health (REACH) VA program. Caregivers can complete a short, Survey Monkey link, sent every 6 months. Questions are on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from completely disagree to completely agree plus open ended questions. Caregivers reported that the texts helped them manage dementia behaviors (mean score of 4.37/5), manage stress (mean score of 4.4/5), take care of themselves (mean score of 4.3/5) and their loved one (mean score of 4.5/5), and made them feel like someone cared about them (mean score of 4.6/5). Overwhelmingly, caregivers would recommend this service to other caregivers (mean score of 4.7/5). As technology moves toward increasing sophistication with artificial intelligence, this simple one-way text messaging system resonates with caregivers. In qualitative analysis themes, caregivers report that “Annie makes me feel less alone” and that messages come at the right time – “just when I needed to hear it.”
MEDICAL EXPENDITURE DIFFERENCES: EMERGING OLDER ADULTS, BOOMERS VERSUS THE PREDECESSORS IN KOREA (2010–2020)
Authors: Lim Yejin , Cho Youngtae , Ha Jung-Hwa , Ko Woorim
Published: January 2025

South Korea, the world’s fastest-aging society, faces growing concerns over the increasing societal caregiving burden as the aging of the baby boom generation (boomers) starting in 2020. Recognizing the importance of generational context in gerontological research, this study conducted APC analysis on the annual individual medical expenditure (AIME) of approximately 148,000 participants from the Korea Health Panel Survey data (2010-2020), comparing the industrial generation (IG) (born 1945-1954) with the boomers (born 1955-1964). The analysis revealed a declining AIME trend from the IG to the boomers, with age and period effects controlled. This trend was similarly observed in AIME related to out-patient (OP) services and services at primary care providers, contrasting with AIME related to emergency or in-patient services and care at higher-level institutions. The findings suggest that the difference in total AIME between the two generations could stem from a decrease in the use of OP services at primary healthcare institutions by the boomers. Further analysis, guided by the relationship between OP service use and the number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) reported in prior studies, indicated that the boomers had a significantly lower incidence of major NCDs compared to the IG. This research highlights how the boomers, having driven Korea’s post-war economic boom, are shaping into a distinct older population, diverging from aging patterns of the predecessor generation. It underscores the importance of developing sustainable health management and expenditure policies that reflect the needs of emerging older adults.
THE PSYCHOSOMATIC SYMPTOM CLUSTERS OF OLDER ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN RURAL CHINA: A NATIONAL NETWORK ANALYSIS
Authors: Yi Mo , Wang Zhi-wen
Published: January 2025

Background

Mental health is a crucial aspect of successful aging and healthy ageing. The number and severity of older adults with disabilities (OAD) in China have been on the rise year by year. Due to impaired daily activities and reduced social participation, OAD in rural areas are more prone to various symptoms. Therefore, this study aims to construct a network of psychosomatic symptoms among OAD, identify core symptom.

Methods

The study participants were 3,939 OAD aged 60 and above, sourced from the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We employed CES-D-10 scale, MMSE, and sleep-related items to assess interested outcomes, respectively. Depression was measured using 10 symptom subtypes, MMSE included six subtypes such as executive function, language function and calculation ability, etc. The sleep was categorized into three subtypes: excessive sleep, insufficient sleep, and daytime napping. “Expected Influence” and “Bridge Expected Influence” were analyzed as centrality indicators in the symptom network.

Results

Network analysis results revealed that the most severe symptoms among OAD were low mood (r=1.53), impaired attention ability (r=0.98), and insufficient nighttime sleep (r=0.96). The centrality analysis identified the top symptoms as lack of vitality (r=1.06). Stratified regression analysis indicated that sleep disturbances had the greatest impact on the life satisfaction, accounting for 27.5% of the model’s explanatory power.

Conclusion

Central symptoms (low mood, impaired attention and calculation ability, and insufficient nighttime sleep) and key bridge symptoms (lack of vitality) can serve as potential targets for interventions aimed at rural OAD at risk of mental health symptoms.
DISABILITY STATUS OF ASIAN OLDER ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES: FINDINGS FROM THE 2017–2021 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY
Authors: Miyawaki Christina , Nguyen Hoang , Markides Kyriakos
Published: January 2025

Little information is available on the disability status of the diverse Asian population in the United States (U.S.). In this study we estimate the prevalence of six types of disability in older adults for six major Asian subgroups using the recently released data from the 2017-2021 American Community Survey. The survey contains a sample of 11,737 Vietnamese; 32,388 Chinese; 24,625 Filipino; 12,125 Japanese; 10,231 Koreans; 16,759 Indians; and 2,412,999 non-Hispanic Whites. All analyses use survey weights for population estimates and the jackknife method for standard errors. We find higher prevalence of disability in independent living for Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Indian compared to non-Hispanic White. For self-care disability, Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino and Indian have higher prevalence. Cognitive disability is more prevalent in Vietnamese, Filipino, and Japanese. Only Vietnamese older adults have higher prevalence of mobility disability and vision disability. Surprisingly, all Asian subgroups in the study have lower prevalence of hearing disability than the non-Hispanic White group. Overall, the results show Vietnamese older adults have the worst disability profile, whereas Korean older adults have the best profile. Future research is needed to understand the role of fortitude in addressing disability status, especially in the areas of independent living, self-care, and cognition, which are more prevalent in most Asian groups.
HOW OLDER ADULT PATIENTS PERCEIVE THE IMPORTANCE OF AMBULATION DURING HOSPITALIZATION
Authors: King Barbara , Steege Linsey
Published: January 2025

Background

Older adults commonly experience loss of walking independence during a hospital stay. Loss of functional mobility is the greatest threat to independent living post discharge and quality of life. Limited ambulation during hospitalization is the most predictable and preventable cause of loss of functional mobility. There is an abundance of data on frequency of patient ambulation and the number of steps taken exists, but little information on how older adult patients perceive ambulation during hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to understand how older adult patients perceive ambulation when admitted to a hospital setting. Method: A qualitative study using inductive content analysis was conducted. Fifteen (n = 15) older adults participated in one-on-one in-depth interviews three months post discharge. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis consisted of open coding to identify main and supporting categories that describe the patient’s experience.

Results

Value of Ambulation was identified as the main category which consisted of four supporting categories, Maintaining Health, Filling Time, Getting Ready and Being Connected. Older adults perceived walking during a hospital stay as critical for managing their acute and chronic illness, connecting with other patients and unit staff and limiting social isolation, helping fill their time to reduce boredom, and served to determine if they felt ready to go home.

Conclusion

Ambulation during a hospital stay is highly valued and matters to older adults. Additional research on the patient experience with ambulation is needed to develop person-centered care to improve functional outcomes for older persons.