bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STUDENTS CONNECTING THE DOTS BETWEEN POLICY THROUGH SERVICE, RESEARCH, AND TEACHING
Authors: Jarrott Shannon
Published: January 2025

Students pursuing social sciences degrees because of a desire to improve individual, family, and community circumstances should learn how policy impacts their efforts. I offer examples of teaching, research, and service that orient students to gerontological policy at the organizational, state, and national levels. Examples illustrate fortitude of students, older adults, and organizations in the face of emergent need and opportunity. At the organizational level, students engaged in service at an intergenerational day program for children and older adults developed a satellite food pantry in response to intergenerational need for healthy food access. At the state level, the Ohio the Scholars in Aging program convenes annual cohorts of undergraduate and graduate students from across the state in study of policy making via a partnership between the Ohio Association for Gerontology Education (OAGE) and the Ohio Department of Aging. At the federal level, research students facilitated older adults’ access to the federally funded Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program during COVID. Students’ goals to support the well being of older adults and their families and communities are facilitated through engaged learning, service, and research that connects theory, skills, evidence, and policy. Students may learn about policies that are responsive to emergent need and can harness resources across agencies. They may also identify policies that isolate organizations and prevent collaboration, even when addressing similar goals for different populations. Awareness of the different shapes policies take in their objectives, implementation, and impact enhances students’ ability to navigate and utilize policy to positive effect.
CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH FRAUD VICTIMIZATION AMONG OLDER CHINESE LIVING IN FOREST TOWN AREAS
Authors: Cai Xiuting , Ma Guoyong , Zhu Hongge
Published: January 2025

The forest regions in northeast China, characterized by integrated industrial, urban, and rural communities known as forest town groups, have experienced significant demographic shifts over the past decade. These shifts included accelerated aging population combined with rapid population migration, making these areas emblematic of China’s modernization efforts in achieving urban-rural integration. Notably, the older population in these town groups has increasingly become targets of financial fraud. Against this backdrop, this study used panel data collected from 2012 to 2023 annually in these Chinese forest town areas. These surveys collected data on resident livelihoods and well-being, including educational attainment, income levels, living conditions, health status, and elder care services. This study focused on the roles of internet usage and financial literacy in relation to financial fraud victimization among older adults. Three major findings are as follows: 1) Internet usage correlates with a heightened risk of financial fraud, while financial literacy significantly reduces older adults’ susceptibility to fraud and financial losses. 2) Older women tend to have lower risks for financial fraud compared to their male counterparts, largely attributable to their higher financial literacy. 3) Other characteristics associated with higher financial fraud risks are loneliness, living alone, residing without children (empty-nest status) or living with disabilities. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to improve financial literacy and internet safety practices among older adults in forest town areas, particularly focusing on the most vulnerable groups, to safeguard them against financial fraud.
CORRELATES BETWEEN SENSORY IMPAIRMENTS AND PAIN CHARACTERISTICS IN MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES
Authors: Mu Christina , Thompson Alisha , Brekke Bailee , Okoye Safiyyah , Assi Lama , Assi Sahar , Lee Soomi
Published: January 2025

Objective. Sensory impairments (SI) are associated with comorbidities, functional difficulties, and poor self-rated health. Few studies have examined associations between SI and pain, which is a strong correlate of poor health in later life. We examined the associations between SI and pain. Methods. We used cross-sectional data from the 2021 National Health and Aging Trends Study (n=2979 community-living older adults; ages ≥ 65 years, 57% ages 75-84). We included four measures of SI: objective hearing loss (HL), measured as pure-tone average >25 dB HL; subjective HL, measured as hearing aid use or being unable to hear in certain situations; objective vision loss (VL), measured as logMAR >0.30 for distance or near vision or logCS <1.55 for contrast sensitivity; and subjective VL, measured as inability to see in certain situations. We examined four participant-reported outcomes: being bothered by pain; activity-limiting pain; use of pain medication; and pain locations over the past month. Separate logistic and linear regressions controlled for sociodemographic and health characteristics (e.g., depressive symptoms, chronic conditions). Results. Objective HL was associated with higher odds of activity-limiting pain (aOR=1.33, 95%CI=1.02-1.74). Subjective VL was associated with higher odds of activity-limiting pain (aOR=1.44, 95%CI=1.07-1.93), lower odds of using pain medication (aOR=0.70, 95%CI=0.54-0.92), and more pain locations (B=0.59, 95%CI=0.14-0.97). Compared to having no SI, reporting one or more subjective SI was associated with more pain locations (single SI: B=0.23, 95%CI=0.006-0.46; dual SI: B=0.73, 95%CI=0.08-1.39). Conclusion. Findings suggest SI and pain are related, which may have important implications in clinical settings and research.
HEALTH DISPARITIES, EQUITY, AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY OF GERONTOLOGISTS TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY CONCORDANT CARE
Authors: Bullock Karen , Stansbury Kim , Ruth Terrance
Published: January 2025

• The medical advance of today make it possible for people to live longer with serious illnesses. Many older adults will reach a point where medical technology may be able to keep them alive, but neither restore nor improve their health outcomes. Public opinion polls reveal that most people would rather be home than in a hospital or nursing home when dealing with cancer. However, many racially diverse patients and families do not prefer to transition to home with hospice and palliative care. This leaves many underrepresented serious illness care patients and families to face difficult choices about the kind of care they prefer at end-of-life. Thus, despite the capability of modern medicine to ease most pain and suffering for patients with incurable disease, the existence of good models of holistic medical interventions lack culturally-specific care. This presentation examines the ethical issues and barriers to providing equitable serious illness care. Participants will be able to (1) discuss advance care planning as a tool for effective communication and treatment planning, (2) facilitate a dialogue about ethical, professional, and personal issues relative to oncology treatment decisions, (3) describes strategies for preparing practitioners to address disparities in service delivery.
STRATEGIES TO ENGAGE LATINOS/X/E IN RESEARCH: CASE STUDIES ON BRAIN HEALTH, PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING, AND CAREGIVING
Authors: Aranda Maria
Published: January 2025

Several national initiatives underscore the need for innovation in recruitment strategies that diversify community-based research cohorts. In particular, the call for diverse samples, and inclusion of historically underrepresented populations in community-based research is well documented. Prioritizing these goals is paramount, yet challenges remain as to the “how-to” or real-world efforts to advance inclusion of diverse populations in research on aging. This symposium addresses the knowledge gap by drawing from case studies in North Carolina, New York, and Los Angeles, specifically related to the engagement of people of Latino descent. On one hand, we will discuss several core strategies such as fomenting trust, and giving back, which transcend the different studies. On the other, we will highlight different strategies required given the diversity in subgroups, target condition/issue of the study, individual vs. organizational factors, age groups, among others. In our discussion, we will highlight theoretical frameworks such as the Micro-Meso-Macro Framework, Trauma-Informed Principles, and Cultural Adaptation Frameworks. We will conclude with recommendations and future directions for engaging older Latino people in aging research.
EMPLOYMENT OF TRAUMA INFORMED PRINCIPLES IN HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH WITH OLDER LATINX COMMUNITIES
Authors: Camacho David
Published: January 2025

Engaging older Latinx adults in research is critical to advancing understanding and addressing common challenges in aging. However, older Latinx communities are disproportionately exposed to social, health, and historical challenges that may include potentially traumatic events (e.g. discrimination, violence, grief, etc.) and hinder study participation. There is growing recognition for adoption of Trauma Informed (TI) principles for use in non-trauma specific research. There are limited examples of the implementation of TI principles in gerontological research with Latinx communities. We encourage the adoption of TI principles to facilitate engagement research participation. TI principles may include: 1) building relationships with trusted community agencies and providers; 2) conducting open forums where researchers acknowledge community mistrust and fear, present personal and institutional motivations for the project and discuss benefits for community members; 3)incorporation of study questions that explore Latinx diversity and facilitate discussions about similarities and differences across subgroups; and 4) planning to address structural factors (poverty, violence, migratory status) that influence health and research participation. Second, we draw examples of TI guided practices we employed in two recent studies including the: 1) Dolores and Soledad: a narrative study of older English and Spanish speaking Latinx adults living with chronic pain or loneliness in New York and Los Angeles, and 2) Programa Dolores: An adaptation of the evidence based psychosocial intervention (PATH-Pain) for use with older Latinx adults living with chronic pain in New York. Finally, based on these experiences, we provide recommendations for incorporating TI into future research with older Latinx communities.
RECRUITING LATINO CAREGIVERS INTO DEMENTIA-RELATED RESEARCH: NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
Authors: Aranda Maria
Published: January 2025

Drawing from the theoretical model—the Micro-Meso-Macro Framework— we elucidate factors that facilitated or impeded diverse sample recruitment to a community-based caregiver intervention study with high Hispanic/Latino representation in California. Based on our multi-level analysis of recruitment meetings and community outreach tracking, we documented the following factors implicated in trial participation: 1) Micro: prior encounters with the research enterprise; educational attainment and occupational status; sense of altruism and beneficence; monetary incentivization; comfort with disclosure of private matters; starting from ground zero; gender issues; and 2) Meso/macro: assembling a proactive scientific team; incorporating a marketing perspective; leveraging logos and reputation; training trial staff and community partners; writing project budgets that incentivize diverse trial recruitment; making inroads with community partners; navigating technological challenges; and tapping into resources to alleviate barriers. Latinos were adversely affected by low exposure to research activities and technological barriers which necessitated extra supports during trial participation.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BALANCE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN USING TECHNOLOGY IN DEMENTIA CARE DYAD
Authors: Chen Kuan-Hua , Miller Lyndsey , Lindauer Allison
Published: January 2025

Advances in modern technologies, including wearables, mobile or embedded devices and sensors, and AI provide researchers and clinicians with exciting opportunities for naturalistic, large-scale, long-term, and timely assessment and intervention. In dementia, the vast majority of research and interventions using technology have been focusing on individuals—either only the care recipient or their family care partners. However, most dementia care dyads live together and have interdependent behaviors (e.g. physical activity and sleep) and shared functions (e.g. preparing meals). The proposed symposium highlights recent advances in using technologies to assess or intervene in dementia care dyads including their dyadic interactions and interdependent behaviors and functions in their shared home space. The five presentations will leverage different technologies (i.e., motion and door sensors, bed mat sensors, smartwatch, AI) to assess or intervene in different aspects of the health of dementia care dyad (e.g., loneliness, exercise, sleep, worrisome behaviors). Being aware that any methodology also has limitations and pitfalls, each presentation will include an instructive review of challenges associated with the technologies and efforts to overcome them. The five individual presentations will be followed by an integrated panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Harleah Buck. Together, the symposium will provide the general audience with an overview of current in-home assessment technologies, the challenges to incorporating them, and the tradeoffs for science. This symposium will also launch communication and collaborations between researchers from different disciplines who use modern technologies to conduct research in naturalistic settings to promote the health and well-being of dementia care dyads. Dyadic Health Research Interest Group Sponsored Symposium
SMARTPHONES CAPTURE DYNAMICS OF DEMENTIA SPOUSAL CAREGIVER INTERACTIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR MHEALTH
Authors: Fagundes Christopher
Published: January 2025

Dementia spousal caregivers experience higher levels of loneliness than age-match comparisons. Lonelier dementia spousal caregivers report more depression and less life satisfaction; people with dementia who have lonelier spousal caregivers report lower life satisfaction and more depression than those cared for by less lonely spousal caregivers; however, caregivers are unaffected by the degree of loneliness experienced by their spouse with dementia. Interventions designed to address loneliness in caregivers could improve life satisfaction for both dyad members. Unfortunately, little is known about the patterns and temporal dynamics of loneliness in caregivers and how context, interpersonal, and intrapersonal processes buffer or exacerbate experiences of loneliness. This lack of knowledge hampers our ability to intervene; for example, despite the enthusiasm for mHealth technology to deliver just-in-time, adaptive interventions, our gaps in understanding loneliness dynamics thwart empirically informed intervention development. In this presentation, we will present data to fill this gap in the literature using smartphones to capture loneliness dynamics in caregivers and elucidate how these dynamics impact dyads across a 14-day ecological momentary assessment protocol. We will present data on how caregivers’ sense of relational security impacts loneliness and life satisfaction after dyadic interactions. For example, caregivers’ sense of relational security determined whether performing caregiving tasks involving dyadic interactions increased or decreased subsequent loneliness (b=.01, SE=.02, p<.05). We conclude by discussing ways in which smartphones can be used to capture momentary patterns of mood and behavior, and how this data could inform mHealth interventions to improve the lives of both dyad members.
STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF USING DIFFERENT SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES TO ASSESS CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN DYADIC CARE
Authors: Thomas Neil , Chimehi Bahareh , Lariviere-Chartier Julien , Knoefel Frank , Beattie Zachary , Steele Joel , Miller Lyndsey , Wallace Bruce
Published: January 2025

Home sensor and smart home technologies offer the potential to provide important objective information on daily activities, functional abilities, and caregiving tasks for individuals with cognitive impairment and care partners. Combining information from multiple sensors, such as a bedmat, wearable, and motion sensors, can deliver more informative data on dyadic interactions during nighttime activity (e.g., room location and which partners are out of bed in addition to sleep measures). Preliminary work from a study developing a digital signature of caregiver burden using data from multiple sensors in a home technology platform is presented. Using data from two different sensors provided additional information on nighttime behaviors related to care partner burden level in a sample of 47 dyads (care partner and individual with dementia or mild cognitive impairment). Estimated sleep duration calculated from an under the mattress bedmat and activity monitoring wristwatch showed a low concordance (r=0.36). However, an additional 9156 nights were collected from the union of the two sensors as compared to the wristwatch (29318 nights) or bedmat (15704 nights) alone. Benefits to using multiple sensors include the ability to expand the amount of information collected on a dyad and the locations where information can be collected (e.g., sleep occurring outside of the bedroom). Challenges include determining the more accurate estimate when there is discordance between different sensor types and evaluating the accuracy of new or updated sensors. Additional work is needed to determine which sensor or combination of sensors is optimal at approximating a clinical outcome of interest.
CHANGES OVER TIME IN WORKING LIFE EXPECTANCY AT OLDER AGES IN SINGAPORE: A COMPARISON OF TWO COHORTS
Authors: Malhotra Rahul , Visaria Abhijit , Chan Angelique , Ma Stefan , Saito Yasuhiko
Published: January 2025

Singapore, a rapidly ageing country, underwent significant development in a short time after independence in 1965. We study whether differences based on educational attainment in the average years of remaining life expected to be spent working (i.e., working life expectancy), have changed among older persons over time. We use data from two representative studies of older persons: initiated in (i) 2009 (n=4990) with follow-ups in 2011-12, 2015, and (ii) 2016-2017 (n=4549) with follow-up in 2019. We estimated working (part- or full-time current employment) life expectancy using the multistate life table method. We included sex (male / female) and education (lower [no formal or primary] / higher [secondary and above]) as covariates and controlled for ethnicity and time-varying functional health. In the earlier cohort, working life expectancy is estimated higher among those with higher education (e.g. at age 60: 9.2 years [95% CI: 8.0-10.4] among males and 6.5 [6.3-6.6] years among females) versus those with lower education (7.6 [6.9-8.4] years among males and 5.4 [5.2-5.7] years among females). This educational difference reverses in the more recent cohort: working life expectancy is higher among those with lower education (at age 60: 10.0 [8.4-11.7] years among males and 7.7 [6.4-9.0] years among females) versus those with higher education (8.9 [7.6-10.3] among males and 6.5 [5.2-7.7] among females). This change was driven by an increase in working life expectancy among those with lower education and no change among the higher educated. This increase suggests both more employment opportunities and the requirement for continuing employment.
CHARACTERISTICS OF DUALLY ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES WHO RECEIVE MEDICARE HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES: A SCOPING REVIEW
Authors: Bankole Ayomide , Addo-Mensah Dorothy , Conklin Jamie
Published: January 2025

Medicare Home Healthcare (HHC) is a commonly utilized post-acute care service by Medicare beneficiaries, including those with dual Medicare and Medicaid coverage (dual eligibles). Dual eligibles experience inequities in HHC as they report poorer health outcomes (e.g re-hospitalizations) than other Medicare beneficiaries in HHC. Dual eligibles may also experience challenges navigating and coordinating care across two payers of healthcare (Medicare and Medicaid). To improve health outcomes of dual eligible beneficiaries within HHC, there is a need to understand characteristics of this population and components of successful interventions within this setting. Thus, we conducted a scoping review to examine available evidence on dual eligibles who receive Medicare HHC. Research questions: (1) What are the characteristics of dual eligibles who receive HHC? (2) What health outcomes have been described and (3) which interventions influence these outcomes? With consultation from a Health Services Librarian, a search was conducted across four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, APA Psych Info, and Scopus) on January 10, 2024. After removing duplicates, 1,425-articles were identified for screening. Using Covidence software, reviewers worked in pairs to screen the articles. This phase yielded 83-articles. Given the changes in Medicaid eligibility and policies over the past decade, we then limited articles to those published within the last 10-years; leaving 53-articles for data extraction. We will extract and synthesize data using narrative-synthesis and descriptive-statistics, guided by the research questions. In this presentation, we will describe characteristics of dual eligibles receiving Medicare HHC and recommend strategies to improve their health outcomes within this setting.
AGE INCLUSIVITY DOMAINS OF HIGHER EDUCATION (AIDHE): A MODEL TO SUPPORT AGE-DIVERSE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF
Authors: Montepare Joann , Silverstein Nina , Halvorsen Cal
Published: January 2025

The Age Inclusivity Domains of Higher Education (AIDHE) model (adopted in 2023 by GSA and its Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education) offers a guiding framework for how institutions of higher education can assess age-inclusive practices that impact students, faculty, and staff across seven domains of institutional function. In this symposium, presenters describe campus practices in three high-need, high impact domains: Teaching and Learning, Personnel, and Student Affairs. To begin, Bowen and colleagues (UMass Boston/Lasell University) will describe the AIDHE model and research using the Age-Friendly Inventory and Campus Climate Survey (ICCS) which identified challenges within each domain along with evidence-based transformative and actionable strategic approaches. Reflecting the domain of Teaching and Learning, Porter (University of Manitoba) will describe a new micro-certificate program, Facilitating Older Adult Learning, that provides educators with pedagogical design tools to select and evaluate appropriate learning strategies for supporting effective older adult learning. Reflecting the domain of Student Affairs, Galucia and Morrow-Howell (Washington University in St. Louis) then will describe their research with admissions, career services, and DEI staff about how to best support non-traditional aged students. They will also discuss Next Move, a program for graduate students returning to school after substantial work and life experiences. Reflecting the domain of Personnel, Kaskie (University of Iowa) will discuss the aging professorate and how institutions can modify human resource policies and programs to provide more opportunities for aging faculty and staff to remain healthy and productive. Halvorsen (Boston College) will serve as discussant. Age Inclusivity in Higher Education Interest Group Sponsored Symposium
AGEISM IN AI: ROADMAPS TO RESEARCH AND INTERVENTION
Authors: Berridge Clara
Published: January 2025

Risks that AI applications pose to older adults have not been thoroughly examined or understood in concert with other markers of identity such as race and gender. Ageism is not centered in scholarship on AI or algorithmic harms, and yet conditions in which AI can reproduce or introduce ageism have been identified by researchers and organizations like the World Health Organization. A multi-pronged approach is needed to address the diverse ways ageism is reflected and amplified in AI, from exclusion and misrepresentation of older adults to failure to enable transparency. This symposium will describe a broad swath of critical interventions into AI ageism at multiple levels. To orient all to the topic, Dr. Stypinska will present her original AI ageism framework that identifies five forms in which ageism manifests. Dr. Gallistl will offer a set of research priorities for gerontological research that challenge us to advance conceptualizations of AI in gerontology and engage with the lived experiences of AI in the lives of older adults. Dr. Brewer will discuss how intersectionality affects older adults’ lived experiences and envisioned futures with conversational AI technologies. Dr. Berridge will discuss the importance of supporting older adults and people living with dementia to engage knowledgeably with AI tools used in care. Dr. Grigorovich will discuss the ethical implications that arise when location tracking technologies are used to track the movements and activities of persons living with dementia in nursing homes. Presenters will provide insights about needed research and approaches to doing this timely work.
INTERSECTIONAL AGEISM: HOW BLACK OLDER ADULTS ENVISION A FUTURE WITH CONVERSATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Brewer Robin , Harrington Christina , Heldreth Courtney
Published: January 2025

Dominant narratives of aging often center whiteness. However, older age can intersect with other identities that experience structural inequities and exacerbate ageism. In this study, we explore what it means to design technologies that are fair for historically minoritized older adults. We conducted design workshops with 16 Black older adults, asking how they envision older age and race represented in one form of AI system - conversational technologies. We highlight concerns around sharing age-related data, potential ageist outcomes that intersect with racism, and desires for authentically representing older age and race. We discuss these findings with a lens on how ageism discourse can exclude certain groups and how we might mitigate age-related AI harms in the technology design process by incorporating other values such as authenticity.
URINARY INCONTINENCE IN US ADULTS WITH DIABETES WHO ARE GUIDELINE-RECOMMENDED TO RECEIVE SGLT2IS: NHANES 2013–2020
Authors: Lee Alexandra , Lee Sei
Published: January 2025

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are now recommended as first-line cardiorenal protective therapy for many adults with type 2 diabetes but are also associated with increased risk of urogenital infections. While urinary incontinence is common among older adults and increases the risk of urogenital infections, there is limited data on the prevalence of incontinence among adults with diabetes, particularly those eligible to receive SGLT2is. We included participants with diabetes from the nationally-representative National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2020. We determined whether each participant would be ADA guideline-recommended to receive SGLT2is (a) due to heart failure or chronic kidney disease, or (b) due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or high cardiovascular risk (in which case they could also alternatively be treated with GLP-1RAs). We defined frequent incontinence as self-reported leaking urine “daily/nightly” or “several times per week.” There were 2,366 NHANES participants with type 2 diabetes. Among adults aged 55-59, 14.9% were guideline-recommended an SGLT2i, 22.7% of whom had frequent incontinence; among adults aged 70+, 27.0% were recommended to receive an SGLT2i, 41.0% of whom had frequent incontinence. Among adults aged 55-59, 54.6% were guideline-recommended either an SGLT2i or GLP-1RA, 20.6% of whom had frequent incontinence; among adults aged 70+, 45.1% were recommended to receive either an SGLT2i or GLP-1RA, 34.9% of whom had frequent incontinence. Prescribers should use caution for patients with incontinence who are initiating SGLT2is. While urogenital infections are typically not life-threatening, they can significantly impact quality of life and may not be aligned with health goals.
ADDED VALUE OF TIMING DATA FOR THE ESTIMATION OF COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN SURVEY RESEARCH
Authors: Nichols Emma , Markot Michael , Gross Alden , Jones Richard , Schneider Stefan , Lee Jinkook
Published: January 2025

The use of speeded tests to assess cognition supports the notion that response times on cognitive tests contain meaningful information about cognitive functioning. Although information on the time spent completing cognitive tests is often collected during survey administration, this data is not typically considered when quantifying cognitive functioning in large-scale surveys. We used data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India – Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia (LASI-DAD) study (N=4,091), to assess the added value of data on the time spent on cognitive tests (items), over and above scores from traditional scoring procedures. We used separate linear regression models for each item (N items=35) to assess associations between cognitive factor scores based on all items and quintile of time spent on specific items, adjusting for age, gender, and the item-specific score. Compared to Quintile 3 (median amount of time), taking longer was significantly (p< 0.05) associated with lower cognitive functioning for 54% (Quintile 5) and 31% (Quintile 4) of items. Responding quickly (Quintile 1) was associated with higher cognitive functioning for 50% of simple items (e.g., what is the year), but was associated with lower cognitive functioning for 53% of items requiring higher-order processing (e.g., digit span test). Results were similar in models controlling for education, interviewer, or language of administration. Overall, data show that information on response times from the administration of cognitive tests may contain important information on cognition not captured in traditional scoring. Future research should assess how this information could be leveraged to improve estimates of cognitive functioning.
CHANGE IN EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AFTER AN INNOVATIVE PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM AMONG VETERANS WITH SLOW GAIT SPEED
Authors: Ogawa Elisa , Harris Rebekah , Ward Rachel , Palleschi Mary , Halasz Ildiko , Milberg William , Bean Jonathan
Published: January 2025

While gait and cognition are independent predictors of age-related adverse outcomes, evidence suggests that they are related. Thus, targeting slow gait speed may have broad effects including improvements in cognition. This study examined the effects of Live Long Walk Strong (LLWS), a novel Physical Therapy program designed to improve gait speed, on executive function among Veterans with slow gait speed. This study was a preplanned secondary analysis among the first 72 participants recruited into an ongoing Randomized Controlled Trial among middle aged to older Veterans (≥50 years) with slow walking speed. Participants were randomized to either 8-week LLWS or 8-week wait-list control. Participants’ executive function was measured using Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Verbal Fluency subtests (Letter Fluency, Category Fluency, Category Switching). Fifty-one participants (mean age 72, 92% men, 84% White) were included in the analyses (LLWS n=27; wait-list control: n=24). We observed clinically and statistically significant changes in Category Fluency between LLWS and wait-list controls (LLWS: pre: 31.44 ± 7.92, post: 34.78 ± 8.12; wait-list control: Pre: 34.21 ± 8.54; Post: 30.83 ± 7.89, p< 0.0001), favoring the LLWS. There were no statistically or clinically significant group differences in Letter Fluency or Category Switching between LLWS and wait-list controls. LLWS may improve aspects of executive function specifically the effortful retrieval process among middle aged to older Veterans with slow gait speed.
POSTOPERATIVE DELIRIUM: A SURVEY OF PERCEPTIONS AND KNOWLEDGE AMONG SURGICAL PROVIDERS
Authors: Berian Julia , Zarzaur Ben , Mohanty Sanjay , Kaiksow Farah , Golden Blair
Published: January 2025

Postoperative delirium is associated with delayed recovery and cognitive decline. Despite increasing awareness among medical providers, understanding of delirium among surgical providers remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate knowledge and confidence in identifying and managing postoperative delirium, and to determine surgeons’ perceptions of the relative importance of postoperative delirium. A 14-question survey was distributed to surgeons and surgical advanced practice providers (APP) after validation through cognitive interviews. Eighty-five of 267 responded (31%), more attending surgeons (67%) than APPs (33%). Most had >5 years of experience (73%). Respondents estimated postoperative delirium rates from 0% to 65%, with the average varying by field from 5% (Endocrine surgery) to 33% (Trauma and Critical Care). Most had received formal delirium training (66%) and felt confident in identifying (80%) and managing (65%) delirium. Postoperative delirium was identified by nursing concerns (89%) or clinical gestalt (82%), with few reporting the use of validated tools (23%). Out of 6 common postoperative complications, surgical providers ranked postoperative delirium 3rd (28%) or 4th (25%), below cardiac complications (78%) and above superficial site infections (53%). The most concerning consequence of delirium was mortality (62%), with few concerned about psychological distress (16%). Most (60%) thought post-operative delirium had a limited effect on long-term health. Despite self-reported knowledge and high confidence in identifying and managing postoperative delirium, objective measures are rarely used, and long-term effects are thought to be minimal. Gaps in knowledge around delirium diagnosis and long-term health effects may contribute to the ongoing burden of delirium in older surgical patients.
RESISTANCE TRAINING AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN VASCULAR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: A 12-MONTH RANDOMIZED TRIAL
Authors: Liu-Ambrose Teresa , Falck Ryan , Dao Elizabeth , Tam Roger , Hsiung Ging-Yuek , Barha Cindy , Alkeridy Walid
Published: January 2025

Background

Subcortical ischaemic vascular cognitive impairment (SIVCI) is considered the most treatable form of cognitive impairment, due to its modifiable risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Despite the benefits of resistance training (RT) on cognitive function and cardiometabolic health, no study has examined the effect of RT on cognitive outcomes in SIVCI.

Methods

A 12-month single-blinded, randomized controlled trial with 91 older adults with SIVCI who were randomized to: 1) 2x/week progressive RT; or 2) 2x/week balance and tone exercises (BAT; control). Study eligibility included: 1) age 55 years and older; 2) neuroimaging evidence of cerebral small vessel disease; 3) mild cognitive impairment; and 4) the absence of dementia. Measurements occurred at baseline, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome was the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive-Plus (ADAS-Cog 13 with additional cognitive tests). Sex differences in RT efficacy was explored.

Results

45 were allocated to the RT group and 46 to the BAT group. COVD-19 impacted the training of 16 participants (9 RT, 7 BAT). After adjusting for covariates and baseline value, participants in the RT group had significantly better ADAS-Cog Plus performance at 12 months (estimated mean difference [RT – BAT]:-0.18; 95% CI:[-0.35, -0.01]; p=0.047). In the sex-stratified analysis, there was a significant effect of the RT on ADAS-Cog Plus performance (estimated mean difference: -0.25; 95% CI:[-0.47, -0.03]; p= 0.028) for females, but not for males.

Conclusion

Our results suggest progressive RT should be considered in the management and treatment of individuals with SIVCI, particularly for females.
COMPARING HEALTH SYSTEM–BASED AND COMMUNITY-BASED DEMENTIA CARE: THE DEMENTIA CARE (D-CARE) STUDY
Authors: Reuben David , Summapund Jenny , Stevens Alan , Gill Thomas , Peduzzi Peter , Galloway Rebecca , Carnie Martha
Published: January 2025

Despite the advent of new medications for treatment of dementia, the clinical care of those affected remains a challenge. Though several community-based and health system-based approaches have been developed to provide comprehensive care for patients living with dementia and their caregivers, the relative effectiveness of these approaches is unknown. The Dementia Care (D-CARE) Study is a pragmatic randomized trial comparing the effectiveness of three dementia care approaches at four clinical trial sites (CTS) over 18 months: 1) by nurse practitioners or physician assistants within a health care system, 2) by social workers or nurses at community-based organizations, or 3) usual care. D-CARE illustrates advantages (e.g., facilitation of recruitment with over 93% receiving active intervention) and disadvantages (e.g., CTS health systems needed to implement two interventions; because both active interventions have prior demonstrated effectiveness, the differences are likely to be smaller, requiring a larger sample size to have sufficient power) of comparative effectiveness research. The pragmatic design presented obstacles including funding for clinical positions, integrating interventions into workflows, and potential threats to fidelity; but the real-world settings will facilitate dissemination. COVID-19 introduced additional barriers to recruitment and retention. Strong commitment by study leaders, adaptability of research staff, and continuous engagement of patient and stakeholders at the CTS contributed to D-CARE’s success in enrolling 2,176 participants and high retention rates. D-CARE applied principles of community-based participatory research to continually refine materials to the study’s needs. D-CARE’s adaptations and successes demonstrate viable strategies for sustainability and scalability in real-world practices.
DECOLONIZING AGING RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
Authors: Thompson Lena , Kim Steffi , Lewis Jordan
Published: January 2025

The focus of this symposium, co-sponsored by the Indigenous Peoples and Aging Research Interest Group and Rural Aging Interest Group, is to highlight projects that apply Indigenous and/or non-Western perspectives to co-create research or programs for Indigenous people. While researchers and practitioners continue to work on closing the research implementation gap, a lack of involvement of Indigenous people in research and a lack of Indigenous-focused research leads to longer delays between culturally safe and effective research findings and program implementation. Furthermore, Indigenous communities have faced instances where institutions have been the primary beneficiaries of research conducted on Indigenous communities. Engaging Indigenous people and perspectives in the research process enhances the relevance and sustainability of research and allows a more equitable balance of benefits from research for all parties involved. The goal of this symposium is to present research studies that showcases methodologies and protocol outside of the Western academic perspective that focus on community-engaged, strengths-based approaches. Papers presented at the symposium will share methods used to enhance connectedness of Indigenous people to research and programs through the use of community-engaged approaches, storytelling, and qualitative data collection.
IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT OF THE WHO INTEGRATED CARE FOR OLDER PEOPLE PROGRAM IN CHINA: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: Kang Sophia
Published: January 2025

This study evaluates the feasibility and impact of the World Health Organization’s Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach in urban and suburban communities of Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, amidst concerns about increasing health and social care burdens due to aging populations. Community-dwelling older adults screened as at-risk of functional declines were randomized into intervention (537) and control (1611) groups between September 2020 and February 2021. This study tested the implementation of a 6-month ICOPE intervention program against standard care. Propensity score matching was utilized to ensure comparability between intervention and control groups, totaling 938 participants. The results highlighted the feasibility of ICOPE, with high satisfaction rates among participants (97–99%) and providers (92–93%). All outcomes showed improvements after a 6-month intervention, with statistically significant least-squares mean differences (control-intervention) in vitality (Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short Form to measure vitality, −0.21, 95% CI, −0.40–0.02), mobility (Short Physical Performance Battery to measure mobility, −0.29, 95% CI, −0.44–0.14) and psychological health (Geriatric Depression Scale five items to measure psychological health, 0.09, 95% CI, 0.03–0.14) were observed (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that localizing WHO’s ICOPE approach is feasible and effective in regions with fragmented healthcare resources in China, demonstrating positive impacts on health outcomes and highlighting its potential for advancing policies and practices toward healthy aging.
TRANSLATABLE EXERCISE INTERVENTIONS TO REACH OLDER ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE FRAILTY
Authors: Reid Kieran
Published: January 2025

Mobility limitations, falls and dementia are leading causes of disability, institutionalization, and mortality among U.S older adults. Considering that the population of adults aged ≥ 65 years is projected to surpass 80 million by 2040, more effective and scalable intervention strategies to maintain mobility, reduce falls or offset cognitive decline are necessary to help older Americans to continue to live independently. This presentation will discuss the rationale, design and implementation of several innovative exercise intervention strategies for older adults with mobility limitations, elevated fall risk, and for older adults at high risk for developing dementia. The session will specifically describe how large-scale clinical trial evidence for the benefits of exercise can be translated to reach more vulnerable older adults in real-world community-based settings. The session will also describe how a digitally delivered multicomponent fall prevention exercise program can be tailored to reach at-risk older adults in their own homes. Overall, it is posited that these innovative interventions hold significant potential as highly scalable approaches for maintaining mobility, preventing falls, and mitigating cognitive decline among rapidly expanding populations of older adults.
AGING AND POSITIVE EMOTIONS: WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
Authors: Mikels Joseph
Published: January 2025

Aging is associated with improvements in well-being; healthy older adults report a balance of fewer negative emotional experiences relative to positive emotional experiences. Additionally, meaningful social connections become prioritized as we grow older. Taken together, patterns in social and emotional aging would suggest that older adults might experience more love than their younger counterparts. But what is love? Recent theoretical and empirical advances conceptualize love as positivity resonance – a caring interpersonal connection involving shared positivity and synchrony. In three studies, the experience of positivity resonance in older adults was examined. In the first pilot study, 44 older adults who participated in a group exercise program reported experiencing positivity resonance 77.15% of the time during the program, which is higher than previously reported levels positivity resonance in a younger sample (65.93%). In a second survey study with 184 older adults (M age = 69.45) and 223 younger adults (M age = 24.74), older adults reported significantly higher trait-level perceived positivity resonance (M = 70.25) compared to younger adults (M = 53.39), t(405) = -9.11, p <.001. In a third study in which 100 older (M age = 74.67) and 100 younger participants (M age = 22.40) walked with a partner, older adults reported higher episode-level positivity resonance (M = 88.07) compared to younger adults (M = 83.41), t(195) = 2.00, p =.047. Across these three unique and methodological distinct studies, it appears that older adults do indeed experience more love than their younger counterparts.
AGE DIFFERENCES IN WOMEN’S EMPATHIC ACCURACY WITHIN LONG-TERM MARRIAGES
Authors: Brown Casey , Wells Jenna , Haase Claudia , Levenson Robert
Published: January 2025

Understanding other people’s emotions accurately (i.e., empathic accuracy) is thought to be critical for building and maintaining social connections. Past research suggests empathic skills change with age, but few studies examine age differences in empathic accuracy within the context of close relationships. We examined whether empathic accuracy is higher among middle-aged couples (ages 40-50) compared to older couples (ages 60-70) using a sample of 154 heterosexual long-term marriages. Husbands and wives visited the laboratory and engaged in a 15-minute conversation on a topic of disagreement in their marriage. Conversations were video-recorded. Husbands and wives watched a video playback of their conversation twice, each time continuously rating either their own or their spouse’s emotional valence during the conversation using a rating dial that ranged from “very negative” to “very positive”. These continuous valence ratings were used to compute each spouse’s empathic accuracy as the strength of the correlation between their ratings of their spouse’s emotions and their spouse’s own self- ratings. Results revealed that age was not associated with husbands’ empathic accuracy. In contrast, older wives had greater empathic accuracy compared to middle-aged wives (Mdiff =.19, p =.028). However, older adults had been married longer, and length of marriage also predicted women’s empathic accuracy. Findings suggest that older women are better able to track the changing valence of their husbands’ emotions, perhaps because they have more practice.
SOCIALLY WITHDRAWN OR SOCIALLY ENGAGED? THE IMPACT OF GRANDPARENTING ON SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AMONG OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Wong Jason , Zhao Mengke , Tong Yuying , Chen Feinian
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Grandparents caring for grandchildren (i.e., grandparenting) is an important aspect of intergenerational family dynamics in the 21st Century. Despite extensive literature documenting its impact on grandparents’ health, the mechanisms remain insufficiently addressed, particularly those related to social support and engagement. Grandparenting may promote role enhancement and create opportunities for social participation, but it may also result in role strain and reduce time availability for social activities, depending on caregiving intensity and living arrangements. This study addresses this gap by examining the effect of grandparenting on grandparents’ social participation and its gendered implications.

Methods

Data are from 2011, 2013, and 2018 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (11,547 older adults aged 50-84). Individual-level fixed-effects linear probability models are employed. Grandparenting is assessed through caregiving intensity and living arrangements. We measure both formal social participation (FSP, e.g., club activities or volunteering) and informal social participation (ISP, e.g., meeting or helping friends).

Results

All types of grandparenting, except those under the three-generation living arrangement, increase grandparents’ ISP. Gender differences are observed. Compared to no grandparenting, providing noncoresident nonintensive care and skipped-generation care increases ISP only for grandfathers, while providing noncoresident intensive care and three-generation care increases ISP only for grandmothers. We find no association between any type of grandparenting and FSP.

Discussion

Overall, grandparenting facilitates rather than deters social connectedness for grandparents. This study underscores the importance of intergenerational linked lives and family networks in maintaining social connectedness among grandparents. The gendered division of grandparenting responsibilities is also discussed.