bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE MARGRET M. AND PAUL B. BALTES AWARD LECTURE AND PRESENTATION
Authors: Jarrott Shannon
Published: January 2025

The Margret M. and Paul B. Baltes Award Lecture will feature an address by the 2023 Baltes Award recipient, Reuben Ng, PhD of the National University of Singapore. This session will also include the presentation of the 2024 Margret M. and Paul B. Baltes Award to recipient Nicole E. Werner, PhD, of Indiana University. The Margret M. and Paul B. Baltes Foundation Award in Behavioral and Social Gerontology recognizes outstanding early-career contributions in behavioral and social gerontology. The award is generously funded by the Margret M. and Paul B. Baltes Foundation.
BUILDING RESILIENCE AND GRIT IN HIGHER EDUCATION’S OWN CLIMATE CRISIS
Authors: Burdick David , Ferri Christine
Published: January 2025

Recently, the climate (& emotional ‘temperature’) and context for gerontology in higher education has never been a more difficult predicament. We will either be collateral damage from enrollment-based budget cuts, eroding societal respect for the value of a degree, and/or culture-war conflicts against DEI initiatives, or we could position ourselves to be embraced (by administration & others) as part of the solution (e.g., through advocacy of age-inclusive initiatives that may diversify enrollment and funding streams). This paper considers strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and perils for our work. After a brief discussion of the fraught macro/societal/secular context, we describe within our institutional context the 15-year experiences of the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA). Founded in 2007 as a provost priority, seeking a “major center on aging,” an 8-person part-time staff now utilizes diverse funding streams to fulfill our research, education, and service mission. A changing institutional context has included administrative turnover (two deans, six provosts, and two presidents) and changing institutional priorities. With a wider lens, we’ll reassess past AGHE efforts of our lead author related to center/program survival in tough economic times (e.g., “Finding Funding” ‘99 & “What Works for Your Program/Department/Center” ‘10, AGHExchange columns, 2010 AGHE Reno Annual Meeting Pre-Conference Intensive with Gugliucci, and 3-year AGHE/GSA funding from the Retirement Research Foundation assisting AGHE to support programs & centers). As our first author passes the leadership torch to our second author upon his retirement after 40 years, we discuss the generational shift many other aging centers are also experiencing.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA DEPARTMENT OF GERONTOLOGY: LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 50 YEARS
Authors: Kelly Christopher
Published: January 2025

In 2023, the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) Department of Gerontology celebrated its 50 year anniversary. Since 1973, the department has been the primary provider of gerontological education in the state, offering Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in gerontology. In this presentation, we will discuss how UNO Gerontology has grown its programs, particularly through partnerships with public and private stakeholders at the national, state, and local levels, in order to train the professionals who work with and on behalf of older Nebraskans. We will also describe how we expect these partnerships to evolve to meet the needs of our growing aging population.
THE VHA’S GERIATRIC SCHOLARS PROGRAM IMPACT ON DEVELOPING AND DISSEMINATING CLINICAL INNOVATIONS
Authors: Kramer B Josea , Howe Judith , Shaughnessy Marianne
Published: January 2025

The Geriatric Scholars Program is an enterprise-wide VA workforce development project that has resulted in significant clinical improvements and innovations in care of older Veterans. The program has invested in the interdisciplinary primary care workforce with discipline-specific core training in geriatrics and in quality improvement. Each of the more than 1500 Scholars to date implements a quality improvement project to demonstrate transfer of new knowledge and skills in the care of older Veterans. Ove 15,000 VHA clinical employees regularly participate in interdisciplinary webinars, team training workshops, practica, and self-directed learning opportunities. There are over 5000 users of the resource website, www.gerischolars.org. This symposium explores some of the direct impacts of continuing professional education on the clinical care of older Veterans. Several program components will be discussed, including replication in Indian Health Service clinics, outcomes for caregivers of older Veterans, practice change for geropsychologists, and how the program’s quality improvement mentored program for Geriatric Scholars enhances outcomes for patients in VHA. The Geriatric Scholars Program has 15 Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) partners in its network that have worked together for over 15 years to build capacity in the VHA healthcare workforce through innovative education and clinical approaches. The national GRECC Director in VHA will serve as discussant for what promises to be a lively exchange of ideas and opportunities for replication.
US INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE: DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY OF PRIMARY CARE CHAMPIONS FOR TRIBAL ELDER CARE
Authors: Crowder Jolie
Published: January 2025

As part of this symposium, the Indian Health Service (IHS) Alzheimer’s Grant Program reports on lessons learned during the first two pilot years of new geriatric workforce development initiatives. The IHS Alzheimer’s program partners with local IHS, Tribal, and Urban (I/T/U) health programs to address Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (ADRD) among American Indian and Alaska Native people receiving care in the “Indian Health system.” The Indian Health Geriatric Scholars (GeriScholars) program, Geriatric Nurse Fellowship (GNF), and Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) aim to build capability in geriatric care and care for dementia within primary care and to develop a community of primary care champions for improved care for older American Indian and Alaska Native people. Adapted from the VA Geriatric Scholars program, the Indian Health Gerischolars and Nurse Fellowship pilots provide clinicians who are the mainstay workforce in our primary care delivery system with training and mentorship. The use of the ECHO model facilitates ongoing mentorship and training and sustains a community of practice with an emphasis on those with ADRD and caregivers. The programs aim to deepen individual clinical knowledge and skills in geriatric care and then apply newfound knowledge to improve care. Local assessment of needs and priorities for improving and integrating new skills and knowledge in ongoing primary care delivery are emphasized. Initiative planning and program improvements consider unique cultural contexts and disproportionate systems and resource constraints, and are designed to work in concert with other systems-focused efforts, including Alzheimer’s Models of Care grants.
10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE SLEEP HEALTH PERSPECTIVE: INSIGHTS FOR AGING RESEARCHERS
Authors: Lee Soomi , Kaufmann Christopher , Buysse Daniel
Published: January 2025

In 2014, Dr. Buysse published a seminal paper, titled “Sleep health: can we define it? Does it matter?” which proposed that sleep health extends beyond the absence of sleep disorders. He advocated for a preventive approach where individuals must address multiple aspects of sleep to support optimal functioning and health. The concept of sleep health initiated a paradigm shift, prompting researchers to consider multiple sleep variables, not solely sleep duration, to gain a holistic understanding of individuals’ sleep patterns. As we approach the 10-year anniversary of the sleep health perspective, this symposium brings together four esteemed speakers to discuss methodological approaches and empirical findings related to the link between sleep health and cardiovascular and cognitive aging outcomes, as well as social disparities in sleep health. Dr. Wallace will outline methodological challenges in assessing sleep health and clarify the advantages and disadvantages of various methods. Dr. Buxton will present a multi-dimensional sleep health model assessed by actigraphy and its association with cardiometabolic and cognitive aging outcomes in two US midlife and older adult samples. Dr. Knutson will share findings from US and Brazil population-based studies with subjective and objective dimensions of sleep health, including gender and racial differences in sleep health and cardiovascular risks. Dr. Stone will integrate epidemiology and clinical evidence to explore the link between sleep health, cognitive decline, and the onset of dementia. Finally, the discussant, Dr. Buysse, will synthesize the significance of findings, and identify opportunities for extending the sleep health perspective to future research and opportunities. Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Aging Interest Group Sponsored Symposium
AGING AND CLIMATE CHANGE: FROM VULNERABILITY TO ACTION
Authors: Pillemer Karl
Published: January 2025

Despite the vulnerability of older people to climate change effects, as well as their potential to be part of climate change solutions, research has been limited. This multidisciplinary symposium responds to urgent calls for translational research on climate change as a critical pathway to reduce physical and mental health risks to older persons, brought about by climate-related hazards such as extreme temperature events, climate-related disasters, decreased air and water quality, forced migration, and vector-borne illnesses. Beyond vulnerability, panelists present research on older people’s actions to prevent and mitigate climate change. Two presentations provide new empirical findings on climate hazards. Bordes and Cherry examine how climate-related disasters affect health, using data from Hurricane Ida to examine differential effects on older and younger people. Koszalinski et al. examine effects of another climate-related hazard: harmful algae blooms, based on a longitudinal study of older adults in South Florida, demonstrating how such events can create harm from otherwise beneficial activities like outdoor nature activities. Two presenters focus on action taken by older people. Nikitin et al. address the intersection of the environment and attitudes toward aging, finding that nature contact is of special benefit to older persons. Liu and Pillemer examine intergenerational motivations for climate change activism among older people. Thiamwong’s presentation moves to community climate resilience strategies, presenting findings on community adaptation adapting to rising temperatures, with a focus on low-income older adults who are at special risk in extreme heat events.
CLIMATE-CREATIVE COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH EQUITY IN LOW-INCOME SETTINGS
Authors: Thiamwong Ladda , Kim Dahee , Xie Rui , Emrich Christopher , Zhong YunYing , Crook Jennifer , Hawthorne Timothy
Published: January 2025

Extreme heat is one of the most fatal weather hazards, and limited data suggest that low-income older adults (LOAs) who are exposed to extreme heat are less likely to participate in physical activity (PA). To develop climate-creative communities, we conducted onsite survey interviews with LOAs (n=41) and a focus group with community-based organizations (CBOs) (n=21). LOAs tended to have less frequent moderate to vigorous PA and had higher numbers of falls in summer compared to fall; 71% felt uncomfortable with extreme heat, and 69% rated their thermal sensation as slightly warm to very hot on extreme heat days. Regarding self-management on hot days, 89% drank water, 13% drank juice/favored beverage, 2% drank alcohol, 29% stayed inside, and 22% reduced PA. More than 50% stated heat or hot weather impacted their sleep, food consumption, and hydration; 32% reported heat impacted social connections, and 47% had no access to community resources (CR). The top five barriers to accessing CR were health issues (20%), don’t have time (11%), transportation from home to CR (9%), lack of interest (8.9%), and lack of knowledge and information about the services (6.7%). A focus group with CBOs (n= 21) agreed that there is currently scarce communication/coordination of relevant CR, and multilateral efforts are urgently needed to co-create community-based, culturally appropriate communication and outreach programs to encourage LOAs’ participation in PA, engage them in discussions about heat-health issues and provide them with access to shared CR to support their built community’s resilience in adapting to rising temperatures.
AGING REPROGRAMMED
Authors: Jasper Heinrich
Published: January 2025

Epigenetic reprogramming of differentiated cells into stem-like or plastic cells is a feature of regenerative processes in many tissues. This process can be leveraged to induce full pluripotency, which essentially represents a fully rejuvenated state of the epigenome. Evidence is now accumulating that partial in vivo epigenetic reprogramming, where reprogramming to pluripotency is initiated but not completed, can alleviate age-related dysfunction in tissue repair, and even extend lifespan. In a wide range of disease models, reprogramming has been shown to improve outcomes and promote tissue repair. This symposium will explore fundamental cellular mechanisms of partial reprogramming, the tissue consequences of in vivo reprogramming, and discuss the potential therapeutic impact of reprogramming on age-related diseases.
PARTIAL REPROGRAMMING REVERSES FEATURES OF AGING IN HUMAN T LYMPHOCYTES
Authors: Kimmel Jacob
Published: January 2025

Youthful gene expression and function can be restored in old cells by brief activation of transcription factors (TFs), a process known as partial reprogramming. Partial reprogramming holds promise as a therapeutic approach, but current methods have only employed a small set of pluripotency TFs that also reprogram cell identity in undesirable ways. It remains unknown if other TFs might be able to reprogram cell age, how long these effects last, and how often TFs act in concert to promote youthful phenotypes. To address these questions, we developed a screening technology called Partial-seq to measure the effect of partial reprogramming on gene expression across thousands of TF sets at once. We used Partial-seq to screen >4000 TF sets in aged human T cells, a keystone cell type of the immune system that declines in function with age. We discovered that many TFs beyond pluripotency factors restored youthful gene expression and cell states, without abolishing T cell identity. TF combinations were more likely than individual factors to reverse cell age, and many of these effects persisted after TF activation ceased. Our results suggest that the phenotypic age of human T cells can be durably reversed by partial reprogramming with diverse TFs. The diversity of TF sets discovered in our screens suggests that reprogramming cell age might be accomplished without perturbing cell identity.
AN ASSET-BASED APPROACH TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT OF OLDER AFRICAN AMERICANS IN HEALTH RESEARCH
Authors: Gaillard Trudy , Vaccaro Joan , Neff Donna , Padovano Cynthia Morton , Webb Fern
Published: January 2025

Asset-based approach to community engagement research aims to identify community strengths that improve health and health equity. The objective of the current study was to identify strategies expressed by older African Americans (OAA) to increase their engagement in health research. The following report was part of a larger study exploring the impact of intergenerational influence and perceptions regarding willingness to participate in health research among ethnically diverse OAA. Participants were recruited from North, Central, and South Florida using various community engagement strategies. Listening sessions were conducted in dyads; older adult (≥65 years) and a trusted family member/friend (25-64 years). The following results are from OAA (≥65 years). All transcripts were recorded and transcribed verbatim. NVivo software© was used for data management and analysis. There was a total of 14 listening sessions (N= 66). In general, most OAA consulted younger trusted family/friends about health concerns before deciding to participate in research. Key findings concerned, the researcher, goals of the research, and with whom and how information would be shared. Community assets identified that researchers should engage the community by: partnering with local primary care providers (both physicians and nurse practitioners); schools (intergenerational engagement); community liaisons “people who look like me”; and local trusted elected officials. Our results indicate that there are multiple community-based assets that can be used to engage Older African Americans in health research. An asset-based approach with community members identified encouraging suggestions that can be integrated into the design of health research for this population.
CLOSING THE EQUITY GAP: DEMENTIA RESEARCH WITH INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS
Authors: Lewis Jordan , Jacklin Kristen , Lewis Jordan
Published: January 2025

This symposium highlights community-based work focusing on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) conducted with Indigenous populations across the United States and Canada. We describe not only outcomes and findings of these various projects but also the essential research processes necessary for creating relationships and working with Indigenous partners and communities. We begin with Whetung, who takes a quantitative approach to describe the landscape of cognitive disparities among Indigenous older adults due to structural inequities, in particular, everyday and lifetime discrimination experiences. Next, Blind et al. describe the in-depth and iterative process of cultural adaptation of cognitive assessments. They are currently adapting validated cognitive assessments for Indigenous populations in Canada, this time for urban and reservation-residing American Indian populations. The final presentations by Jacklin et al. and Lewis will focus on qualitative research of cultural explanatory models and lived experience of dementia from the viewpoints of two different participant groups: healthy older adults (Indigenous communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario) and caregivers of people living with dementia (Alaska Native). ADRD research with Indigenous Peoples is scarce but growing, and this symposium highlights the innovate, various, and exceptional approaches to this research. This symposium highlights research projects which are rooted in the values of Indigenous knowledges and research methods, community-based participatory research, qualitative research, and the Six Rs of research (respect, relationship, representation, relevance, responsibility, reciprocity; Tsosie et al. 2022). Using these approaches, our research seeks to understand and close the equity gap for Indigenous older adults dealing with ADRD. Indigenous Peoples Interest Group Sponsored Symposium
INDIGENOUS EXPLANATORY MODELS OF DEMENTIA: RESULTS FROM HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS IN NORTH AMERICA
Authors: Jacklin Kristen , Blind Melissa , Warry Wayne , Lambrou Nickolas , Gleason Carey , Zuelsdorff Megan , Ketcher Dana
Published: January 2025

Explanatory models of illness are important concepts in understanding a person’s beliefs about an illness and the social meaning that is attributed to that illness. This project seeks to understand an explanatory model of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) among healthy older adults in four diverse Indigenous communities in the US (Minnesota, Wisconsin) and Canada (Ontario). Individual interviews (n=37) were conducted with healthy older adults whose age ranged from 49-79 years (M = 65.5) and were majority female (n=23, 62.2%). Four qualitative analysts conducted team-based coding, double-coding 30% of interviews to ensure intercoder agreement Kappa of ≥.80. A priori codes developed based on Kleinman’s explanatory model resulted in seven content areas: perceptions of ADRD, causes of ADRD, naming ADRD, ADRD treatment and/or care, diagnosis of ADRD/memory concerns, ADRD prevention, and fear/worry regarding ADRD. Themes under these content areas were varied but are reflective of holistic worldviews of health including physical, mental, cultural, and spiritual impacts. For example, participants report that changes associated with dementia align with completing the circle of life, so Elders may share similar traits as infants in terms of help and support. The consequences of ADRD are felt at both interpersonal and community levels, with the loss of traditional knowledge, generational memory, and stories. The default form of ADRD care is within families, with participants reporting that people should live as long as possible at home. This study provides comprehensive information about healthy older adults’ attitudes and perceptions of ADRD in Indigenous communities.
AMICA DEMENTIA SCREENING TOOLS ADAPTATION: AN INTERCULTURAL CONSENSUS APPROACH
Authors: Blind Melissa , Cavanaugh Sheamus , Tsosie Nathania , Trojanczyk Carrie , Lambrou Nickolas , Gleason Carey , Parker Tassy , Jacklin Kristen
Published: January 2025

Existing clinical tools for assessing dementia demonstrate varying degrees of cultural, educational and language biases, and are not validated for use with Indigenous populations in the US. The American Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (AMICA) project aims to develop and validate a culturally appropriate dementia evaluation toolkit that consists of four assessments. Participating Indigenous populations include the Red Lake Nation in Minnesota; an urban Indigenous population receiving services at the First Nations Community HealthSource in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin. Our goal is to create one set of assessments that is agreed upon through intercultural consensus. Assessment adaptation across the three sites will focus on the Canadian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (CICA), Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (KICA) Carer, KICA Depression Scale, and KICA Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). We use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach and the Two-Eyed Seeing integrated knowledge framework to engage Tribal and community collaborators. In this paper, we detail the process of convening Indigenous Knowledge Advisory Groups (IKAGs) at each site and an Assessment Expert Panel (AEP), building a team science approach, and facilitating tool adaptation with communities. We provide an update on the CICA adaptation and offer lessons learned that inform culturally relevant and safe adaptation of the remaining tools. Finally, we report on our process for achieving intercultural consensus in developing a single set of dementia assessment tools for Indigenous peoples across the US.
COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVING: ENHANCING GERIATRIC SUPPORT THROUGH GWEP CNA INITIATIVES
Authors: Cotton Samantha
Published: January 2025

The Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Programs (GWEPs) at various institutions have launched innovative educational efforts to support Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), a key yet often overlooked segment of the healthcare workforce. These initiatives strive to mitigate high turnover rates and fill educational gaps, with a special focus on leadership, geriatric care, and compassionate handling of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). The University of Chicago Medicine’s SHARE Network introduced the CNA Leadership Academy, aimed at nurturing CNAs’ leadership capabilities through a curriculum that includes leadership principles, quality improvement, and resilience, facilitated by Project ECHO’s tele-mentoring. The University of California-Irvine GWEP’s program, “Building Resiliency While Advancing Your Caregiver Skills,” targeted geriatric care enhancements, incorporating the 4-Ms and strategies for challenging behaviors through interactive and trauma-informed teaching methods. Meanwhile, the University of Louisville’s GWEP developed a compassionate care model for CNAs in long-term care, offering training via online modules, workshops, and an iOS app to improve management of ADRD-related behaviors. These GWEPs collectively aim to bolster CNAs’ roles in healthcare, equipping them with essential skills to elevate patient care, especially in geriatric and dementia settings. By enhancing CNAs’ abilities and job satisfaction, these programs contribute to a more resilient, knowledgeable, and empathetic geriatric care workforce, demonstrating a comprehensive effort to advance the quality of care for older adults. This symposium will focus on the critical need of strengthening the training of CNAs and lessons learned across our programs.
FOSTERING COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVING USING CNA TRAINING
Authors: Cotton Samantha
Published: January 2025

Behavioral health complications in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) present significant challenges in long-term care facilities. The progressive decline in cognitive abilities and subsequent difficulty in managing behaviors related to ADRD necessitate a specialized approach for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who provide daily care. Addressing these challenges, our HRSA funded Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) at the University of Louisville has introduced a compassionate care framework tailored for CNAs in long-term care settings. This comprehensive training model equips CNAs with essential skills and knowledge to understand and navigate the behavioral complexities of ADRD. The training encompasses online micro-modules for self-paced learning, interactive workshops for hands-on practice, and an innovative iOS app has been created as a readily available resource for CNAs, offering guidance and support for managing challenging behaviors on-the-go. Our training program has successfully educated 175 CNAs, evidenced by significant improvements in knowledge and self-efficacy regarding ADRD care, as measured by a pre-test/post-test design. The GWEP compassionate care initiative has shown promising results in enhancing the capabilities of CNAs in ADRD care. The multi-pronged educational strategy has proven effective in improving behavioral management, indicating a scalable and empowering model for CNAs. This model signifies a progressive shift towards better ADRD care in long-term facilities, ultimately enriching the quality of life for those with ADRD. Further discussions will focus on the broader application of such programs in long-term care environments.
THE GERONTOLOGIST
Authors: Gaugler Joseph
Published: January 2025

N/A
ETHICS AND ACCEPTANCE OF AI
Authors: Cotten Shelia , Khan Aishah , Mobley Catherine , Jing Xia , Obeid Jihad , Goodrich Grant , Baker Hamilton , Hubig Nina
Published: January 2025

Over the past 18 months, artificial intelligence (AI) applications have proliferated and been disseminated across wider audiences than in prior time periods. AI tools are increasingly being used as part of new biomedical devices and may become more integrated into healthcare processes over time. While AI applications may have significant value in healthcare and helping support older adults and individuals across the life course through a variety of mechanisms, if individuals do not perceive these tools as ethical and are not accepting of these new tools, they are likely to fail. Cotten and colleagues report the results of a scoping review designed to assess stakeholder (e.g., patients and healthcare providers) acceptance and willingness to use AI-enabled devices in diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation settings. The results of this study identify perceived challenges of integrating AI into healthcare across stakeholder groups and provide suggestions to help advance AI acceptance and reduce ethical concerns.
ENGAGING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO INCREASE RESEARCH-FOCUSED SMARTWATCH USE BY MULTICULTURAL, RURAL OLDER RESIDENTS
Authors: Luna Catherine , Wiese Lisa , Minor Bryan , Schmitter-Edgecombe Maureen , Cook Diane
Published: January 2025

At the southern tip of Lake Okeechobee in south central FL is a rural, underresourced, racially/ethnically diverse region. Persons age 65/older (21%) are primarily African American (57%), Hispanic American (29%) and Afro-Caribbean (4%). Health disparities prevalent in the “Glades” region extend to low rates of digital access (60%) and digital literacy (55%). When asking residents “what mattered most” (Boykin & Schoenhofer, 2001), two issues were identified as most important to the older adult stakeholders: increasing technological competence and maintaining brain health. We tested aims developed with the community advisory board, which tapped into a little-used resource: local high school students, who trained older adults in use of smartwatches to monitor exercise, respond to prompts regarding ecological momentary assessments, and complete n-back cognitive assessments. Faith-based health educators facilitated the home-based visits between 33 older residents and 22 students, and collected pre-post written measures addressing technological self-efficacy, cognition, and health literacy. The older adults (91%, 30/33) responded to smartwatch prompts with a 77.80% response rate, which was consistent with current EMA standards: An 80% response rate has been recommended as the target for EMA studies (Turner et al., 2017), and a meta-analysis reported 75% in the pooled response rate (Jones et al., 2019). Of interest was that self-reported cognition and the Mini-Cog scores were not related (Pearson’s correlational analysis) to number of smartwatch prompts answered or health literacy. Six categories of recommendations ranging from student concerns to resident suggestions emerged from this work, which will be shared in this presentation.
WORKING AFTER AGE 65: THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIOR MENTAL HEALTH–RELATED SICKNESS ABSENCE AND DISABILITY PENSION
Authors: Martikainen Aleksiina , Alexanderson Kristina , Svedberg Pia , Farrants Kristin
Published: January 2025

With rising retirement ages and higher numbers of people extending their working life in Europe, more knowledge is needed on labor market participation after the standard retirement age. In this prospective population-based cohort study, we studied all 65-69-year-olds (n=201,263) and ≥70-year-olds (n=93,751) who lived in Sweden in 2014 and had at least some income from work. Using nationwide register microdata and Cox proportional hazard regression, we examined the association of prior mental and somatic sickness absence (SA) and/or disability pension (DP) and exit from paid work after ages 65-69 and ≥70, respectively. We found a gradual decline in paid work participation during the follow-up; approximately 80% remained in paid work at least some time during follow-up in both cohorts and both sexes, while 41% worked throughout the follow-up. Mental SA/DP was less common in both cohorts (ages 65-69: 4% women, 1.7% men; ages ≥70: 0.1% women, 0.1% men) than somatic SA/DP (ages 65-69: 27.4% women, 21.8% men; ages ≥70: 3.1% women, 2.9% men). Further, mental SA/DP marginally hindered extension of working life after age 65-69 among women (HR 1.09; 95%CI 1.06-1.13) compared to women without this type of SA/DP. However, no significant association was found among men nor among women or men aged ≥70. Our findings underscore the importance of considering prior mental health factors and possible gender differences in understanding and addressing challenges related to work continuation beyond standard retirement ages.
LIFE-COURSE PERSPECTIVES ON MILITARY SERVICE EXPERIENCES, STRESS EXPOSURE, AND LATER- AND END-OF-LIFE OUTCOMES
Authors: London Andrew
Published: January 2025

Gerontological and life-course researchers continue to address gaps in knowledge related to the lived experiences and later-life outcomes of aging veterans. Aging veterans are similar to and distinct from aging non-veterans, and there is heterogeneity in the military and civilian experiences of veterans that is important for researchers to consider. This symposium features five presentations that expand existing knowledge about aging veterans. Spiro and colleagues focus on the long-term persistence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and find it correlated with greater depression, anxiety, and disability, with worse health functioning and more mental health utilization. Kurth and colleagues examine stress exposure over a 20-year period and find a potential long-term advantage for aging combat veterans’ well-being related to reduced avoided arguments. Yorgason and colleagues study cognitive functioning and find that veteran status is associated with worse overall cognitive functioning, especially among veterans with PTSD. Ream and colleagues find that rural providers report their clients experience more unmet social needs, but also report positive factors associated with residence in rural areas. Additionally, they report that 80 percent of rural providers are interested in delivering a group-based intervention: Enhancing Social Functioning for Older Veterans with PTSD (ESVP). Berry-Stoelzle and colleagues focus on end-of-life and identify the level of associated support services, formal inclusion of families, group identity, difference in the perceived outcome, time since military service, and branch as factors influencing advance directive completion. Collectively, these papers underscore the enduring influence of military service experiences on the health and well-being of aging veterans. Aging Veterans: Effects of Military Service across the Life Course Interest Group Sponsored Symposium
DOES MILITARY VETERAN STATUS PREDICT COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN LATER LIFE?
Authors: Yorgason Jeremy , Erickson Lance , Marini Christina , Kaiser Anica Pless
Published: January 2025

Stressful life experiences can impact cognitive functioning in later years. Military experiences in relation to later life cognitive functioning is not well understood, although some work has explored the impact of PTSD on cognition. Using data from 777 individuals who participated in the Life and Family Legacies study, we explored whether veteran status (n = 383) was associated with multiple facets of cognitive functioning (using subscales from the Minnesota Cognitive Acuity Screen – Orientation, Attention, Delayed Word Recall, Comprehension, Repetition, Naming, Computation, and Verbal Fluency). All but 2 Veterans in the sample were male, and males and older respondents had lower cognitive functioning scores. Results indicated that Veteran status among males was not predictive of any one cognitive functioning subscale after gender and age were taken into account, yet it was predictive of overall cognitive functioning. Additional analyses among male veterans explored the impact of combat exposure and PTSD on each cognitive functioning subscale. While combat exposure was not associated with any cognitive outcome, PTSD symptoms (as measured by the PTSD checklist – the PCL-C) were negatively associated with the verbal fluency subscale and with overall cognitive functioning (b=-.05, p=.021). Our preliminary analyses suggest that Veteran status is not necessarily associated with individual subscale measures of cognitive functioning but may be related to a broader overall measure. PTSD symptoms were also an important correlate of cognitive functioning among older male Veterans. Veterans, especially those with PTSD symptoms, may be at greater risk for cognitive declines in later life.
PERSPECTIVES FROM RETIRED AND EMERITI FACULTY ON STAYING ENGAGED IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Authors: June Andrea , Andreoletti Carrie , Swanson Helena
Published: January 2025

With the aim of continuing to strengthen age-inclusive initiatives across Central Connecticut State University, the present study used a survey methodology to explore the interest and ability of retired and emeritus faculty from CCSU to remain engaged with the university. In a preliminary analysis of results, respondents (N=38, M age = 73, 49% female identifying, 67% non-Hispanic White) were mostly full professors (69%) at the time of their retirement. Retirement dates ranged from 1999 to 2024, with an average of 26 years of service. The most common reason for retirement was feeling emotionally ready (31%) followed by feeling burnt out/campus climate issues (26%). Twenty eight percent reported that their retirement was accelerated by the COVID 19 pandemic. Not surprisingly, those whose retirement dates are more recent have remained more connected through teaching and mentorship. At least 50% of respondents felt at least slightly connected to CCSU, their prior department, and current faculty. However, there was greater variation in level of satisfaction with that level of connection. More than half of the respondents expressed support for and willingness to participate in a retired/emeriti professors association at CCSU. Overall, respondents expressed more interest in short, time limited opportunities to remain engaged with students compared to semester-long activities. Qualitative data analysis revealed additional context to the challenges of interacting with the university as a retired or emeriti faculty member as well as to the goals of any continued engagement. Plans to incorporate this data into future age-inclusive initiatives will be discussed.
EXPERIENCES OF SENIOR SCHOLARS AND PROFESSORS EMERITI AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA: ONLINE SURVEY FINDINGS
Authors: Porter Michelle , Kops William , Kauenhowen Cornelia
Published: January 2025

Universities are unique in providing specific positions for retired academics to continue to work without pay. At the University of Manitoba (UM) in Winnipeg, Canada, there are two types of retiree positions: Senior Scholar (term) or Professor Emerita/Emeritus (lifetime/honorary). These positions allow retirees to engage in activities like supervising graduate students and conducting research. Supports (e.g., office or lab space) may be provided. However, anecdotal information and faculty consultations have suggested that new policies/procedures and initiatives may be needed to enhance their experiences and overall benefits for the university. An exploratory, online survey designed by age-friendly university committee members was completed by 78 current and past Senior Scholars and Professors Emeriti. Results revealed the many activities engaged in (most commonly reported: 78.7% writing, 70.7% research) as well as challenges experienced (e.g., parking, transitions resulting in temporary losses of email or other computer-related resources). While most (83.8%) indicated that they felt connected to the University, others indicated that they felt cut-off. Some also expressed the sentiment that “…the university/faculty does not initiate action to take advantage of my wisdom, experience and talents.” Respondents further indicated their acceptance of several possible recommendations for improvements for individuals in their positions, with the most popular being a website to highlight their work and accomplishments. Given the many benefits that they see for themselves and the University based, on their continued efforts in their retiree roles, changes are imperative to improve the age inclusivity for individuals at this career stage at UM.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND LONGEVITY IN EUROPE: A SCOPING REVIEW ON HEALTH CARE USE DURING EXTREME AIR TEMPERATURES
Authors: Enroth Linda , Kananen Laura , Tapola Ella , Pulkki Jutta
Published: January 2025

Climate change together with increasing longevity pose challenges for social, economic, and ecological sustainability of the health care systems. The associations of hot and cold temperatures with higher mortality are well understood, but less is known of their impacts on health care utilization. This scoping review examines how extreme air temperatures are associated with healthcare use in 65+ populations in Europe. We screened peer-reviewed articles from six databases (Medline, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest and Greenline) published in English 2000-2022. The key search terms were air temperature, older people, health care services, and Europe. We screened 1,457 articles, reviewed 121 full-texts, and extracted data from 43 articles. Half of the articles examined heat exposure, ten cold exposure, and 12 examined both. Emergency hospital admission was the most commonly examined health service. 20 out of 33 (heat) and 16 out of 22 (cold) studies found a positive association between extreme air temperature and health care use. Most studies were patient-based and the most common conditions leading to health care use were cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Only three studies investigated the modifying impact of social vulnerabilities. They found a tendency that social and material deprivation contributes to a higher risk of health care use during extreme temperatures. Research on health care use under extreme temperatures varies in quality and mostly reflects exacerbation of underlying chronic conditions. There is a need for further research that uses large data sets, considers multidimensional modifying risk factors, and reports results separately for older people.
USING PHOTOVOICE TO GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Authors: Zhao Hui , Stewart Anne , Maphis Christine Fasching , Ezeokonkwo Francesca , Nelson-Faulconer Jennifer , Tanaka Tiffany , Winesberry Nehemiah
Published: January 2025

Older adults are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. However, their concerns and how they perceive and respond to climate change, in their own words, remain unclear. We conducted a qualitative study employing an innovative autophotography process with semi-structured interviews to capture insights into older adults’ knowledge and beliefs regarding climate change issues. Constant comparison was used to analyze data. Seventeen community-based older adults living in Virginia Shenandoah Valley region were recruited and 14 of them completed the study. Participants were 67–85 years old white adults, with the majority holding a graduate degree. From the preliminary data analysis, four themes emerged around exploring older adults’ experiences and perceptions of climate change and each theme included sub-themes: 1) Perceived environmental issues impacting on health and life. Participants identified various specific concerns and priorities that older adults have regarding climate change, such as impacts on health or quality of life. 2) Barriers. Several factors hampered the effective addressing of climate change issues, including limited awareness, fixed mindsets, a lack of intergenerational conversation, and financial constraints. 3) Resilience and engagement. Older adults utilized resilience-building strategies that helped them cope with climate change-related challenges and empowered them to advocate for community resilience efforts. Our findings underscore the importance of further education about climate-associated risks. Including older adults in the conversation about climate change is crucial for promoting intergenerational dialogue and fostering mutual understanding and collaboration across age groups. Policy changes can facilitate effective actions on climate change-related issues.
INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING (IADLS) PREDICT PLASMA NFL LEVELS IN OLDER ADULTS WITHOUT DEMENTIA
Authors: Li Mengchi , Calderon Russell , Liu Sofia , Li Junxin
Published: January 2025

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are crucial for the independent living of older adults. Subtle declines in IADLs have been associated with decreased cognitive function. Yet, the knowledge regarding the association of IADL and plasma Neurofilament light chain (NfL), a biomarker for neurodegeneration, remains limited. This study aimed to examine the cross-sectional association between IADL and NfL in 102 older adults without dementia (Age≥65 years, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)> 17), using baseline data collected from a randomized clinical trial (NCT03959202). The sample was 70.3 ± 6.1 years old, with 79% being females, 61% being White American, 33% being Black or African American, 82% having intact cognition, and 18% having mild cognitive impairment. IADLs were assessed using the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale. Plasma NfL levels were examined continuously and dichotomously (≥ 75% vs. < 75%) as the study outcome. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted with IADLs total score as the primary predictor and adjusting for age, sex, education, chronic conditions, and MoCA. Higher IADL (better function) was associated with lower plasma NfL level (β=-4.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.99, -2.06). The logistic regression model showed that 1 point increase in IADLs score was associated with 67% reduced odds of having high NfL (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.77). In conclusion, we found that higher instrumental activities of daily living were associated with decreased plasma NfL, suggesting a mechanism underlying functional decline and neurodegeneration in non-demented older adults.
BUILDING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY CAREER TO ADVANCE HEALTH PROMOTION FOR HEALTHY AGING
Authors: Hughes Jaime
Published: January 2025

As we all continue to age, the availability of evidence-based health promotion programs will be critical to healthy aging. Intervention science and implementation science are two disciplines at the heart of developing and advancing innovative, effective health promotion programs for use within diverse settings, practices, and populations. Both disciplines are highly interdisciplinary, influenced by principles in clinical geriatrics, behavioral medicine, developmental psychology, and organizational psychology. Specific health promotion programs like those focused on the adoption of healthy sleep and activity behaviors may be further influenced by additional principles, including those from behavioral sleep medicine, exercise physiology, and rehabilitation medicine. Cultivating a professional career designing and translating evidence-based health promotion programs such as these requires commitment, collaboration, and creativity. This presentation will feature completed and ongoing work belonging to a diverse research portfolio made possible by interdisciplinary training activities and research support (e.g., NIA, NHLBI, NCCIH), experiences in aging-focused leadership and professional networking (e.g., ESPO/GSA), and more than 15 years of work in applied care settings (e.g., VAHCS, academic learning health systems). This presentation will close with tips on how to access existing NIA and GSA/ESPO resources and supports for cultivating a successful career, including: leveraging professional networks and training opportunities within NIA and across NIH Institutes (ICs), engaging in professional service and leadership, and conducting embedded research across diverse academic, government, and community settings.
STRATEGIES TO AGE WELL: BUILDING A CREATIVE AND IMPACTFUL CAREER IN BRAIN HEALTH
Authors: Dotson Vonetta
Published: January 2025

Dr. Vonetta Dotson is a gero-neuropsychologist with a program of a researched focused on understanding positive (e.g., exercise) and negative (e.g., depression) modifiers of brain health in diverse older adults in order to identify ways to reduce health disparities in cognitive and affective disorders in late life, thereby enabling every individual to age well. The work is designed to be translational in nature, with implications for the daily lives of older adults and for how we diagnose, treat, and prevent cognitive and affective disorders. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Gerontological Society of American (GSA) have been instrumental in her professional accomplishments throughout her training and career, ranging from early GSA conference experiences and participation in the Technical Assistance Workshop (former name of the Butler Williams program) during graduate school, to her current NIA funding through various mechanisms including R01, R21, and U19 grants. This presentation will summarize Dr. Dotson’s scientific research accomplishments, the role of NIA and GSA in her career, and her more recent translation of her research to community outreach, including her start-up company, CerebroFit, that puts into action the latest research on lifestyle interventions for healthy brain aging and her book Keep Your Wits about You: The Science of Brain Maintenance as You Age, which provides lay audiences with science-based facts and practical tools to help readers develop healthy lifestyles to optimize their brain health.