bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DOES MOVING LATER IN LIFE INFLUENCE IN-PERSON CONTACT WITH CHILDREN, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS?
Authors: Cho Joonyoung , Smith Jacqui
Published: November 2019

Relocation is common in later life and older adults differ the distance they move. One possible consequence of relocation is that in-person contact frequency with social network members changes. To date, relatively little is known about how older adults’ in-person contact frequency with their children, family members, and friends is influenced by the distance they move and if this differs by age group (50-64, 65-74, 75+). To examine this, we used information from the Health and Retirement Study about geographic mobility and social network contact frequency. The sample was restricted to respondents over age 50 in the 2006 wave with data on contact frequency with children, family members, and friends in 2006 and 2014 (N=5159). Distance moved from 2006 to 2014 was categorized as: stayer, <5 miles, 5–49.9 miles, and ≥50 miles. Linear regressions with covariates controlled revealed that moving ≥50 miles was significantly associated with less frequent in-person contact with family members (β=-0.31, 95%CI [- 0.46, -0.16], p≤0.001) and friends (β =-0.32, 95%CI [-0.46, -0.18], p≤0.001). Interestingly, the 50-64 group who moved ≥50 miles was less likely to meet up with their children (β=-.0.36, 95%CI [-0.56, -0.15], p≤0.001), family members (β=-0.31, 95%CI [-0.52, -0.11], p≤0.01) and friends (β=-0.21, 95%CI [-0.39, -0.03], p ≤ 0.05). In contrast, the 75+ group who moved ≥50 miles were significantly less likely to have in-person frequency only with their friends (β=-0.58, 95%CI [-1.04, -0.14], p≤0.05). These findings are discussed in relation to theories about social support and emotional well-being in old age.
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LONELINESS AS PREDICTORS OF COGNITION IN LATER LIFE
Authors: Hayslip Bert
Published: November 2019

To explore the viability of a model illustrating the potential relationship between both social and emotional loneliness and both psychometric and everyday cognition in later life, 575 older adults (M = 73.49) completed measures of crystallized (Gc) and fluid (Gf) ability as well as indicators of self-rated participation in 84 everyday cognitive activities, self-rated stimulatory value of each activity, attitudinal predisposition toward an engaged lifestyle and everyday cognitive failures. Measures of social support, caregiving stress, needs for cognition and cognitive self-efficacy were treated as mediators of the loneliness-psychometric/everyday cognition relationship, controlling for age, gender, health, and education. Hierarchical regression analyses suggested that social loneliness predicted (p < .04) Gc as mediated by social support, cognitive self-efficacy and need for cognition, whereas emotional loneliness similarly predicted (p < .04) Gf. Parallel analyses indicated that social loneliness predicted (p < .04) everyday cognitive failures and that both social and emotional loneliness predicted (p < .03) engaged lifestyle attitudes. In each case, the overall model was statistically significant (p < .01). For everyday cognitive activities and the stimulation values of such, neither type of loneliness was predictive, though lifestyle attitudes and lifestyle activity were moderately interrelated. These findings support a model incorporating distinct dimensions of loneliness as a predictor of diverse aspects of both psychometric and everyday cognition. This suggests that not only are the antecedents of cognition in late adulthood social/emotional in nature, but also that interventions targeting the prevention of loneliness may enhance cognitive functioning in later life.
ADVANCE CARE PLANNING AMONG LGBT PEOPLE: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Authors: Kcomt Luisa , Gorey Kevin M
Published: November 2019

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people (LGBT) with advanced illness need culturally competent advanced care planning (ACP) services but often encounter structural and communication barriers. The aim of this study was to examine the ACP behaviors of LGBT people. An integrative rapid review method was used to search electronic databases for peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed publications between 2010 to 2017. Eight survey instruments comprising 30 prevalence estimates were analyzed. ACP discussions between LGBT people and their primary health care providers were rare, with an overall prevalence of 10%. Transgender people were 50–70% less likely than their LGB counterparts to have a living will or to have appointed a healthcare proxy. These results suggest there is a critical need for greater cultural competency among health care providers serving LGBT populations. Social workers can play a key role in advocacy and social justice for LGBT individuals with advanced illness.
FAMILY CAREGIVER READINESS: RACIAL DIFFERENCES AND RELIABILITY OF THE CAREGIVER READINESS SCALE
Authors: Marx Katherine A , Marx Katherine A , Parker Lauren J , Huang Jin , Scerpella Daniel , Rose Karen , Piersol Catherine V , Gitlin Laura N
Published: November 2019

The success of any intervention for caregivers of persons with dementia is dependent on the caregiver’s readiness to enact the strategies. This presentation explores the reliability of the new 17-item Caregiver Readiness Scale (CRS) and also to examine the differences by race in readiness. Participants were caregivers in the Dementia Behavior Study who completed the CRS at baseline (n=129). Caregivers were on average 65.8 years old (sd = 12.2, range 28-88), the majority reported their race as non-Hispanic white (64.3%, n=83) and 33.4% (n=43) reported their race as African American or other. The average CRS score was 57.63 (sd=5.72, 40-68) (α=0.73). The only significant interaction with race was negative communication (p=0.026) with negative communication scores having little effect on readiness in whites, but in non-white caregivers, there was an inverse relationship. Knowing the caregiver’s level of readiness and communication style may help improve the acceptability and success of an intervention.
REPORTING OF ADVERSE EVENTS IN BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION TRIALS: THE TAILORED ACTIVITY PROGRAM
Authors: Scerpella Daniel , Scerpella Danny L , Marx Katherine A , Gitlin Laura N
Published: November 2019

Adverse events (AE) are not regularly reported in behavioral research, especially when compared to similar reporting in pharmacological research. AE reporting is crucial for understanding the potential risks and outcomes of behavioral interventions as well as characterizing the study population. This presentation presents AE findings of a behavioral intervention to reduce neuropsychiatric behaviors in persons living with dementia, the Tailored Activity Program. A total of 250 dyads (persons living with dementia and caregivers) living in a community setting participated in this intervention, reporting 126 adverse events and 37 alerts. None of the events were attributable to the intervention, with the majority (46%) being related to the health of the person living with dementia or high depression scores in caregivers (19%). These results are analyzed in relation to outcomes and the potential frailty of this study population. Reporting AEs in behavioral trials is the best opportunity to inform treatment options.
LONELINESS AND ASSOCIATED OUTCOMES IN A LARGE SURVEY OF OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Barnes Timothy , Bhattarai Gandhi , Kraemer Sandra , Musich Shirley , Schaeffer James , Yeh Charlotte S
Published: November 2019

Loneliness and social isolation are major risk factors for poor physical and mental health among older adults. Studies demonstrate that loneliness is associated with depression, impaired cognitive performance, increased chronic disease, and mortality. However, the impact on other psychosocial constructs and healthcare outcomes remain understudied. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of loneliness and examine associations with socio-demographic, medical, and psychosocial characteristics in a large national survey of older adults (N=4,525). Overall, 43% of participants reported either moderate or severe loneliness. Older age, female gender, income, depression, hearing difficulty, and poorer health were all associated with loneliness. Purpose of life, resilience, optimism, and a diverse social network were associated with low loneliness. On average, lonely participants had a higher rate of emergency department visits, inpatient admissions, and medical costs. Based on findings, interventions should aim to alleviate loneliness among older adults.
ONLINE MINDFULNESS PROGRAM FOR LONELY OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Ungar Rachel , Wu Lizi , Keown Karen , Schaeffer James , Wicker Ellen
Published: November 2019

Mindfulness meditation is a cognitive state of self-awareness that promotes emotional regulation and change in self-perspective. Mindfulness has been applied to address loneliness, stress, and anxiety, demonstrating consistent health benefits. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of an online mindfulness program and to measure its impact on well-being among lonely older adults. The intervention consisted of seven one-hour weekly online modules led by a trained facilitator via WebEx. Engagement was high with 63% of participants attending four or more sessions. Pre/post survey data (N=42) found decreased anxiety, stress, and improvement in mindfulness, purpose in life, and resilience. This program demonstrates that online mindfulness programs may be of great benefit for lonely older adults. Future research will include larger samples to investigate further impacts.
COGNITIVE STIMULATION THERAPY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MEMORY LOSS
Authors: Zubatsky Max
Published: November 2019

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a non-pharmacological approach for individuals with mild to moderate dementia. It is one of the age friendly community activities of the GWEP to engage older adults with memory challenges. We explored the impact of caregiver-assisted CST (CA-CST) on participants’ overall memory, mood, and retention in the groups. We also investigated the impact of this CST format on the overall well-being of dementia caregivers. Four CST groups (N=28) entered the CA-CST groups meeting once per week for 14 weeks in a university setting. 61 % of participants who completed the group (n=17) showed a .5 point improvement on the Saint Louis University Mental Status Exam (SLUMS), a 2-point decrease on the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (p<.01), and 1.5 point increase in overall caregiver well-being. Continued psychosocial interventions for dementia are needed not just in university settings, but healthcare organizations and other age-friendly settings.
LOOKING FORWARD: BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS (BRFSS) CAREGIVING DATA
Authors: McGuire Lisa C
Published: November 2019

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), collects data on caregivers and the caregiving situation as well as many health behaviors, annually. The BRFSS is the world’s largest ongoing health survey, administered in all 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia and the three U.S. territories, with data collected from more than 400,000 respondents. In 2015-2017, the 9-item caregiving module was administered in 44 states, DC, and Puerto Rico on the BRFSS. CDC’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program has developed many data for action resources for use by states and other partners to help identify populations and communities most at need. This presentation will describe future enhancements with the BRFSS caregiving module and the series CDC developed resources to facilitate date utilization, including state-specific infographics, data briefs, and the online data portal.
DETERMINANTS OF NEUROCOGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND DEMENTIA IN ENGLAND AND JAPAN
Authors: Cadar Dorina , Shirai Kokoro
Published: November 2019

Dementia is one of the major contributors to disability and dependency amongst the elderly populations and a significant public health concern. Even though the prevalence of dementia in the UK is rising due to higher numbers of people surviving into older ages, recent evidence suggests that the UK is experiencing a decline in dementia incidence. By contrast, Japan has witnessed a different trend, with increases in both incidence and prevalence. This difference could be related to diagnostic practices within each country, or to the cultural variability in the risk and protective factors driving these emerging forecasts that remain fundamentally different between the UK and Japan. Research in this field has been dominated by clinical studies of dementia mostly conducted in the UK and US, and the current evidence lacks reliable national data on dementia incidence. Socioeconomic inequalities and social determinants of neurocognitive health and dementia risk in two longitudinal studies of ageing: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) from the UK and Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study of Aging (JAGES). These studies are ideally placed for addressing pivotal research questions in gerontology: 1. What are the biopsychosocial determinants of cognitive impairment and dementia in England and Japan? 2. What are the potential exploratory mechanisms related to the divergent trends in dementia incidence observed in England and Japan? 3. What are the critical differences between the social determinants of dementia in England and Japan?
LONELINESS, SOCIAL ISOLATION, AND DOMAINS OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN THE ENGLISH LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF AGEING
Authors: Abell Jessica G , Abell Jessica , Cadar Dorina , Llewellyn David J , Steptoe Andrew
Published: November 2019

Globally the numbers of older people who live alone and those who may experience certain risk factors have risen. In this study, we aim to examine associations between social isolation and loneliness with different domains of cognitive impairment. Data are from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Social isolation and loneliness were measured in 2012-2013 and cognition in 2017-2018, using the Harmonised Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) in 1,200 men and women aged ≥65 years. General cognitive impairment was measured using the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE); memory was assessed using the CERAD word list, attention & speed using the Symbol-Digit Modalities Test and executive function by a number series test. Loneliness, measured using the UCLA scale, was associated with a higher risk of neurocognitive impairment (MMSE<24), lower memory scores, poorer attention and executive function. However, social isolation was only found only to be associated with lower levels of memory.
CHANGES IN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE AND DEMENTIA ONSET IN JAPAN GERONTOLOGICAL EVALUATION STUDY
Authors: Sakaniwa Ryoto , Sakaniwa Ryoto , Shirai Kokoro , iso hiroyasu , Kondo Katsunori
Published: November 2019

Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with dementia onset, but its transition throughout the life-course is poorly understood. In a prospective cohort of 40,041 participants, aged over 65 years without dementia, we identified ten optimal classifications of life-course SES transitions and their associated impact on dementia. Our results showed a clear significant dose-response pattern with the highest risk of dementia from 1) impoverished SES throughout, 2) impoverished childhood SES with normal adult SES, 3) impoverished adult SES with self-employed in adulthood, 4) high educated with poor adult SES, 5) never having a job, 6) low educated but high SES (self- employed), 7) technician, 8) high educated with poor adult SES, 9) average SES throughout, and 10) high SES throughout. These results suggest that life-course SES history is strongly associated with dementia risk and did not interact with single scale measurement. Further causal pathways and theories are relevant for disease modification.
FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF OLDER ADULTS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM A PROSPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL STUDY
Authors: Beach Scott R , Czaja Sara J , Schulz Richard , Loewenstein David , Lichtenberg Peter
Published: November 2019

This paper presents study design and preliminary results from a new study funded by the National Institute on Aging that is examining financial exploitation (FE) among 720 White, African-American and Hispanic adults age 60+ (240 per group; 120 age 60-79; 120 age 80+). A conceptual model linking socio-demographics, physical health, social support / integration, cognitive function, financial skills / supports, and psychosocial factors to FE is being evaluated. Three assessments (baseline, 12; 24 mos.) include: a detailed cognitive battery, web-based banking simulation tasks, scam scenarios, and a standardized battery of self-report measures assessing socio-demographic and psychosocial variables. Preliminary baseline results from ~200 participants show support for the proposed model. Exposure to sales, remote purchasing behavior, and telemarketer receptivity (scam exposure); and scam vulnerability as measured by credibility ratings of “legitimate” and “fake” scam scenarios are positively associated with reports of both stranger-initiated and trusted other FE. Older adults with smaller social networks and less social support were more likely to report both exposure and vulnerability to scams. Higher general cognitive abilities, financial skills, and numeracy; and better performance on online banking tasks correlate with less scam exposure and vulnerability. Preliminary analyses of psychosocial factors also show that more depressed, impulsive, and trusting older adults report more exposure and scam vulnerability. The paper will present updated analyses of ~500 baseline participants. Understanding multiple pathways to FE is important to advance theory and for the development of interventions to minimize risk.
EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON OLDER ADULTS' WELL-BEING
Authors: Boot Walter R
Published: November 2019

Recent research had indicated clear links between social isolation and loneliness, and a host of negative consequences, including poor mental and physical health, cognitive decline, and even increased mortality risk. These consequences make clear that social isolation is a significant and urgent public health concern that requires attention and action. Increasingly, researchers have begun to explore the role technology can play in reducing social isolation and increasing social support. This symposium contains five talks that address this question directly, presenting a nuanced picture of the potential effects of technology on well-being among older adults. The first presentation will highlight the potential positive side of internet use on wellbeing using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study. The next talk explores how the internet can support older adults undergoing significant life transitions. Importantly, the link between internet use and well-being appears to be context-dependent, with internet use being associated with positive or negative effects depending on other contextual factors. This presentation is followed by another, finding that technology use can have varying effects depending on how and what the technology is used for. This is followed by a presentation that directly compares technology-based communication to in-person communication, and the different effects of each on well-being. The session concludes with a presentation on how novel robotic technology might provide emotional and social support. In answer to the question of whether technology can reduce social isolation and loneliness, and improve social support: It’s complicated.
INTERNET USE AND LONELINESS OF OLDER ADULTS OVER TIME: THE MEDIATION EFFECT OF SOCIAL CONTACT
Authors: Yu Kexin , Yu Kexin , Wu Shinyi , Chi Iris
Published: November 2019

Internet is increasingly popular among older adults and have changed interpersonal interactions. However, it remains controversial whether older people are more or less lonely with internet use. This paper tests the longitudinal association of internet use and loneliness among older people. One pathway that explains the association, the mediation effect of social contact, was examined. Data from the 2006, 2010 and 2014 waves of Health and Retirement Study was used. Hierarchical liner modeling results showed internet use was related to decreased loneliness over 12-year period of time (b=-0.044, p<.001). Internet use was associated with more social contact with family and friends overtime (b=0.261, p<.001), social contact was related to less perceived loneliness longitudinally (b=0.097, p<.001). The total effect of internet use on loneliness is -0.054 and the mediated effect is -0.025. The findings imply that online activities can be effective for reducing loneliness for older people through increased social contact.
THE ROLE OF GLOBAL SCHOLARSHIP IN THE JOURNAL OF AGING & SOCIAL POLICY
Authors: Miller Edward A , Gusmano Michael , Simpson Elizabeth , Nadash Pamela
Published: November 2019

Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers need a balanced, thoughtful, and analytical resource to meet the challenge of global aging at a rate that’s historically unprecedented. The Journal of Aging & Social Policy (JASP), which was founded in 1989, serves this role by drawing contributions from an international panel of policy analysts and scholars who assume an interdisciplinary perspective in examining and analyzing critical phenomena that affect aging and the development and implementation of programs for elders from a global perspective. Study settings extend beyond the United States to include Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Latin America, Asia, and the Asia-Pacific rim. This presentation will document the scope, content, and focus of JASP, including the rise of international submissions, which now account for approximately half of articles published. Opportunities for publishing in JASP will be discussed; so too will strategies for navigating the peer-review process successfully.
RESEARCH ON AGING: THE INTERNATIONAL VIEW FROM THE EDITORS' DESKS
Authors: Burr Jeffrey , Kim Kyungmin , Han Sae Hwang
Published: November 2019

We review the scope, content, and focus of the peer-reviewed journal, Research on Aging (SAGE), publishing its 41st volume this year. We will discuss how scholarship produced from researchers around the globe has changed over the years. Data on submissions, acceptance rates, and the important role of an international editorial board will be presented. The review process will be described, along with suggestions on how to increase chances of success when submitting original research. Although Research on Aging is sometimes considered to focus primarily on social gerontology, the scope in recent years has widened considerably, with manuscripts in aging studies published from such fields as economics, psychology, demography, public health, and public policy, as well as from sociology, and social work, among others. One of several special issues forthcoming in the journal will be described to demonstrate the possibilities for international impact.
THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED GERONTOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Robison Julie
Published: November 2019

The mission of applied gerontology is to bridge science and practice to benefit the health and well-being of older persons, their families, their communities, and other contexts. This presentation will provide insights from the Journal of Applied Gerontology and its attempts to publish and disseminate scholarship that has international application. Following an overview of the growing internationalization of peer-reviewed submissions to the Journal of Applied Gerontology on a variety of topics and from a range of perspectives, the presentation will highlight key achievements as well as ongoing concerns and opportunities to better achieve the goals of applying gerontological scholarship to aging contexts worldwide. Concluding comments will examine how outlets for dissemination and authors themselves can better position their work to enhance their influence on aging in an international context.
FINDINGS FROM THE ALZHEIMER’S POETRY PROJECT LONG-TERM CARE IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Authors: Kaplan Daniel B , Glazner Gary
Published: November 2019

Dementia interventions grounded in group participation in the cultural arts (e.g., poetry, storytelling, music, and dance) have been growing in reach in recent decades. Yet this growth has been stymied by a lack of empirical evidence to demonstrate measurable outcomes. In the current IRB-approved research study, the Alzheimer’s Poetry Project (APP), in partnership with 15 Wisconsin nursing homes, provided staff training in an innovative non-pharmacological intervention for people living with dementia. The goal of APP is to facilitate creative self-expression, social and intellectual stimulation, respectful acceptance, validation of personhood, and valued inclusion of people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias through the performance and creation of poetry. APP’s proven track record at over 500 facilities in 34 states and six countries internationally, serving over 40,000 people worldwide, demonstrates APP’s ability to bring high-quality creative arts programming to people living with dementia. Through the implementation of APP in three groups of five nursing homes in Wisconsin, activities and care staff were trained to deliver the intervention over three-month periods. After training was completed, researchers evaluated and compared APP to non-arts programming in the same facilities. A novel dementia arts mapping technique was created to document observable impacts of interventions on social engagement, alertness, vocalization, vocabulary, affect, and self-expression. 35 interventions were documented, and variability in participant experiences reveal significantly greater impacts on personhood and creativity during the 11 APP interventions than during the 24 non-arts interventions. Implications for promoting dementia care programming grounded in group participatory arts will be discussed.
USING TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR HOSPICE FAMILY CAREGIVERS: FINDINGS FROM THE PISCES TRIAL
Authors: Demiris George
Published: November 2019

Family caregivers of hospice patients play an essential role in the delivery of care but have multiple needs during this often stressful time. Cost-effective interventions supporting caregivers are greatly needed. We conducted a four-year randomized clinical trial of a problem solving therapy intervention called PISCES to support hospice caregivers. We recruited 514 caregivers (75% female, mean age 60.3 years) who were randomly assigned to either a control group (usual care) or a face to face group (where the intervention was delivered in three in-person sessions) or a telehealth group (where the intervention was delivered using technology). While the intervention was effective in reducing caregiver anxiety and improving overall quality of life, the intervention was found more effective in the face-to-face group than the telehealth group. We discuss challenges with the technology use and recommendations for the design of future telehealth systems targeting older adults in the hospice setting.
DOG WALKING MEDIATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DOG OWNERSHIP AND NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL INTERACTION
Authors: Potter Katie , Saddiki Hachem , Balzer Laura B
Published: November 2019

Social interaction may be facilitated by dog ownership. We surveyed 421 pet owners about neighborhood social interactions. Dog owners also completed a dog walking questionnaire. Among adults aged 55+ (n=99; 62.2±5.6 years; 90% female), we tested our hypotheses that (1) dog owners were more likely to meet neighbors than non-dog owners, and (2) increased dog walking frequency was associated with increased neighborhood social interaction. Inverse probability weighting was used to control for differences in age and neighborhood type (rural, suburban/urban) between groups. The probability of meeting neighbors was 2.4x higher (95%CI: 1.5-3.9) for dog than cat owners, after controlling for age and neighborhood type. Among dog owners, the odds of meeting a neighbor were 1.7x higher (95%CI: 0.9-3.1) with each unit increase in dog walking frequency (unit=5walks/week). Our findings suggest that programming to support dog ownership and dog walking among older adults may help reduce social isolation.
PARTICIPATION IN AN INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING COURSE AND IMPLICIT BIASES
Authors: Kogan Lori , Kogan Lori , Schoenfeld-Tacher Regina , Oxley James
Published: November 2019

Biases against older adults and people with disabilities can lead to discriminatory behaviors. One way to better understand attitudes towards these populations is through the examination of implicit (unconscious) factors. This paper utilizes The Implicit Association Test, a computer-based categorization task designed to assess implicit or unconscious attitudes, to assess the impact of an intergenerational service-learning course created to support the human animal bond between vulnerable pet owners and their companion animals. This study, using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, assessed the impact of college students’ interactions with older pet owners on these students’ implicit attitudes. Pre- and post-assessment of participating students found statistically significant decreased biases towards older people and people with disabilities after completing the course (p=.032). Results from this study suggest that participating in an intergenerational service-learning course centered around the human animal bond can positively affect implicit attitudes towards older adults or people with disabilities.
CHANGE IN UNMET NEEDS FOR DAILY MOBILITY AND SELF-CARE ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE HEALTH OUTCOMES
Authors: Sands Laura P , Savla Jyoti , Erraguntla Madhav , Lawley Mark
Published: November 2019

Among community-living older adults, unmet needs for help with daily self-care or mobility activities is associated with poor health outcomes. Few studies have examined whether change in unmet needs influences future health outcomes. Using 2011 – 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study data, we studied 2,052 participants (3,654 pairs of observations) who had: (a) at least one limitation in mobility or self-care daily activities; (b) data from two or more adjacent years, and (c) retrospective data about falls and hospitalization ruing the year following the two adjacent years of data. We computed mixed effects models to assess health outcomes for four transitions (met-met, met-unmet, unmet-met, unmet-unmet). The models controlled for demographic characteristics, health conditions, change in daily activities limitations, and prior falls or hospitalization. We determined that those who changed from met to unmet needs for mobility limitations were significantly more likely to report hospitalization and falling in the following year than those with met needs in both years (OR=1.4; 95% CI=1.1 – 1.8; OR=1.4; 95% CI=1.1 – 1.0, respectively). Similar findings were found for those with self-care limitations. Respondents with unmet needs for mobility limitations in both years were significantly more likely to fall in the year after the interval (OR=1.4; 95% CI=1.0 – 1.9) than those who changed from unmet needs to met needs. The findings provide evidence that onset of unmet needs increases risk for future falls and hospitalization, and resolution of unmet needs decreases risk for falls in the subsequent year.
LIFESPAN CANNABIS USE PATTERNS IN OLDER USERS
Authors: Qualls Sara H , arora Kanika , Bobitt Julie , Kaskie Brian
Published: November 2019

The rapidly rising rates of cannabis use among older adults may reflect a rise in late-onset users, re-engagement after a period without use, or a continuous use pattern since young adulthood that is more visible after legalization of cannabis. Older (age 60+) cannabis users (n=82) provided retrospective ratings on their frequency of use across adulthood. Approximately 28% were not using cannabis when young adults, with a larger percentage (40%) reporting non-use while ages 31-49 and 37% reported non-use when ages 50-64. Approximately 21% of older users were first time users, with 60% low frequency and 35% daily/weekly users. High frequency users generally were high frequency users throughout adulthood, but the pattern varied substantially by gender and mode of consumption. Women were more likely first-time users than men, and more likely non-smokers. Among non-smokers, about 40% were first-time users. Implications are explored for research, policy, and clinical practice.
ASSESSING HEALTH-RELATED OUTCOMES OF MEDICAL CANNABIS USE AMONG OLDER PERSONS IN COLORADO AND ILLINOIS
Authors: Croker J Alton , Bobitt Julie , Arora Kanika , Kaskie Brian
Published: November 2019

The use of cannabis is increasing among older Americans. A growing body of evidence shows cannabis and cannabinoids effective for treating chronic pain, spasticity, nausea, and sleep disturbances. States seeking to respond to the treatment needs of specific patient populations have legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Few instruments offer standard outcomes for understanding the use of medial cannabis from the patient perspective, particularly focusing on older persons. Using cross-sectional survey data from a sample of older persons in Colorado and Illinois, we validate two scales to consistently measure patient-reported health related outcomes of medical cannabis use. We confirmed the validity of two separate, reliable outcome scales: a three-factor scale for measuring global health outcomes and a single-factor scale for capturing adverse health events. The COPS questionnaire revealed strong construct validity and internal consistency, and a lack of meaningful factor variance.
CANNABIS USE BY CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA
Authors: Segal-Gidan Freddi
Published: November 2019

Thirty three states have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use. This increased access to cannabis products has heightened interest in its use among family caregivers. Clinicians anecdotally report frequent questions from families about the use of these products, but lack sound information to provide an informed response. Some studies suggest cannabis could help to manage behavioral symptoms of dementia,. No studies to date have explored marijuana or cannabis product use by caregivers for themselves or for the person with dementia. Caregivers of persons with diagnosed dementia were invited to take part in a study that included completion of a survey and participation in a focus group that explored self care practices, including the use of marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) products for themselves and the person with dementia. Results of the survey and trends from the focus groups will be presented, with a comparison between English and Spanish speaking individuals.
MARIJUANA USE AMONG OLDER ADULTS: HARMS MAY OUTWEIGH BENEFITS
Authors: Choi Namkee G , DiNitto Diana M , Arndt Stephan
Published: November 2019

The US Epidemiologic data show that past-year marijuana use rates among the 50+ age group rose more than 300% between 2002 and 2017. In 2017, 10.2% of those aged 50-64 years and 3.7% of those aged 65+ years were past-year users, and 15% of these users reported all or part of their use to have been for medical purposes. In this symposium, using findings from previous research and recent epidemiologic data, we will present both positive and adverse effects of late-life marijuana use. Marijuana may be useful for the treatment of pain (particularly neuropathic pain) and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. However, older marijuana users are often long-term users and significant proportions suffer from marijuana use disorder along with other substance (nicotine, alcohol, prescription and illicit drugs) use and/or mental disorders. Adverse effects also include dizziness, confusion, impairments in memory and attention, somnolence, and hallucinations, which may outweigh purported positive effects.
INTEREST GROUP SESSION—FAMILY CAREGIVING: SUPPORTING FAMILY CAREGIVERS WITHIN SYSTEMS OF CARE DELIVERY
Authors: Wolff Jennifer L , Feinberg Lynn F
Published: November 2019

Family and other unpaid caregivers have a foundational role in supporting the health and well-being of older adults with complex health needs and disabilities and the demands imposed on them can be significant. The availability and adequacy of support provided by family and other unpaid caregivers has profound consequences for quality and outcomes of care delivery, but they are not well-supported in treatment decisions and care planning. Given population aging, the shift of long-term services and supports from nursing homes toward community settings, and technological advances that allow patients to be served in the community with higher acuity of care, there is a pressing need to develop systems-level processes to identify, engage, and support family caregivers in systems of care. This symposium will feature 5 presentations that provide novel insight regarding family caregivers’ experience within systems of care. We focus on family caregivers to older adults living in the community and receiving home and community-based services, primary care, or Medicare skilled home health services. Individual presentations will describe 1) differences in access to services and experiences of family caregivers by under-represented minority status; 2) a framework for health systems to include family caregivers as part of health care teams; 3) family caregivers’ capacity to help during the course of Medicare-funded skilled home health care; 4) perceived communication with health professionals, using a validated measure of family caregiver capacity; and 5) the feasibility of implementing a family caregiver screening instrument in primary care.
HOW MANY MOLECULAR MECHANISMS MUST BE ALTERED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO SLOW AGING AND EXTEND LIFESPAN?
Authors: Stroustrup Nicholas
Published: November 2019

Most anti-aging therapeutics are designed to target single molecules, single molecular mechanisms, or single cell types. Yet, to produce a substantial lifespan extension, these interventions would need to act promiscuously and delay the onset of many or all causes of death. In invertebrate models, several molecular-level interventions are known to act this way, yet their downstream action on multiple causes of death remains poorly understood. Recently, we identified a strong mathematical constraint in the way that many different interventions in aging alter all-cause mortality in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Interventions including suppression of IGF/insulin signaling, disruption of the hsf-1 heat shock factor and the hif-1 hypoxia-inducible factor, as well as changes in diet and body temperature, all produce a temporal scaling of lifespan. This temporal scaling suggests a common physiologic path through which diverse, evolutionary-conserved, molecular mechanisms can simultaneously influence all causes of death.
THE LONGEVITY CONSORTIUM: MULTI-OMICS INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO DISCOVERING HEALTHY AGING AND LONGEVITY DETERMINANTS
Authors: Perls Thomas T , Evans Daniel S , Hadley Evan
Published: November 2019

The Longevity Consortium (LC), a NIA-Cooperative project, is an integrated multi-disciplinary effort with cutting edge bioinformatic, systems biology and chemoinformatics approaches exploiting multiple omics data generated from multiple well-phenotyped aging cohorts, Study of Osteoporotic Fractures, MrOS (fractures in men), Cardiovascular Health Study, the Long Life Family Study and the Centenarian Project to discover pharmacologically targetable protective pathways that promote healthy aging. Omics studies of mice treated with candidate drugs and of multiple species with varying life spans further informs the LC efforts. We describe the integration of the above efforts and the LC goals as well as opportunities for interested investigators to access shared results as well as opportunity funds for pilot projects. Early successes are described in 4 presentations: (1) A genome-wide association study including 1317 centenarians discovered 8 new loci in chromosomes 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14 and 15. The list includes new serum pQTLs that suggest a new biological mechanism involved in extreme longevity. (2) Novel, high-throughput discovery-proteomics of serum from 2,473 MrOs participants identified 25 proteins, mostly found in inflammatory pathways, associated with living beyond the 90th percentile birth-cohort survival. (3) A biological age estimation algorithm utilizing multi-omics assays significantly differentiated between 3,558 wellness program participants and controls. (4) Mediation analyses were used to test causal relationships between many candidate aging-modulating drugs and compounds, expression levels of gene and protein variants (eQTLs and pQTLs) and aging and longevity phenotypes. This high throughput method shows promise as a means of discovering candidate drugs for healthy aging.
THE PROTEOMICS OF LONGEVITY
Authors: Orwoll Eric , Wiedrick Jack , Cummings Steven R , Evans Dan , Zheng Wanlin , Funk Cory , Price Nathan , Lapidus Jodi
Published: November 2019

The biological underpinnings of longevity are poorly elucidated in humans. We used a novel, high-throughput discovery-proteomics approach to identify serum proteins associated with longevity (living beyond 90th percentile of survival) in community-dwelling men age ≥65 years in the MrOs Study. Baseline serum from 2473 men was analyzed using liquid chromatography-ion mobility-mass spectrometry. >21,000 peptides and 2931 proteins were recognized. Twenty-five proteins significantly associated with attainment of longevity over 15 yrs of observation were identified using rigorous statistical methods. 25 proteins were significantly associated; all were lower in long lived men than in men dying earlier. Most longevity-associated proteins were from inflammatory pathways; some have multifunctional biological roles potentially reflecting other mechanisms. Pathway analyses suggest important upstream regulators may be causally responsible for the associations. These results provide the opportunity to evaluate these proteins as biomarkers, and highlight the potential importance of their biological pathways in the origins of long life.
THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF NIH PEER REVIEW: THE CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
Authors: Femia Elia , Plude Dana , Rebok George W
Published: November 2019

The National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of biomedical and bio-behavioral research in the United States. The mission is to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. To achieve this mission, the NIH provides support for cutting-edge research and technology development in a variety of fields, ranging from translation of innovative ideas in technology to basic science on major health challenges and disease. There are many types of research and training opportunities and technology development programs that are supported by the NIH across the 24 institutes and centers that provide funding. The majority of grant applications are reviewed by the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR). In this symposium, attendees will get 1) an overview of the types of applications submitted to the NIH for support; 2) the basics of the NIH peer review process and criteria and scoring system for evaluating applications, and 3) tips for writing a more successful grant application. Peer review is the cornerstone of the NIH grants process, and an insider’s view can lead to a better understanding of how the most meritorious projects are identified that lead to innovative re-search in the biomedical and bio-behavioral sciences.
THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS FOR AGING ADULTS: PANACEA, PLAGUE, OR BEEN THERE, DONE THAT?
Authors: Charness Neil H
Published: November 2019

Billions of people around the world rely on (or are addicted to) technology-based social networks such as Facebook. At first glance, particularly for aging adults with mobility challenges, internet-based networking seems like a panacea. At second glance, navigating through the thicket of ‘bots’, fraudsters and “fake friends” may turn out to be a plague. At third glance, technology-based interaction platforms are not that new (telegraph, telephone) and not that unusual. I examine the population-level trends in social network use by aging adults and discuss a recent CREATE intervention study, PRISM, that used a computer-based platform to try to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older adults at risk for social isolation.
SOCIAL CHANGE, SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND COHORTS: CONTEXTUALIZING MEN'S HEALTH IN LATER LIFE
Authors: Kelley Jessica
Published: November 2019

Research links men’s health to their participation in, and access to, social institutions such as marriage, education, and work. However, these institutions have undergone significant social change in the past century, altering their scope and influence on men’s health. We tie together several important concepts from sociology and gerontology to provide an explanatory framework for older men’s differential health profiles within and between cohorts, and over time. First, we address the gendered life course which are the structural and social arrangements that create distinctive experiences over the life course for men and women. Second, we employ the concept of cohort analysis to capture social changes in the institutionalized life course. Finally, we utilize the cumulative dis/advantage framework to help understand within-cohort differentiation in health status as men age. Taken together, we can better understand health, longevity, and disability profiles for older men and how these have shifted over time.
STRESS, FAITH, AND HEALTH AMONG BLACK MEN IN MIDDLE AND LATE LIFE
Authors: Bruce Marino A , Thorpe Roland J
Published: November 2019

African American men experience extremely high levels of social and psychological stress from unfavorable social and economic circumstances emerging from institutional discrimination and unfair treatment. Stress has been linked to disproportionate risks for illness, disease and premature mortality among this population. But, few studies have examined how African American men manage or cope with stress, and even fewer have assessed how their coping responses have implications for their health. Faith has been considered a stress coping strategy and a growing number of studies explore how religiosity and spirituality have implications for health outcomes. No studies to our knowledge have examined how faith impacts stress and its influence on the health among African American men. The purpose of this chapter is to demonstrate how faith has implications for socio-biologic interactions associated with elevated risk for disease and premature death among this marginalized population.
GOALS OF THE ENDGAME
Authors: Silver Michelle
Published: November 2019

At all stages of life, the body can be considered an occupational resource that interacts with social structures in identity formation and complicates personal adaptation to life transitions. As the body declines, the economic and social standing it confers also tends to decline, leading to socially embedded fears about physical decline and marginalization. This paper applies theoretical work from embodiment theory and the life course perspective to examine how perceptions of aging and life experience with sport (or lack thereof) influence exercise participation and athletic identity. Using a narrative approach, I examine in-depth interviews I conducted with elite athletes, masters’ athletes, coaches, athletic program directors, mature adults. Some participants struggled to exercise regularly, and others are exercising more in their later years than at any other point in their lives. Three key themes emerged: 1) bodily identity is tremendously important in relation to other forms of identity when it is affected by aging, ill-health, or other physical processes; 2) physical functional mobility becomes increasingly important with age; and 3) experiences with sports and athletic identity (or lack thereof) influence engagement in exercise in later life in surprising ways. The paper challenges society’s focus on youth in sports and elite athletes, to discuss how our greater longevity means that we must place more emphasis on identifying ways to keep physically active and mobile throughout adulthood.