bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THIS IS THE YEAR THAT WAS: THE BEST OF THE JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGY BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Authors: Duque Gustavo
Published: December 2023

The Journal of Gerontology Biological Sciences (JGBS) is one of the Gerontological Society of America publications. It publishes articles on the biological aspects of aging in areas such as translational gerontology, biomarkers of aging, biochemistry, biodemography, cellular and molecular biology, and geroscience. Biological insights are also published in studies from invertebrates, vertebrates, and mammalian species, including humans. With an impact factor of 6.59, this journal is one of the leading journals in the field. Overall, and although the journal is highly valued by biomedical researchers worldwide, the authors of our top and most impactful papers do not usually have the opportunity to answer the questions from their peers constructively and interactively. In addition, there is a significant number of biomedical researchers that, although members of the Society, do not submit their best results to the journal. This symposium, chaired by the Editor-in-Chief of the JGBS, will comprise six presentations by the authors of the most influential papers of the year (June 2022 to June 2023). The papers will be selected based on their impact via citations and/or social media. Presenters will be chosen following diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Various topics going from cells to animal models will be covered while highlighting the translational potential of those discoveries. Ten minutes presentation will be followed by 5 minutes of Q&A with ample opportunity to interact.
MATERIAL DEPRIVATION AND LONELINESS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN HONG KONG
Authors: Tang Vivien Foong Yee , Chou Kee Lee
Published: December 2023

Given that poverty as a risk factor on loneliness is understudied, this study examined the relationship between material deprivation and loneliness of older adults in Hong Kong, the mediation effects of social support and social network, and the moderation effects of social support and social engagement. A two-wave data were collected from 1,696 Chinese older adults between 2015 (T1) and 2017 (T2). All Chinese older adults aged 60 years and above, with 53.9% female. Older adults were asked about their level of loneliness, how material deprived they were, social support, social network, social engagement, demographic information, and self-rated health status. The result indicated that older adults who are more materially deprived reported a significantly higher level of loneliness at T2 when controlling for demographic variables and loneliness at baseline. Furthermore, we found that social support and the number of close children were full mediator. A significant moderator was found in neighbourhood collective efficacy and community participation specifically engagement in cultural activities. Hence, our results suggest the need to strengthen the anti-poverty policy measures for materially deprived, develop interventions focusing on improving social support and social network and enhance existing social engagement programmes that promote community participation and neighbour collective efficacy for older adults in Hong Kong.
THE CHARM OF COUNTRY LIFE? IMPACT OF RURAL CHILDHOOD RESIDENCE ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH IN LATER LIFE
Authors: Nadorff Danielle , Duck Angela , Lim Crystal , Fastring Danielle
Published: December 2023

Background: Most studies of geographic health disparities are focused on adult rural residence. However, previous studies have shown that the residential area in which one grows up during childhood has lasting impacts on adult health. In one of the only studies to date to examine the impact of rural childhood residence on mental health in middle-aged and older adults, Murchland and colleagues (2019) evaluated inequalities by childhood residence and noted elevated depressive symptoms were more common among those living in rural areas compared to those living in non-rural areas. Aims: The current study expands the model proposed by Murchland and colleagues to include further antecedents related to rural childhood residence, and to include multiple outcomes of physical and mental health among middle-aged and older adults. Method: Participants included 4614 individuals aged 40 or older recruited as part of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Results: Consistent with Murchland’s model, childhood rurality played an important part in middle-aged and older adults’ health, despite not having a direct influence. Rurality status was impacted by parental education level and SES during childhood and was associated with the level of education obtained by the participants (and thus their occupation), which played a direct role in their current health status. Mental and physical health had differential predictors. Limitations: The study was limited by its non-diverse sample and self-reported measures. Conclusion: Further research into the impact of childhood rurality on health is needed, utilizing comprehensive self-reported and observed outcome measures.
SELF-REPORTED COMPONENTS OF SELF-IDENTITY IN PERSONS LIVING WITH EARLY-STAGE DEMENTIA
Authors: Regier Natalie , Cotter Valerie
Published: December 2023

The impending loss of “self” is a common concern of persons diagnosed with dementia. However, in contrast to the traditional biomedical model, there is qualitative and quantitative evidence that self-identity persists across stages of the disease. An understanding of the components of self-identity of persons living with early-stage dementia (PLWED) can inform treatment approaches and communication from care partners and providers. Consequently, the aim of the present study is to examine what PLWED identify as the facets of their self-concept. Participants were a purposive sample of 20 community-dwelling PLWED who attended a voluntary health program aimed at facilitating aging-in-place. Focus groups were conducted and recorded on-site at the health program. The interviews were transcribed verbatim from the audio recordings and were analyzed through a conventional content analysis approach. Content analysis of the narratives gleaned from focus group participants revealed six self-identity themes: vocation, family role, personal characteristics, hobbies and interests, religious affiliation, and social networks. Although the deterioration of explicit memory, including autobiographical memory, is a hallmark of dementia, overfocusing on this as the sole component of self-identity contributes to the representation of persons living with dementia as less than whole and lacking “selves.” Our findings suggest critical components of self-identity other than memory that should be recognized and supported in persons living with dementia.
BETWEEN ISLANDS—A CREATIVE PRACTICE AND INTERGENERATIONAL CONTACT INTERVENTION
Authors: Lytle Ashley , Nowacek Nancy
Published: December 2023

Addressing ageism is a serious social issue in need of targeted, empirically based solutions (WHO, 2021). Facilitating intergenerational contact is one promising means of reducing ageism (Lytle et al., 2020). Between Islands were a creative practice and intergenerational contact intervention designed to promote creativity and intergenerational connection between younger and older adults while challenging stereotypes about aging. Over a four-week intervention, younger and older adults meet virtually (on zoom) for an hour each Wednesday to learn, create, and discuss with one another. Before the intervention began, participants received two 2.5 lb blocks of air-drying clay, paints, and paintbrushes. During the four-week intervention, participants engaged in creative practice (designed, sculpted, and decorated two hand-weights out of the provided clay). In addition, participants learned about the history of hand-weights and circuit training and got to know one another through group-based discussion as well as smaller group prompts and breakout rooms. Prior to the start of the intervention, baseline attitudes and stereotyping toward older adults were assessed among the younger adult participants. Attitudes and stereotypes were again measured after the intervention concluded. Younger adults reported a significant decrease in benevolent ageism and intergenerational tension after the Between Islands intervention. In addition, themes that emerged from the open-ended responses illustrated that the intervention challenged younger adults’ stereotypes about older adults, encouraged recognition of similarities between younger and older adults, and facilitated the connection between participants.
ADULT DAY SERVICES: THE OPTIMAL PLATFORM FOR GROUP INTERVENTION RESEARCH
Authors: Anderson Keith , Dabelko-Schoeny Holly
Published: December 2023

Group intervention research with older adults is fraught with challenges related to access, recruitment, implementation, and sustainability. In this presentation we explore these challenges and offer adult day services (ADS) as an alternative platform to traditional long-term care sites (e.g., nursing homes – NHs, assisted living facilities – ALFs) for group intervention research. Access: NHs and ALFs are often reluctant to engage in research due to concerns with liability and fears that “outsiders” will expose deficits in their services. ADS programs are typically quite receptive to researchers and are eager to learn about innovative ways to improve their services. Recruitment: NHs and ALFs are comprised of individuals living in their private apartments and rooms and recruitment is often a one-on-one, time-consuming process. ADS programs are naturally collective environments where recruitment efforts can occur in a more efficient group format. Implementation: NHs and ALFs often lack adequate physical space and staff support for group research activities – key elements that contribute to successful implementation. ADS programs are specifically designed and staffed for group activities and interventions. Sustainability: The primary focus of NHs and ALFs is on “bed and body” care and long-term buy-in regarding group interventions and activities from facilities and staff is rare. Group programming is central to ADS and there is a much greater potential for buy-in and long-term sustainability. Conclusion: Researchers interested in group interventions should strongly consider ADS as the optimal platform and may find that the ADS setting offers the greatest potential for success.
HOW OFTEN AND WHY DO PEOPLE MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS?: EMOTION REGULATION IN HEALTHY AGING AND MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Authors: Springstein Tabea , English Tammy
Published: December 2023

Prominent theories of adult development suggest that individuals increasingly prioritize emotional goals and social relationships as they grow older. Accordingly, older adults are expected to invest more in maintaining their emotional well-being compared to younger adults. Prior work suggests that older adults may accomplish this goal by structuring their lives in ways that reduce the need to manage unwanted emotion. We tested the hypotheses that (1) older adults regulate their emotions less often in daily life compared to younger adults, and (2) when emotion regulation occurs, older adults are relatively more motivated by pro-hedonic and social concerns. Using experience sampling (7x/day for 9 days), we assessed whether emotion regulation frequency and motives differ between younger adults (N = 70), cognitively normal older adults (N = 88), and older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; N = 60). We found that older adults with and without MCI regulated their emotions less frequently than younger adults, even when controlling for mean levels of positive and negative emotional experience. However, there were largely no group differences in emotion regulation motives (i.e., why people wanted to manage their emotions). Future work is needed to explore how age-related differences in life contexts might contribute to less need for emotion regulation in relatively older adults. Less frequent regulation could be beneficial in terms of helping older adults preserve their more limited cognitive resources. The findings regarding motives add to growing research on aging which suggest maintenance or similarity in many emotion regulation processes across adulthood.
EFFECT OF EMOTION NAMING ON EMOTION REGULATION IN YOUNGER AND OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Wolfe Hannah , Isaacowitz Derek
Published: December 2023

Prior research has shown that naming one’s emotions before regulation has a detrimental effect on regulation success (Nook et al., 2020). These researchers argued this effect was due to the affect crystallization that occurs after naming an emotion, which in turn makes it harder to modify or regulate that emotion. The aim of the current replication-extension study was to evaluate whether this effect would replicate in an older adult sample. Due to age-related changes in emotion regulation knowledge and behaviors, we hypothesized that age would moderate this effect, such that older adults would not be detrimentally impacted by naming their emotions, but younger adults would. Younger (18-25 years, N=50) and older adults (60+ years, N=50) viewed 80 IAPS images while being told to first ‘look’ or ‘name’ their experienced emotion and second to ‘look’ or ‘regulate’ their emotions (creating four within-subjects conditions). Unpleasant affect was measured on each trial, analyzed via a 2(age group) X 2(naming: yes/no) X 2(regulating: yes/no) mixed ANOVA. Results suggest a significant three-way interaction; within both age groups, the name-regulate trials were associated with significantly greater unpleasant affect compared to the look-regulate trials, suggesting that naming emotions was detrimental for both age groups. However, contrary to our hypothesis, this effect was larger in older adults (d=.82) than younger adults (d=.41). These findings suggest that affect crystallization may be stronger or faster in older adulthood.
AGE DIFFERENCES IN STRESSOR REACTIVITY AND RECOVERY
Authors: Minton Alyssa , Waugh Christian , Snyder Jason , Charles Susan , Haase Claudia , Mikels Joseph
Published: December 2023

Strength and vulnerability integration theory (SAVI; Charles, 2010) posits that age differences in emotional experiences vary based on the distance from an emotionally eliciting event. Before and after a stressor, SAVI predicts that older age is related to motivational strivings that often result in higher levels of well-being. During stressor exposure, however, age effects are predicted to be attenuated or disappear completely. The present study examined how younger (n = 85; M age = 22.56 years) and older (n = 85; M age = 71.05 years) adults reacted to and recovered from a cognitive stressor using repeated positive and negative emotion probes. Results showed that both age groups were negatively impacted by the stressor, and both reported an initial boost in recovery afterward. However, older adults continued to recover across the recovery period compared to younger adults. This work elucidates that older adults are significantly impacted by stress but exhibit a resounding recovery.
INTRINSIC HEALTH: TOWARD A FRAMEWORK FOR THE OBJECTIVE STUDY OF THE BIOLOGY OF HEALTH
Authors: Cohen Alan , Picard Martin , Bandeen-Roche Karen
Published: December 2023

Many definitions of health have been proposed over the years, but all share the characteristic of being subjective and therefore hard to tie to objective measures of biology. While there are undoubtedly subjective aspects of health, here we propose the notion of “intrinsic health” as the capacity of an organism to maintain its internal, biological dynamic equilibrium. Building on first principles, Cohen and Picard show how intrinsic health emerges from the dynamic interplay of energy, communication, and structure at multiple levels of biological organization. The following three talks then propose novel ways to measure intrinsic health. Khan and Wei show how quantile aberrance – modeling when biomarker values are extreme based on the joint distributions of many biomarkers – can be used to quantify intrinsic health. Liu, Xu, Honfo, and Cohen show how metrics of proteome dynamics reflect communication within the organism and can be extracted to quantify health. Finally, Wang and Pei show how transfer entropy – the synchronization between multiple time series – can be extracted to measure health. While these three metrics are still in preliminary stages of development, they show the potential to measure health based on the multivariate dynamics of our internal systems. Going forward, these and other approaches may be integrated to derive robust, objective metrics of intrinsic health, and could serve as the basis for a novel understanding of how aging emerges from declines in intrinsic health over time.
QUANTIFYING INTRINSIC HEALTH USING STRESS-EVOKED INFORMATION FLOW BETWEEN PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
Authors: Wang Yan , Tsang Sze Pui , Khan Zain , Malinsky Daniel , Wei Ying , Cohen Alan , Picard Martin , Pei Sen
Published: December 2023

As a canonical complex dynamical system, human bodies require interactions between constituent physiological systems to perform functions and maintain health status. Quantifying the dynamic interactions between organ systems using biomarkers collected in the context of psychobiological challenges may provide a novel means of measuring the energy-dependent communication processes that underlie intrinsic health. In this study, we use transfer entropy (TE), an information-theoretic metric, to quantify information flow between three biomarkers (heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration) in 71 participants of the Mitochondrial Stress, Brain Imaging, and Epigenetics (MiSBIE) project. In this stress experiment, both healthy individuals (n=44) and participants with genetic mitochondrial disorders (Mutation n=16, Deletion n=11) were exposed to a standardized 5-minute socioevaluative challenge (i.e., public speaking). Heart rate, blood pressure, and ventilation were collected continuously across four phases (baseline, pre-task, during the challenge, and post-challenge) over a 2-hour period. Using time series constructed from the three biomarkers, we compute six pairwise TE values for each participant in each phase, measuring the direction and strength of the information flow between physiological systems. Across different phases, we identify significant differences in TE values between healthy participants and patients with mitochondrial diseases. For example, during the post-challenge phase, TE from blood pressure to respiration in healthy participants was 19% higher than the deletion group (p=0.038). Our finding highlights the potential use of TE as a computational tool for detecting mitochondrial disorders and, more broadly, quantifying intrinsic health using information transfer between physiological biomarkers.
NURSING HOME WORKFORCE CHALLENGES: INCREASED NURSING STAFF LABOR COSTS AND USE OF AGENCY STAFF FROM 2017 TO 2021
Authors: Bowblis John , Brunt Christopher , Xu Huiwen , Applebaum Robert , Grabowski David
Published: December 2023

Nursing homes face rapidly increasing wages and change their input mix as they face workforce shortfalls. For 15,959 freestanding NHs from 2017-2021, the proportion of hours worked by agency staff and the median wage cost per hour of agency and directly employed nursing staff were calculated from Medicare cost reports and Payroll-Based Journal data. The median hourly wage cost of directly employed staff (wage and fringe) increased 18.1% for RNs (to $41.99 in 2021), 19.8% for LPNs ($32.29), and 27.5% for CNAs ($19.62). The median hourly wage cost of agency staff (amount paid to staffing agency) increased at a faster rate and was substantially higher: 22.8% for RNs ($64.19); 28.3% for LPNs ($52.42), and 34.9% for CNAs ($33.73). The use of agency staff increased, starting from approximately 2% of all nursing staff hours for each of the nursing staff types in Q1 2017 to 5.6% hours for RNs, 9.4% hours for LPNs, and 8.8% hours for CNAs in Q4 2021. These observations have implications for quality and access to nursing home care. High use of agency staff may affect quality of nursing home care, and substantial wage differences between agency and directly-employed staff may affect worker satisfaction and attachment of directly employed workers. Hourly wage costs for all nursing staff have increased more rapidly than nursing home revenues, which only increased 16.6% over the study period; this suggests that, without payment rate increases, nursing homes may reduce labor inputs to contain costs, or may go out of business.
RESILIENCE AMONG BLACK FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA
Authors: Robinson-Lane Sheria
Published: December 2023

Black family caregivers of persons with dementia often experience elevated levels of stress related to lower incomes, chronic health conditions, and care recipient behaviors. Resilience theory suggests that stress may be moderated by various resources and processes, however, few studies have examined factors that may influence emotional resilience among Black family caregivers. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationships between adaptive coping, caregiving self-efficacy, and positive affect within a sample of current caregivers (n=20). Self-efficacy in obtaining respite care was significantly correlated with both positive affect (p=.041) and adaptive coping (p=.022). Self-efficacy for managing difficult behaviors was also correlated with positive affect (p=.001). Finally, we identified a significant correlation between body mass index and self-efficacy for controlling upsetting thoughts. Caregiver resilience may be enhanced by providing increased access to respite services and culturally responsive support programs aimed at enhancing positive emotions and affective balance.
IMPLICATIONS OF RESIDENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS ON RESIDENT-TO-RESIDENT AGGRESSION
Authors: Yan Elsie , Lai Daniel W L , Cheng Sheung Tak , Kwok Timothy , Lou Vivian Weiqun , Chaudhury Habib , Pillemer Karl , Lachs Mark
Published: December 2023

This study examines factors associated with resident-to-resident aggression (RRA) in long term care facilities in Hong Kong. A total of 800 personal care worker participated. Participants averaged 42.03 years of age (SD=7.63), were mostly female (92.7%), married (79.1%) and reported an average of 6.28 years of experience in long term care. 96.9 percent of the participants provided care to residents with dementia but 58.9% considered the training they received insufficient. RRA was common: All participants reported having witnessed verbal aggression (100%), 18% disruptive behaviors, 11.8% physical violence, and 3.1% sexual aggression. The following analysis used a subset of 412 participant from 29 long term care facilities where environmental assessments were conducted. General linear model analysis showed that RRA was associated with both resident and environmental characteristics. Victims’ neuropsychiatry symptoms, perpetrator male gender and neuropsychiatric symptoms were associated with higher RRA. Separation of residents with and without dementia, inappropriate use of nursing unit for residents as measured by Therapeutic Environment Screening Survey for Nursing Homes (TESS-NH), lack of functional and attractiveness courtyard, less cleanliness of spaces, insufficient lighting and insufficient orientation / cueing as measured by Professional Environmental Assessment Procedure (PEAP) were also associated with higher RRA. There is an urgent need to prevent and intervene RRA in long term care facilities. Improving management of neuropsychiatric symptoms and creating a supportive and accommodating environment could be helpful in this regard.
DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A RESIDENT-TO-RESIDENT AGGRESSION PREVALENCE STUDY IN A NEW CONTEXT
Authors: Burnes David , Shanmuganathan Vasuki , Baxter Pamela , Hirst Sandra , Shnall Adriana , McDonald Lynn
Published: December 2023

Resident-to-resident aggression (RRA) is a prevalent issue in long-term care (LTC) settings with serious consequences. Research from the U.S. has found that approximately 20% of residents experience RRA each month and this issue is associated with several physical/mental health morbidities. Very little RRA research has been conducted in LTC settings in Canada. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of RRA in Canadian nursing homes and identify risk factors from different levels of social-ecological influence. Specifically, this study sought to replicate a gold standard RRA prevalence study in the U.S. by selecting a random sample of nursing homes (n = 10) across the province of Ontario and collecting RRA prevalence data using multiple sources/methods, including staff interviews, resident interviews, and direct observation from staff and research assistants. As this study is in early stages of design/implementation, the current presentation will focus on various issues requiring consideration and the challenges faced when setting up a large-scale RRA prevalence study. Specifically, the presentation will focus on the adaptation of existing measurement tools to a new context with unique local language, legal and legislative frameworks, and the development of a sampling strategy requiring considerations related to sample inclusion/exclusion criteria, temporal and geographical logistical concerns, and sample size. We will also discuss new realities and heightened sensitivities involved in conducting LTC-based research and recruiting nursing homes, residents and staff during the COVID era that includes staffing instabilities/shortages and outbreaks. This presentation will assist other researchers around the world in planning/implementing RRA prevalence study designs.
USING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO DEVELOP, TEST, AND IMPLEMENT INTERVENTIONS FOR DEMENTIA CARE PARTNERS
Authors: Eaton Jacqueline
Published: December 2023

Interventions for caregivers to persons living with dementia are numerous and target a wide array of outcomes. One challenge limiting the dissemination of research-based interventions is the complexity of translating the intervention models for a variety of community environments and situations. Interventions that plan for future translation and scalability during the development stages have a better chance of quickly and efficiently being adopted by community partners. This symposium describes the methods used and the lessons learned from five research projects that used various forms of community engagement to develop, adapt, and assess feasibility of caregiver interventions, while simultaneously preparing for their translation and scalability: 1) Eaton et al., present the process and benefits gained from partnering with dementia caregivers to iteratively develop the Enhancing Active Caregiver Training (EnACT) intervention. 2) Utz et al., discuss ways to use the RE-AIM implementation framework to guide the development and pilot-testing of the Time for Living and Caring (TLC) respite intervention. 3) Dassel et al., explore the use of community-based participatory methods to adapt a paper-based advance care planning guide to an interactive web-based LEAD (Life-Planning in Early Alzheimer’s and other Dementias) intervention. 4) Cotton et al., report on the lessons learned from a formative analysis of their processes used to culturally adapt an intergenerational respite program for older adults within the Latine community. 5) Supiano et al., describe how they engaged and trained nursing home social workers to develop and implement the PreLoss Group Support intervention for dementia family care partners.
ESPO AND SOCIAL RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE SECTION SYMPOSIUM: LAW AS A DETERMINANT OF HEALTH: A SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS TO IMPACTFUL POLICY ENGAGEMENT
Authors: Bybee Sara , Yu Kexin , Choula Rita
Published: December 2023

The phrase “social determinants of health” has become a buzzword in health-related research and practice. While the US has long recognized that social determinants such as housing conditions, access to medical care, and neighborhood safety contribute to health outcomes, there has been little attention on more upstream factors. Structural, or political determinants of health are the determinants of the determinants. Political determinants of health refer to laws and policies that can inequitably distribute resources which creates structural barriers to equity for population groups that lack power and privilege. Unfortunately, many current US laws and policies perpetuate health inequities as they were originally written to protect those in power and punish those without power and privilege. Structural stigma and discrimination disproportionately affect historically marginalized and minoritized populations. Laws that disproportionately affect historically marginalized groups need to be identified, systemically tracked and revised if we aim to address health equity. In this symposium, speakers will discuss their research into the health-harming effects of laws and policies that disproportionately affect people of color and older adults. Speaker one will review GSA-related policy and advocacy activities. Speaker two will describe how to use law to address racial disparities in geographic access. Speaker three will discuss housing related laws and policies that perpetuate health inequities for older adults and disproportionately affect people from marginalized groups. This session is intended to fill a gap in current programming by making policy-related discussions more accessible and understandable for individuals who may not have experience in this area.
A LIFE COURSE APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING EVICTION LAWS AFFECTING OLDER ADULTS AND HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED GROUPS
Authors: Bybee Sara , Canham Sarah , Sharareh Nasser , Wilson Fernando , Player Nathanael , Wallace Andrea
Published: December 2023

Alongside population aging, more older adults are becoming at risk of homelessness. Eviction—a type of housing instability in which a landlord initiates legal forced expulsion from a rental property—is one of the main drivers of homelessness. Evictions and homelessness disproportionately affect older adults, individuals of color, women, sexual and gender minority populations, veterans, and those with disabilities. Evictions can have devastating short- and long-term effects on tenants, and these negative consequences may be especially pronounced for individuals with multiple minoritized identities such as older LGBTQ+ adults. Older LGBTQ+ individuals face higher baseline rates of poor mental health, smoking, and health risk behaviors. In this study, key informant interviews (N=5) were utilized to identify state eviction and landlord-tenant laws that disproportionately affect older adults and other historically marginalized groups. Using a life course approach to understanding health disparities as they accumulate across the lifespan, data from LawAtlas—an online database allowing the examination of specific laws across the US—was cross-referenced with data from key informants to identify the following laws which may disproportionately affect older adults and other historically marginalized populations: nuisance property ordinances, source of income discrimination, state fair housing protections, and minimum notice-to-vacate laws. This presentation will describe how intentionally or unintentionally, these laws disproportionately affect older adults and other historically marginalized populations and may lead to negative eviction outcomes, homelessness, and poor physical and mental health. Identifying how such discriminatory laws can contribute to health disparities across the lifespan is necessary to achieve health equity.
BEYOND REDLINING: LAW, PROPERTY VALUES, RACIAL INEQUITIES, AND LTSS
Authors: Smith Lindsey
Published: December 2023

This presentation will provide background regarding the social construction of property values and the interactive role that public and private institutions have played in creating racial disparities in property values. I will discuss known and proposed mechanisms through which this form of structural racism affects access to long-term services and supports (LTSS) and implications for the health of older adults and their care partners, presenting a specific example from my own research, which found that assisted living communities are located in 30% of communities in America. However, among communities with the highest percent Black population in their county, 31% of those located in counties with a low gap in Black-White economic mobility had access to assisted living, while less than 15% of those located within a county with a high Black-White gap in economic mobility had such access. I will describe how policymakers can use law to address racial disparities in geographic access by developing policies that 1) provide financial incentives for private investors to develop assisted living and other forms of LTSS in neighborhoods that otherwise wouldn’t see development due to low property values; 2) prioritize the location of new buildings in historically marginalized communities; 3) implement anti-displacement measures; 4) incorporate community input and engagement; and 5) ensure accessibility and affordability. Finally, I will describe how policymakers may consider the various actors and institutions that shape the housing market and how they interact with each other to produce outcomes that may reinforce or challenge structural racism.
NONCOMBAT AND COMBAT MILITARY SERVICE EXPERIENCES, HEARING DIFFICULTY, AND DIFFICULTY REMEMBERING/CONCENTRATING
Authors: London Andrew , Landes Scott , Wilmoth Janet
Published: December 2023

Hearing difficulty is widespread among U.S. veterans. Research documents a strong association between hearing difficulty and a range of cognitive outcomes. Most research that examines cognitive outcomes in older adults does not distinguish veterans from non-veterans or non-combat from combat veterans. We use data on Sample Adults aged 50+ from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey to examine: the associations between military service experiences (non-veteran, non-combat veteran, combat veteran) and difficulty remembering/concentrating (none, some, a lot/cannot do at all) net of sociodemographic controls; the extent to which observed associations are mediated by hearing difficulty (none, some, a lot/cannot do at all); whether military service experiences moderate the association between hearing loss and difficulty remembering and concentrating. This latter hypothesis is motivated by the notion that service-related hearing loss may occur earlier in the life course and therefore be more detrimental to cognitive outcomes. Analyses are weighted; standard errors are adjusted for the complex sampling design. Preliminary results from multivariable ordinal logistic regression models that include sociodemographic controls indicate that: non-combat and combat veterans have significantly more difficulty remembering/concentrating than non-veterans; the associations between non-combat and combat military service experiences and increased difficulty remembering/concentrating are reduced 20% when hearing difficulty is added to the model, but remain statistically significant; hearing difficulty is strongly associated with difficulty remembering/concentrating; and military service experiences moderate the associations between hearing difficulty and difficulty remembering/concentrating. For example, the highest level of hearing difficulty is more strongly associated with difficulty remembering/concentrating among combat veterans than non-combat veterans.
DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXTS AND LINKS TO LATER-LIFE WELL-BEING
Authors: Webster Noah , Schafer Markus
Published: December 2023

The places older adults spend time have profound impacts on their well-being. As new sources of data and methods become available it is imperative to refine work in this area to guide development of interventions with the precision necessary to address persistent disparities in well-being. This symposium brings together four complementary papers that focus on diverse environmental contexts and well-being using multiple methodological approaches. Perzynski, Berg, and Dalton discuss the potential of Digital Twin Neighborhoods, i.e., digital replicas of real communities, to address health inequalities. They present findings from engagement sessions with community members about priorities, preferences, and concerns with regard to use of digital twins. Sol, Clarke and Zahodne link data from the Detroit-area Michigan Cognitive Aging Project with data from the National Neighborhood Data Archive to examine the association between neighborhood disadvantage and cognitive reserve. They show how this association differs between Black and White participants. Cho, Dunkle, and Smith use data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine the association between later life relocation and contact frequency with adult children. They illustrate the importance of proximity and mode of contact in this association. Morris and colleagues also use HRS data to examine the extent to which stressors operating at multiple levels (interpersonal, community, and society) explain racial disparities in memory. They show these contexts together explain 11% of the racial disparity in baseline memory. These papers will be discussed by Markus Schafer who will provide an outlook for future research in this area.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD DISADVANTAGE AND COGNITIVE RESERVE IN RACIALLY DIVERSE OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Sol Ketlyne , Clarke Philippa , Zahodne Laura
Published: December 2023

Social determinants of health such as neighborhood disadvantage (NDis) are increasingly implicated in cognitive aging. More study is needed on the role of neighborhoods in cognitive reserve—better-than-expected cognitive function given brain health—and dementia disparities. This cross-sectional study included 98 non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and White (NHW) participants (mean age=62.7; 30% NHB) from the Michigan Cognitive Aging Project, a community-based study of adults transitioning to late life in the Detroit area. Participants’ current addresses were geocoded and linked to 2017 measures of NDis at the census tract level from the National Neighborhood Data Archive. NDis is a composite of four indicators of disadvantage for the 26 unique census tracts in the sample. Cognitive reserve was the residual of an episodic memory factor score after regressing out hippocampal volume, cortical thickness across nine Alzheimer’s disease signature regions, and education. Linear regression estimated the association between NDis and cognitive reserve, adjusting for age, sex/gender, and race. Analyses were repeated stratifying by race. In the entire sample, NDis was not associated with cognitive reserve (beta= -.08, p=.841), but stratified analyses indicated that more NDis was marginally associated with less cognitive reserve within NHB (beta= -.36, p=.057) but not NHW participants. NDis may contribute to cognitive reserve more strongly among NHB because of racially-patterned risk and resilience factors. Results highlight the need for more research into specific neighborhood factors that facilitate and deplete cognitive reserve in racially diverse older adults. Cognitive reserve may reflect contextual factors in addition to individual factors.
CONTACT FREQUENCY WITH CHILDREN FOLLOWING RELOCATION LATER IN LIFE: DO CONTACT MODES AND PROXIMITY TO A CHILD MATTER?
Authors: Cho Joonyoung , Dunkle Ruth , Smith Jacqui
Published: December 2023

Contact with children is an important source of support for older adults. It is not clear if relocation and proximity to a child affect in-person communication as well as telephone, email, and social media contact between older parents and children. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2014-2018: N=3,332) we examined changes in communication frequencies between parents who either stayed or relocated in the last 4 years and potentially changed their close proximity to a child. We found differential effects of relocation on contact frequency depending on contact modes and proximity. Regarding in-person contact, unadjusted and adjusted linear regressions revealed older adults were less likely to meet up with their children regardless of the distance moved when a child was not nearby. In contrast to stayers, movers with proximity to a child were more likely to meet up with their children (adj. β=0.50, p ≤0.001). We found the same trend for telephone and email contact frequency. Movers with proximity to a child were more likely to have telephone (adj. β=0.17,p=0.034) and email contact (adj. β=0.33, p=0.023). Unlike other types of contact modes, social media contact frequency was not influenced by relocation or child proximity. While older adults tend to constrict their relationships, this trend is not applicable to every older adult. In the social convey model, situational characteristics (e.g., relocation) is considered, and heterogeneity in social relations in later life can be explained.
INTERPERSONAL, COMMUNITY, AND SOCIETAL STRESSORS MEDIATE BLACK–WHITE MEMORY DISPARITIES
Authors: Morris Emily , Palms Jordan , Lee Ji Hyun , Sol Ketlyne , Scambray Kiana , Kobayashi Lindsay , Smith Jacqui , Zahodne Laura
Published: December 2023

Psychosocial factors may contribute to racial disparities in cognitive aging beyond socioeconomic status. Contextual stressors at multiple ecological levels, which may be related to structural racism, disproportionately affect Black older adults in the U.S. and may explain increased dementia risk. This study examined the extent to which interpersonal, community, and societal level stressors independently explained Black-White disparities in memory at baseline and over time. The sample included 16,890 older Black and White adults (Mage=67.98, 22% Black) from the US Health and Retirement Study who completed psychosocial questionnaires and a word list memory task. Interpersonal, community, and societal stressors were operationalized as self-reported everyday discrimination, neighborhood physical disorder, and subjective societal status, respectively. Latent growth curves modeled memory performance over six years. Stressors were modeled simultaneously and allowed to correlate. Covariates included age, sex, education, wealth, and questionnaire year. Compared to White older adults, Black older adults experienced higher discrimination (b = -.004, SE=.001, p<.001), greater neighborhood physical disorder (b = -.012, SE=.002, p<.001), and lower perceived societal status (b = -.003, SE=.001, p=.001), each of which independently mediated the association between Black race and worse initial memory. Together, these stressors explained 11% of the racial disparity in initial memory. There was no racial disparity in memory decline. Individual experiences of stressors across multiple contextual levels contribute to racial disparities in memory, providing evidence that structural racism negatively influences dementia risk among Black older adults. Future research should consider protective factors that buffer against negative impacts of structural racism on health.
WELFARE REGIME TYPE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE FINANCIAL SECURITY OF FEMALE CAREGIVERS IN LATER LIFE
Authors: Wang Mengya
Published: December 2023

Guided by life course theory, this paper examines the effect of early caregiving experience and later life-changing events on the financial security of older women using cross-national data from two panels (2004 and 2014) of the Survey of Health Aging and Retirement in Europe Analyses found that caregiving in midlife and subsequent life-changing events (being divorced or widowhood, changing employment status, and/or declining health) significantly affected women’s economic status in later life, Importantly, we found that early caregiving experience intensifies the effects of negative life events, and in turn further deteriorates women’s economic security in later life. Tests of welfare regime differences found that women who experienced a marital change (becoming divorced or widowed) in the dual breadwinner model were less likely to experience economic deprivation compared to the other two models. This finding is likely attributable to more gender equality in these countries which makes women more financially independent. Unfortunately, a significant association between welfare regime and caregiving was not found in this study. This study adds to the knowledge about the political, economic and cultural forces that shape the financial security of women in later life. Our findings suggest that public expenditures on long-term care and the healthcare system should continue and/or be augmented to prevent women economic deprivation, especially those who assume caregiving role in their early life. Moreover, the policies and conditions of dual-breadwinner role countries are informative in helping women achieve gender equality.
COGNITIVE FUNCTION, ACTIVITY MEANINGFULNESS, AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AMONG OLDER ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA
Authors: Wu Shinyi , Tung Yi-Hsuan , Chi Iris
Published: December 2023

Hess’s selective engagement theory (SET) suggests that individuals facing aging-related decline tend to selectively allocate cognitive resources in activity engagement. This selectivity can be mediated or moderated by motivational factors (e.g., activity meaningfulness). Yet, empirical research on SET and older adults with dementia is limited. This study aims to examine how cognitive function and activity meaningfulness affect social engagement among this population. Data is from the 2016 National Health and Aging Trends Study (N= 1,585 participants aged 65+ with dementia). Engagement in four social activities including visiting family or friends (VF), attending religious activities (RA), participating in group activities (GA), and going out for enjoyment (OE) were analyzed in separate multivariate logistic regression models with cognitive function, the corresponding meaningfulness (a mediator and a moderator), and covariates (age, gender, race, living alone, self-rated health, ADL, IADL, and depressive symptoms). Results showed that, of the four social activities, cognitive function was only significantly associated with RA and GA engagement. RA meaningfulness moderates the association between cognitive function and RA engagement, in that high RA meaningfulness shows high RA engagement, while low RA meaningfulness shows low RA engagement and in a negative association with cognitive function. GA meaningfulness partially mediates the relationship between cognitive function and GA engagement. These findings support SET by showing cognitive resources-related selection effects on activity engagement and the roles of activity meaningfulness in selectivity effects. The implication highlights the importance of sustaining both cognitive function and motivational factors to promote social engagement among older adults with dementia.