bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PATTERNS OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION IN MINORITY ADULTS: ASSISTIVE AND INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGY USE DURING COVID-19
Authors: Chataut Akankshya , Hubner Sarah , Boron Julie Blaskewicz
Published: December 2022

Literature suggests aging adults are more likely to be socially isolated, particularly given the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been associated with diminished well-being and increased morbidity and mortality. Assistive and interactive technologies (AITs) may help reduce isolation by bolstering communication. However, rapid advancement of AITs can create new barriers, especially for marginalized/underserved communities. The purpose of this study was to explore isolation and AITs in a majority-non-white sample. Data collected were part of a larger survey. Participants (N=80: Non-White=92.5%, Black=36.5%, Hispanic=36.5%) completed a Qualtrics survey via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Respondents included younger (YA: N=34, ages:19-34, M=27.7±4.6), middle-aged (MA: N=27, ages:35-49, M=41.9±4.1), and older (OA: N=20, ages:50-70, M=57.6±6.5) adults. Surveys consisted of likert-style and free-response questions. Content analysis with inductive coding was performed independently by two reviewers. Qualitative results suggested most adults used AITs regularly. Phone-based functions (texting/calling, smartphone-use) were favored for communication between 2020-2021. These functions were the largest group reported for all ages, although YA reported them more frequently (65%) compared to MA (48%) and OA (59%). Data also suggested that people had more in-person interaction at the time of survey completion (majority September 2021), compared to one-year previous (46.4%). Increased distanced socialization negatively correlated with overall socialization (r(78)=-.231, p=.05). Results suggest that although AITs are widely used, they may not adequately reduce isolation, particularly for those relying on them for primary contact. This may be especially true for underrepresented adults. Future research should investigate if this trend is universal and if existing AITs are sub-optimal in specific populations.
A WHOLE NEW WORLD: EXPLORING VIRTUAL REALITY USE AND PERCEPTIONS WITH COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Milnamow Mary , Quinones-Visot Emily , Agyemang Lillian , Bakk Louanne
Published: December 2022

Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology that can facilitate and support active engagement and social interactions through shared immersive experiences. While limited evidence suggests VR can improve the health and well-being of older adults in residential and clinical care settings, research has not examined the potential benefits of a shared VR experience with community-dwelling older individuals despite their increased risk for social isolation. This exploratory, longitudinal study used a mixed-methods approach to assess the impact of VR programming among persons 65+ years of age with limited mobility attending a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and participating in a group-level VR intervention (n=9). Quantitative measures pertaining to health, well-being, social isolation, and comfort with technology were collected at baseline, six weeks, and twelve weeks. Qualitative, semi-structured focus groups were also conducted to assess participants’ perceptions of the VR intervention. Paired sample t-test results indicated improvements over time in participants’ pain level, well-being, and comfort in relation to using VR technology (p <.05). Qualitative data illustrated that participants were extremely receptive to using VR and found the experience pleasurable, realistic, and exciting. The most common themes suggested VR programming was regarded as a highly immersive, stimulating experience that can bolster camaraderie and positive feelings. Moreover, participants felt empowered by the experience. These findings demonstrate that utilizing VR programming with community-dwelling older adults can provide interactive and engaging experiences. The potential benefits of this intervention provide a basis for developing programming that can improve well-being and connectedness.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY USE AND SOCIAL CAPITAL: THE MODERATING EFFECT OF SOCIAL CLASS
Authors: Choi Bomi , Park Hayoung , Joo Susanna , Kim Yoon-Myung , Kim Hyoun K
Published: December 2022

This study aims to elucidate the heterogeneous associations between digital technology use and social capital by social class. The sample comprises 315 Korean older people who are 65 years old or older and participated in an online survey. Digital technology use was measured by the frequency of independent use in four areas of digital technology: primary, cultural, economic, and public areas. Social capital was measured with ten items asking the perceived support availability from both online and offline relationships. Social class was measured with education, household income, and subjective social position to reflect both objective and subjective aspects of social class. Using SPSS 25 PROCESS Macro 3.5, linear regression with moderation analyses was performed. A simple slope and the region of significance were tested for a significant interaction. Results showed that subjective social position significantly moderated the relationship between digital technology use and social capital. The positive association between digital technology use and social capital was strengthened when the level of subjective social position was higher. Education and household income did not moderate the relationship between digital technology use and social capital. The results of this study indicate that the effects of digital technology use vary depending on perceived aspects of social class. This study also demonstrates that people with higher social classes enjoy more benefits from digitalization, supporting digital inequality among the older population.
BOLSTERING SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS DURING COVID-19: COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ESSENTIAL CONTACTS AND OLDER ADULTS
Authors: George Joanna , Hubner Sarah , Boron Julie Blaskewicz
Published: December 2022

Social isolation may increase morbidity and mortality, particularly for aging adults. Research suggests that COVID-19 has significantly disrupted social networks, exacerbating isolation and risk. However, the extent of disruption and its implications for older adults and their essential contacts (ECs) is unknown. ECs, those who provide support/engagement to older adults, play a significant role in networks and help shape communication patterns. Understanding the effects of COVID-19 on social connectedness between ECs and older adults is vital to promoting their well-being. The purpose of this study was to investigate ECs’ patterns of communication with adults aged 60+ during the COVID-19 pandemic , considering preferences, needs, and barriers. Self-identified ECs (N=546, Aged 19+, MAge=44.3±14.2) completed a Qualtrics survey via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Participants were ECs for community-dwelling (CDECs=57.3%) and institutionalized adults (IECs=42.7%). In addition to likert-style questions, the survey included free-response sections, examining communication quality, frequency, and method. Content analysis was conducted independently by two reviewers, using inductive coding. Qualitative results revealed distanced communication was widely utilized. Audiovisual/video communication was more frequently noted as desirable by IECs (32.8%) than CDECs (11.85%). Further, preference for audiovisual communication negatively correlated to expression of COVID-19-related barriers (IECs=12.5%, CDECs=7.7%, (r(546)= -.128, p=.01). Comparisons suggested that IECs reported absence of in-person contact with older adults more frequently than CDECs (recent contact=Never: 51% and 13.4% respectively). This may support the utility of video-communication to meaningfully supplement connectedness in the absence of in-person contact. The experiences described can reveal avenues for loneliness interventions and may guide future technology innovations.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OLDER ADULTS AND ESSENTIAL CONTACTS: ISOLATION AND ASSISTIVE AND INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Karki Dinesh , Hubner Sarah , Boron Julie Blaskewicz
Published: December 2022

Essential contacts (ECs), people providing support/engagement to older adults, are vital to their physical and socio-emotional well-being. Research suggests that COVID-19 has significantly affected the connectedness of aging populations and their ECs, limiting interaction and potentially weakening support networks. Assistive and interactive technologies (AITs) may be useful for mitigating disruptions by facilitating communication. The goal of this study was to explore AIT preferences and needs of ECs for connecting with adults aged 60+. Participants completed a Qualtrics survey via Amazon Mechanical Turk. An initial sample (N=580,MAge=44.3±14.3,White=81%) was collected (December 2020-February 2021). A minority sub-sample (N=79,MAge=38.9±11.6,Non-White=87.3%) was subsequently accrued (September-December 2021). Participants were initial/minority-ECs for community-dwelling (initial-CDECs=57%,minority-CDECs=89%) and institutionalized adults (initial-IECs=43%,minority-IECs=11%). Minority respondents overwhelmingly identified as CDECs. Results revealed that recent ,“daily/often” phone-based, video-based, and in-person communication were all, more-frequently reported in minority-ECs compared to the initial-EC sample. Phone-based communication was most-frequent in minority-IECs (61%,versus initial-IECs=49%), but was relatively ubiquitous among all (minority-CDECs=49%,initial-CDECs=43%). Initial-CDECs had the least video-based contact (17%); the remaining groups were relatively similar (minority-CDECs=36%,minority-IECs=33%,initial-IECs=32%). CDECs reported the most in-person communication (minority-CDECs=70%,versus initial-CDECs=49%); IECs reported the least (minority-IECs=44%, versus initial-IECs=14%,). Results suggest that this minority sub-set may communicate more, respectively. This may be influenced by population and data-collection-time differences. Still, CDECs may have maintained better access to in-person communication and relied less-heavily on distanced networks through the pandemic. Ultimately, individual characteristics (i.e., ethnicity) and experiences (i.e., COVID-19) may drive communication patterns and end-user needs; this could inform innovation. Future investigation into these topics is warranted.
A MOLECULAR LENS FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE HEALTH DISPARITIES
Authors: Davis Jamaine
Published: December 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia in older adults, disproportionally affects African Americans (AA) with an incidence rate as much as three times higher, compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Multiple factors contribute to this racial disparity however, an in-depth understanding of the biological or genetic contributions does not exist. Compelling evidence indicate that genetic variants of the lipid transport protein, ABCA7, is more strongly associated with AD in African Americans. To understand how ABCA7 contributes to AD on the molecular level, we used a combination of structural and cell biology techniques. Our results suggest that the ABCA7 variant (T319A) reported to confer risk in AA, may contribute to AD by reducing the levels of phosphoinositol bisphosphate (PIP2), a phospholipid reported to be decreased in the AD brain. These results provide a framework for targeting mechanisms that increase PIP2 levels as an effective strategy mitigating AD disparities.
A COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL REMOTE MONITORING (RPM) DEVICES VERSUS A NOVEL, TOILET SEAT–BASED MONITORING DEVICE
Authors: VandeWeerd Carla , Sappington Erica , Poon Lydia , Okeahialam-Iheanyi Chidi , Roberts Mitchell
Published: December 2022

As the aging population increases, older adults are disproportionately susceptible to cardiovascular disease(CVD). Routinely monitoring vital signs can alleviate CVD’s burden. Current telemonitoring technologies targeting vital signs can be complex, generating inconsistent outputs and suboptimal adherence. In response, Casana developed the Heart Seat(THS), a passive toilet seat-based remote patient monitoring (RPM) device. This study aimed to compare older adults’ (1) adherence between traditional telemonitoring(TT) devices and THS and (2) satisfaction across devices. A randomized control study (UFIRB202100869) was conducted in an active lifestyle retirement community-The Villages, Florida. Using a crossover design, participants (N=49) with CVD were followed for 12 weeks (8/12/2021-12/21/2021), beginning in TT or THS Arm and crossing over arms at 6 weeks. Adherence was calculated daily as ≥1 use for ≥90 seconds for THS, and ≥1 use of the blood pressure cuff and scale for TT. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to evaluate adherence rates and participant’s experience and perception of RPM devices. Participants mean age was 73.4 years (SD=7.1,51% female). The majority (94%) of participants had previous experience using telemonitoring devices (e.g. scale, blood-pressure cuff, smartwatch) and 87.7% strongly agreed to feeling comfortable with at-home health monitoring. Overall, participants demonstrated greater adherence to THS than TT (t(48)=4.86, p<.001). These findings suggest older adults are becoming increasingly experienced and comfortable with at-home monitoring of health parameters. Overall, adherence was greatest in THS, suggesting that passive, easy-to-use telemonitoring devices may increase adherence, promote real-time health monitoring, and support adverse event prevention in older adults.
UNDERSTANDING THE ADOPTION OF A MOBILE APPLICATION TO SUPPORT WORKFLOW OF HEALTHCARE AIDES
Authors: Daum Christine , Miguel-Cruz Antonio , Perez Hector , Rutledge Emily , King Sharla , Liu Lili
Published: December 2022

Healthcare aides are unlicensed support personnel who provide direct care, personal assistance and support to persons living with health conditions. Workflow issues have a negative impact on health care aides’ job satisfaction and quality of care. The implementation of information communication technologies could improve workflow. In collaboration with an industry partner, we developed a mobile application intended to support the workflow of health care aides who provide services to long-term care residents living with dementia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the technology acceptance and usability of a mobile application in a real-world environment when used by health care aides of a care facility. We used a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach. Our study included pre and post paper-based questionnaires with no control group (n=60). This was followed by two focus groups with a subsample of health care aides informed by qualitative description (n=12). We found: (a) acceptance of the mobile application was high; (b) usefulness was the strongest predictor of intention to use the mobile application, and (c) intention to use the mobile application predicted usage behaviour. Focus group findings supported the quantitative findings and highlighted participants’ strong belief that the mobile application was useful, portable, and reliable. An area for improvement was user interface adjustments. Overall, these results support the assertion that our mobile application assisted health care aides in addressing their workflow issues and thus, has potential to improve the quality of care provided.
DOES TRUST IN SOCIAL SECURITY INHIBIT ACCEPTANCE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR ADL HELP?
Authors: Wakui Tomoko , Itoh Sakiko , Miwa Hiroyasu , Ikeuchi Tomoko , Watanabe Kentaro
Published: December 2022

In 2000, Japan introduced a mandatory long-term care insurance program to facilitate aging-in-place of older care recipients; there has been a great demand for assistive technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence) and robots in care settings to reduce the burden of caregivers and long-term care costs in society. This study examined the relationship between the trust in social security and acceptance of assistive technology for ADL help and discussed the challenges in introducing technology in a well-developed social security system. An online survey was conducted in August 2020 among community-dwelling individuals aged between 40 and 89 across Japan to find out their acceptance of help provided via AI or robotics technology in five dimensions of ADL. In addition, a 5-point Likert scale was used to assess the trust in social security.A total of 4,047 respondents were analyzed in this study. The respondents’ mean age was 60.6 (SD=11.3), and 53.2% of them were female. Of those, 13.2% preferred help from humans in ADL, while for 86.8%, the use of some assistive technology was acceptable. Logistic regression revealed that the female and younger respondents and those who had better health and had completed higher education were more likely to accept AI or robotics technology in all/some ADL if they needed assistance; those with higher trust in social security, however, were less likely to accept technology (OR=.894; p=.011).The challenges in introducing assistive technology under a well-developed social security system will be discussed.
CAREGIVER DEPRESSION AND PROGRESS TOWARD VALUES: AN AUTOREGRESSIVE CROSS-LAGGED PANEL MODEL
Authors: Gossner Jacob , Fauth Elizabeth Braungart , Novak Joshua , Levin Michael , Bradshaw Spencer
Published: December 2022

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an established in-person therapy but can be provided self-guided online. Recently, online ACT has been adapted to support dementia family caregivers. A primary goal of ACT is to connect individuals with their self-identified values, with the assumption that increased progress towards values will lead to improved well-being. While there are established negative associations between depression and progress towards values, the lagged influence of progress toward values at one time point on another time point within intervention is less understood. Our sample was 51 dementia caregivers who completed an online self-guided ACT intervention. Participants were 80.3% female, 53% spouse, with a mean age of 65.98 (SD =11.66). We created an auto-regressive cross-lagged panel model to examine longitudinal associations between progress towards values and depressive symptoms at three time points. Controlling for time 1 (pre-intervention) depressive symptoms, progress towards values at time 1 significantly predicted depression at time 2 (β = -.427, p < 0.01) and progress towards values at time 2 (β = .716, p < 0.001). Depression at time 2 significantly predicted progress towards values at time 3 (β = -.515, p < 0.001) and depressive symptoms at time 3 (β = .580, p < 0.001). The R^2 range from .30-.43. Our analyses suggest that participants’ initial progress toward values strongly negatively predicted their subsequent depressive symptoms, which then predicted later progress towards values. These findings demonstrate the potential reciprocal relationship between progress towards values and depressive symptoms within ACT intervention.
ENHANCING TELEHEALTH CLINICAL SERVICES AND CHRONIC DISEASE SELF-MANAGEMENT FOR OLDER ADULTS DURING COVID-19
Authors: Castagna Nicolette , Granville Lisa
Published: December 2022

During the pandemic, providers shifted to telemedicine to ensure patient safety. Under a federally funded cooperative agreement, the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Department of Geriatrics partnered with a Federally Qualified Health Center to assess rural older adults’ perceptions about telehealth and identify potential barriers. The quality improvement study used a convenience sample to survey patients aged ≥ 65 (n=62) at one rural clinic. 54.8% of respondents indicated they would not use telehealth for any care or preferred to receive most or all care in person. Conversely, 32.8% indicated a willingness to receive some care via telehealth. The survey also assessed the need for self-management devices, including blood pressure cuffs. There was not a consistent positive relationship between persons requesting devices and those who were telehealth willing. Devices were distributed to enhance telehealth visits and at-home monitoring. Clinic staff provided patients hands on training for device use and connection to EMR. Informal qualitative reports suggest patients are more empowered to utilize telehealth services and self-manage conditions. COVID-19 also limited access to community blood pressure screenings. The Tallahassee Senior Center and FSU Physician Assistant program distributed devices to community-dwelling older adults. PA students provided hands on training to aid in device familiarity and digital connectivity. Almost all older adult participants aged >60 strongly agreed “after the presentation I feel ready to use the blood pressure cuff at home.” Clinical and community-based activities can help older adults who lack digital fluency feel more confident in using telehealth services and self-management devices.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERNET-BASED INTERVENTIONS IN REDUCING STRESS EXPERIENCED BY OLDER INFORMAL CAREGIVERS
Authors: Altukhys Abdulmajeed , Beaulaurier Richard
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This systematic review assesses and provides a critical review of the effectiveness of internet-based interventions to decrease informal caregiver stress. Method: A systematic review of the following databases: PsycINFO, Social Service Abstract, Social Work Abstract, PubMed, and Cochrane Library was conducted using terms related to informal caregivers and internet-based interventions from January 2010-February 2022. Only data conducting interventions in the U.S. included. This systematic review reviewed the quality of articles on the methods of randomized and non-randomized trials using the approaches recommended by the Cochrane Handbook for systematic review for intervention. The review was reported using a PRISMA chart.

Results

Eight studies met the review criteria. Most of the studies showed positive benefits in reducing caregiver stress. There were no clear patterns as to the variables such as study duration and complexity of intervention associated with better outcomes, although earlier studies typically had more negative outcomes.

Conclusions

Internet-based interventions can develop solutions to decrease the physical and psychological consequences resulting from caregiving and can help empower older caregivers of people with chronic diseases. Internet-based interventions were mainly effective in reducing aspects of caregiver stress and improving their well-being. Further studies can assess outcomes for older informal caregivers and their recipients’ health, different technology delivery methods, and the cost of such interventions are needed to examine the psychological impacts of COVID-19 on older informal caregivers.
DOES AGE, RACE, AND/OR RURALITY DETERMINE OLDER VETERANS' ABILITY TO ACCESS VA VIDEO CONNECT
Authors: Sawyer Linda , Cigolle Christine , Phillips Kristin , Dunlap Janette , Sullivan Dennis
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this project was to determine whether ability to use VA Video Connect (VVC) by older Veterans (OV) differed by age, race, or rurality. A service to help older Veterans learn to use VVC was developed. As part of an ongoing QI project, demographics, willingness to attempt a VVC test call and outcomes of test calls were collected on all referrals. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Fisher’s exact test were used to examine differences in success rates by group. Of the 66 OV (age 60+) referred by their primary care providers, we were able to contact 63 by phone. Of those, 46 (73%) scheduled a VVC test call, 7 (11%) chose not to participate, and 10 (16%) were already using VVC for appointments. Of the 40 who continued the VVC test call, 31 (77.5%) were successful without issues, 7 (17.5%) were successful with help resolving issues, and 2 (5%) disconnected before finishing the call because it became too difficult. Of the 63 OV contacted, 38 (57.5%) had a successful VVC test call. However, those residing in rural (vs. urban) settings were less likely to have a successful test call (43% vs. 57%, p=0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in success rates for the test calls between whites vs. non-whites (52% vs. 48%, p= 0.2), or those aged 75 years or above vs. 60-74 years (53% vs. 46%, p=0.6). More work is needed to identify barriers to use of VVC, especially among OV living in rural settings.
SOCIAL SUPPORT DYNAMICS FOR SOUTH ASIAN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS: AN ANALYSIS CONDUCTED USING ATLAS CAREMAPS
Authors: Trivedi Ranak , Pukhraj Ambri , Desai Shreya , Shah Rishabh , Risbud Rashmi , Schapira Lidia , Gallagher-Thompson Dolores , Lorenz Karl
Published: December 2022

With a rise in the prevalence and a drop in mortality rates of breast cancer among South Asians (people with heritage from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bangladesh), globally and in the US, there is an increasing number of South Asians managing breast cancer. The South Asian Family Approaches to Disease (SAFAD) study aims to better understand how South Asian breast cancer survivors are supported while managing breast cancer. We conducted semi-structured interviews to complete an adapted version of Atlas CareMaps, a visual representation of survivors' care networks at the time of the interview. Thirteen South Asian breast cancer survivors were enrolled. Survivors were on average 47y (SD=9.1y) and reported being diagnosed with stage 0 (n=1), stage 1 (n=3), stage 2 (n=6), or stage 4 (n=3) breast cancer. Analyses of the Atlas CareMaps suggest 1) South Asian breast cancer survivors received support from 13.7±3.5 individuals, while providing care to 3.3 ± 2.2 individuals; 2) at more advanced stages of breast cancer, patients provide less support to others (Stage 1=3.8±2.2, Stage 4=1.7±1.5); 3) older survivors received more support from abroad (< 40y=2.0±2.2, patients 50+=5.3±3.3). Atlas CareMaps can provide useful insights into the rich care networks of South Asian breast cancer survivors which can be used to develop clinical programs.
INFORMATION SEEKING IN OLDER ADULT RURAL CANCER SURVIVORS: UNMET NEEDS AND SEARCH EXPERIENCES
Authors: LaValley Susan , Crabtree-Ide Christina , Glaser Kathryn , Haring Rodney , Mahoney Martin , Rodriguez Elisa , Widman Christy , Bouchard Elizabeth
Published: December 2022

Cancer survivors over the age of sixty-five have specialized supportive care needs related to maintaining their health and quality of life after treatment. However, cancer survivors living in rural areas may experience barriers like limited digital infrastructure and/or low health literacy when attempting to access necessary informational resources. This project sought to identify older adult rural cancer survivors’ domains of unmet informational support and experiences searching for supportive informational resources. Data from a survey administered to cancer survivors (N=292 with complete age data) in rural areas of Western New York (RUCA codes 7-10) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Variables of interest included Internet access, information-seeking activities, cancer-related topics of interest, and information search experiences. Fifty-four percent of participants in the sample self-identified as over the age of 65. Among older adult cancer survivors, 62% reported using the Internet. The following topics were identified as unmet cancer survivorship information needs: (1) decreasing the risk of cancer recurrence, (2) new symptoms that warrant contacting one’s doctor, and (3) medical advances in treatment. Most older adult respondents (70%) were confident in their ability to find needed health information but 40% were concerned about the quality of the information they found and 31% found their search experience frustrating. While rural cancer survivors have access to digital resources and report confidence in their ability to find survivorship information, our findings highlight the need for tailored information on cancer survivorship and interventions to support information appraisal and selecting high quality informational sources.
ADHD POLYGENIC RISK AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN LATER LIFE
Authors: Mansoor Marrium , Katz Benjamin
Published: December 2022

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately 4.4% of adults in the US and impacts multiple domains of daily life including education, workplace performance and interpersonal relationships. Although an increasing number of individuals with ADHD are now entering later life, there is very little research on how ADHD risk may impact cognitive function during aging. As such, there is value in understanding the association between polygenic risk for ADHD and cognition during different stages of later life. This study utilized data from the Health and Retirement Study which surveys 37,000 Americans biennially and aimed to determine if there was an influence of ADHD risk on cognitive performance when individuals were young-old (ages 65-74) or middle-old (ages 75-84). Only participants who responded in 2006, 2016, and to the Venous Blood Study were selected. The resulting sample size of 403 African-ancestry individuals (AA) and 2286 European-ancestry individuals (EA) was compared on executive function-focused measures as well as delayed recall measures. Results showed that there was no significant effect of ADHD risk on memory-related measures at both time-points for AA and EA individuals. However, there was a statistically significant association between ADHD risk and performance on the executive function measure for EA older adults who were middle-old (p = 0.028), but not when they were young-old; no such association was observed for AA adults. This finding suggests that ADHD risk may influence cognition among older adults and has significant implications for treatment and care of individuals with ADHD throughout the life course.
MID-LIFE PARENTS' MATERIAL SUPPORT OF CHILDREN IN COLLEGE: A TYPOLOGY AND VARIATION BY SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
Authors: Whitworth Tanya
Published: December 2022

Many imagine the “typical” college student to be 18-22 years old, attending a four-year institution, living on campus, and receiving financial support from parents. This perception does not align with actual patterns. While some parents facilitate this “traditional college experience” for their children, others substitute co-residence for or combine co-residence with financial support; still others provide no material support at all. Using a diverse sample of U.S. college students from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Transition into Adulthood Supplement (n = 1,579), this paper demonstrates variation in material support provided by parents. I employ a latent class approach to categorize students into assistance “types,” and then use multilevel multinomial logistic regression models to predict assistance types from parents’ socioeconomic status (SES). Lower SES parents have a higher probability of providing co-residence, while higher SES parents have a higher probability of providing financial support to students living away from home.
FAMILY FLYNN EFFECTS AND LINKS TO MIDDLE-AGE HEALTH OUTCOMES
Authors: Wänström Linda , O'Keefe Patrick , Clousten Sean , Mann Frank D , Terrera Graciela Muniz , Voll Stacey , Hofer Scott , Rodgers Joeseph
Published: December 2022

The Flynn effect (Flynn, 1984; 1987) refers to increases in cognitive performance, for later-born cohorts. It has been documented globally, occurring for more than a century. In a meta-analysis, Pietschnig and Voracek (2015) noted that the effect may be even stronger in adults than in children, though little research has addressed this topic (or its implications) for aging adults. Similarly, overall life-time health has improved, and incidences of cognitive impairment have decreased during the last two decades (Clouston et al., 2021). Using multilevel growth curve models, we found family Flynn effects in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth; children in families with later-born mothers, and later-born first children, had higher PIAT math scores, and steeper developmental slopes. Although the link from childhood and adolescent cognitive function to later life outcomes has been well studied, research that takes advantage of the Flynn effect to facilitate interpreting that link is lacking. Clouston et al. (2021) emphasized the value of the Flynn effect in investigating links between childhood cognitive functioning and later adult Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) risks. We linked our family level results to middle-age maternal health outcomes (factors that are related to ADRD risks). Canonical correlation analyses showed that mothers (at ages 40+ and 50+) from families with higher score levels and slopes tended to have better mental and physical health. Our results, showing a Flynn effect in child and adolescence scores, at the family level, with links to adult health, persisted after controlling for a known selection bias.
IMPLEMENTATION BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS OF COGNITIVE STIMULATION THERAPY ACROSS CARE SETTINGS
Authors: Little Milta , Johnson Kim , Karia Francis , McConnell Eleanor
Published: December 2022

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is an evidence-based treatment for people living with dementia that is not in widespread use in the United States. To better understand barriers and facilitators to implementation of CST, we conducted virtual focus groups of newly trained facilitators of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST). Of 12 facilitators trained, representing two settings of care (The Program for All-inclusive Care of the Elderly and a Continuing Care Retirement Community), 4 facilitators, representing Social Work n = 2, Speech Therapy n = 1, and Recreation Therapy n = 1, participated. We analyzed interview transcriptions using framework analysis guided by constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Themes that emerged across constructs were 1) balancing competing personal, stakeholder, and organizational needs; 2) lack of mastery experiences and the need for opportunities for more practice, reflection, and feedback from trainers; 3) building a community of facilitators to provide peer support; 4) logistical concerns; and 5) identifying appropriate participants who would most benefit from CST. The barriers to implementation imposed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic were also a cross-cutting theme. Many of these barriers are readily managed, and professionals who implement CST in their sites should be aware of and take into consideration these barriers and facilitators.
DOES NEGATIVE AFFECT MODERATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUBJECTIVE COGNITIVE CONCERNS AND OBJECTIVE FUNCTIONING?
Authors: Dixon Bradley , Kadey Kylie , Woodard John L
Published: December 2022

The onset of Alzheimer’s disease can be insidious, slowly affecting an individual’s cognitive abilities. Previous research demonstrated that informant-reported cognitive decline was associated with significantly worse baseline and longitudinal cognitive performance than was a participant’s subjective perceptions of decline. What remains unclear is how negative affect (i.e., depressive symptoms) could moderate the relation between objective cognitive performance and subjectively perceived cognitive concerns (participant vs. informant). Using the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) database, we performed moderated multiple regressions to test whether Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score showed different relationships with cognitive measures (animal/vegetable fluency, digit span, Boston Naming Test, digit-symbol coding (DSC), Wechsler Memory Scale Logical Memory, Trail-Making Test, and Mini-Mental State Examination) for participant- and informant-reported cognitive decline (yes/no). Participants were aged ≥65 years and were cognitively healthy at baseline. Informants lived with the participant or visited the participant weekly (N = 9,354). Participant-reported cognitive concern interacted significantly (p<.05) with negative affect only for animal fluency while informant-reported cognitive concern interacted significantly with DSC. Depressive symptoms were associated more strongly with cognitive performance for participants who did not report a subjective cognitive decline compared to those who did report a subjective cognitive decline. Participant age showed significant negative relationships with all measures while GDS score showed significant negative relationships with all measures except immediate Logical Memory recall, regardless of decline status. In conclusion, negative affect generally did not moderate the relationship between participant- or informant-reported cognitive concerns and objective cognitive functioning except for animal category fluency and DSC.
PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF CARS: A BRIEF SCREENING INSTRUMENT FOR DRIVING SAFETY
Authors: Curl Angela
Published: December 2022

Driving is critical to mobility, autonomy, freedom of choice, and engagement for older adults, but many eventually stop driving. While poor health often eventually leads to driving cessation, some drivers do not realize that their driving is impaired. The 4-item CARS instrument of driving safety has been created to serve as a screening tool by health professionals during assessments and routine appointments (Curl, 2014). To assess the construct validity of CARS, data were collected in 2015-2016 by The Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center from cognitively impaired (N=42) and cognitively healthy participants (N=229), as well as “collateral sources” who answered the CARS items about the respondents’ driving. Vision problems and cognitive impairment, both known predictors for driving problems, were correlated with CARS scores. Results indicate that worse eyesight in the right eye is correlated with higher CARS scores (Spearman rho = -.17, p<.01), but not the left eye. Poor eyesight (i.e., less than 20/40 vision) was correlated with higher CARS scores (Spearman rho = .12, p<.05). However, cognitive impairment (very mild/mild dementia vs. healthy cognitive functioning) was not statistically significant. Total CARS scores were moderately correlated for respondents and their collateral sources, r = .32, p<.01. Results indicate that this instrument may be more useful as a tool for initiating difficult conversations about driving safety than for identifying older adults who are at higher risk for negative driving outcomes. Future research is needed to identify additional/alternative items with greater psychometric support.
VISUAL PROCESSING SPEEDS DIFFERENTIATE OUTCOMES OF DRIVING EVALUATIONS OF CONTROLS AND MEDICALLY AT RISK DRIVERS
Authors: Dickerson Anne , Penna Victoria
Published: December 2022

Visual processing speed is considered a critical factor for determining driving capacity in older adults. The specific research questions were: 1) is there a statistically significant difference in performance time between the medically at-risk (n=35) and controls (N=242), 2) does the type of medical condition (e.g., neurological, cognition, complex medical conditions) differentiate performance, and 3) can visual processing speed differentiate between fit and unfit drivers. A cross sectional quasi-experimental design was used to compare the visual processing reaction times between at-risk adult drivers and healthy controls. Participants were medically-at-risk drivers referred for a comprehensive driving evaluation to determine their fitness to drive. The Vision Coach™ "Full-Field-60" task was used to collect reaction times which required participants to tap 60 randomly illuminated red dots. One practice trial was followed by three testing trials that were averaged together. At-risk participants were divided into three diagnostic categories. Fitness-to-drive outcomes were pass, fail, or restrictions. A propensity score method based on age and gender was used to account for the difference in sample sizes by weighting the participants from the two studies for a fair comparison between the two groups. Independent t-tests found a significant difference t(275)=-6.42, p=< 0.001 in trial times between healthy controls (M=53 + 10.82) and medically-at-risk adults (M=72 + 17.04). No significant difference was found between the diagnostic groups (p=0.141), but the Vision Coach™ differentiated between those who "passed" and those who "failed" a driving evaluation (F(2,32)=8.28, p=0.001.
A MOMENT’S NOTICE: RECOGNIZING THE STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS, EMOTIONS, AND ACTIONS THAT MAKE US SUSCEPTIBLE TO SCAMS
Authors: Williams Alicia , Choi-Allum Lona , Shadel Doug , Pak Karla , Raineville Chuck
Published: December 2022

Scamming has become a booming, multibillion-dollar industry with millions of Americans targeted by scams each year. To better understand the rates of exposure to scams and factors that may increase a target’s susceptibility to financial loss resulting from a scam, AARP commissioned a national survey that screened over 9,000 adults ages 18+ about their rates of encounters and financial loss from 26 popular scams. Among the total sample, 15% (an estimated 33 million people) reported losing money to a scam in the past year. Additionally, a subset of 3,280 respondents, including 1,085 respondents who lost money to a scam, were surveyed more extensively about their experiences. The study uncovered environmental and emotional factors in which targets are more susceptible to fraud. Specifically, fraud victims reported experiencing twice as many stressful life events (i.e., 4.0 vs. 1.9), 58% more fraud encounters, stronger emotional arousal during fraud encounters, and significantly less family support and closeness than non-victims. Additionally, only two of the eight protection tools recommended by fraud experts (i.e., using a passcode and installing protective software on one’s computer) were used by most respondents; and less than half of respondents reported using call blocking tools or online monitoring of their accounts, which can dramatically reduce exposure to scam encounters. Together, these findings show the importance of building public awareness of the role of stress, emotional arousal, and feelings of isolation in fraud susceptibility, and highlight the benefits of using fraud protection tools to limit one’s exposure to fraud.
THE ASSOCIATION OF SUBJECTIVE AGE AND FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION RISK: SOCIAL SUPPORT AS A MODERATOR
Authors: Weissberger Gali , Bergman Yoav
Published: December 2022

Financial exploitation of older adults bears detrimental physical and psychological consequences. However, little is known regarding factors which may contribute to financial exploitation vulnerability (FEV) among this age-group. In line with the growing awareness of the importance of subjective perceptions of the aging process for older adults’ functioning and well-being, the current work examined the connection between subjective age (i.e., feeling younger/older than one’s chronological age) and FEV, and the possible moderating role of social support on this connection. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 137 Israeli older adults (age range 60-89, M=69.90, SD=6.85, 40.1% male), who completed scales assessing FEV, subjective age, and social support, as well as relevant socio-demographic information. Associations were examined using a hierarchical linear regression model which adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, and self-rated economic and health status. The main effect of subjective age was not significant (B=1.24, p=0.14), while the main effect of social support was found (B=-1.30, p=.03) indicating that low levels of support were associated with increased FEV, a finding consistent with the literature. The interaction of social support × subjective age was significant (B= -1.17, p= .025), accounting for an additional 4.0% of variance. Older subjective age was associated with increased financial exploitation vulnerability when social support was low, but not when social support was high. Results are interpreted with regard to Socio-Emotional Selectivity Theory and provide initial information pertaining to the relevance of subjective age perceptions to FEV in older adults.
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS IN THE PRODUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT OF OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Sun Peter
Published: December 2022

While having opportunities to be productively engaged has implications for long, healthy lives, little is known about the geographical distribution of older adults engaged in productive activities. Using the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study, a sample of community-dwelling older adults age 65 and above in the year 2018 (n = 8,728) was used to compare working, volunteering, and caregiving rates between rural and urban areas and Census regions and divisions. Urban and rural rates of individuals who were working were significantly different (p < .05) in the Midwest region and the East North Central and Pacific divisions (e.g., 20.9% in rural Midwest vs. 14.8% in urban Midwest). Urban and rural caregiving rates were significantly different in the East South Central division (35.1% rural vs. 26.2% urban caregivers). Urban and rural rates of individuals who engaged in one or more productive activities (working, volunteering, and caregiving) were significantly different in the West North Central (64.9% rural vs. 56.6% urban) and Middle Atlantic (47.6% rural vs. 58.6% urban) divisions. Urban and rural volunteering rates were significantly different in the West region (37.0% rural vs. 30.2% urban). These findings suggest that older adults’ participation in working, caregiving, and volunteering roles may depend on where they live, and older adults are not a homogeneous group as commonly misunderstood. Future studies should explore the factors that influence these patterns of engagement.
RECENT ADVERSITY AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG CHINESE OLDER ADULTS: ROLE OF GENDER AND NEIGHBORHOOD COHESION
Authors: Wang Yi , Ma Ying , Guo Man , Wang Li
Published: December 2022

A growing body of literature suggests that recent adversity impedes psychological wellbeing. Little is known about whether living in a cohesive neighborhood could buffer the negative consequences of adverse experience and whether such associations vary by gender. This study aims to examine the association of recent adverse events and perceived life satisfaction among Chinese older adults, and to explore the potential moderating role of gender and neighborhood cohesion. Data were from a cross-sectional study conducted with community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and above in Anhui Province, China in 2014 (N=1,960). Recent adversity was measured by six events in the past two years (health decline, economic difficulty, loss of intimate people, loss of an important item, major life event, conflict with family or close friends/neighbors). Multilevel ordered logit regression with interaction term of adversity and neighborhood cohesion was performed. Models were further conducted on stratified samples to compare gender differences. Individuals experiencing any recent adverse event are 84% less likely (p=.008) to report a higher level of life satisfaction. Living in neighborhoods with better cohesion increased the likelihood of reporting better life satisfaction by 6% (p=.031). Modeling on the stratified samples showed that the above-mentioned significant relationships hold for male sample only. Recent adversity may negatively affect life satisfaction among Chinese older adults. Living in neighborhood with higher levels of cohesion could help buffer such negative influences, particularly for older men. Findings highlight the critical role of neighborhoods in combating the negative psychological consequences of adversity among Chinese older adults.