bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of the Online Money Management Credit Card Task
Authors: Sunderaraman Preeti , Dong Ziqian , Sampath Santhoshkumar , Chapman Silvia , Joyce Jillian , Stern Yaakov , Cosentino Stephanie
Published: December 2020

Older adults (OAs), a wealthy but vulnerable segment of our population, are at risk to make compromised financial decisions. Evidence suggests that OAs increasingly use technology to perform everyday financial transactions, such as to manage their credit card statements. However, current tools are lacking in terms of assessing how older adults navigate and handle the online financial milieu. We will discuss the development of a novel, simulated online money management (OMM) credit card statement task. OMM examines OAs performance on several indices including reaction time, nature and frequency of errors, and their ability to comprehend and trouble shoot problems. Psychometric properties related to the reliability and validity will be discussed. Ultimately, by examining the longitudinal performance of OMM in OAs, we can better characterize the natural course of OMM. Such an approach will enable clinicians to accurately and objectively examine OMM and identify those at risk for making financial errors.
Can We End the Age-Old Problem of Pressure Injuries?
Authors: Yap Tracey
Published: December 2020

A pressure injury/ulcer (PrI) is a localized area of injured skin and tissue usually over a bony prominence and one of the highest priority problems identified in U.S. health care’s federal quality initiatives; approximately 26.8 billion is spent for treatment each year. The problem is accentuated for nursing home residents who are often immobile/bedridden. Currently, resident repositioning/movement by nursing staff every 2-hours is the cornerstone of prevention care. Successful interventions must be nurse-led and designed to facilitate the prevention care of nursing staff on the front lines. My research focuses on integrating movement into everyday care for institutionalized older adults and is advancing the science of PrI prevention through testing of cueing interventions for nursing staff to improve the care delivery. My goals for innovating preventive care include enhancing our understanding of nursing subcultures’ influence on care outcomes and leveraging emerging technology to enhance the care team’s collaborative efforts.
Retinal Microvascular Health: Can the Eye Tell Us About the Brain?
Authors: Abraham Alison , Guo Xinxing , Kong Xiangrong , Sharrett A Richey , Lujan Brandon , Huang David , Ramulu Pradeep
Published: December 2020

Cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer’s and other dementias is linked to vascular damage in the brain. Early microvascular changes in the brain are difficult to detect but in the retina, they can potentially be seen using optical coherence tomographic angiography. In cross-sectional analysis, associations between retinal vessel density (VD) and cognitive performance were assessed by regression analysis of cognitive function z-scores (for global function as well as language, memory and executive function domains) on VD, controlling for age, race and education. Among 177 participants without dementia (50% black; 67% female; mean age 78 years [range: 71-93 years]), the mean (SD) superficial vascular complex VD was 48.0% (7.2). Among the 191 eyes without eye disease, there were no significant associations of VD with global or domain specific cognitive function. Early changes in the eye related to systemic disease processes may not currently be detectable in healthy older adults with imaging data.
Vaccination in Older Adults: The When and Where
Authors: Poston Sara
Published: December 2020

Despite the well-understood benefits of vaccination in older adults, national rates still fall below public health targets, especially among certain racial and ethnic groups. Recent scholarship examining healthcare use patterns in adults revealed that health care providers miss several opportunities to provide vaccination during regular healthcare encounters, including Medicare annual wellness visits. Several barriers to older adult vaccination have been identified, including lack of patient and provider understanding of the importance of vaccination, financial barriers to vaccines covered under Medicare Part D, and patient hesitancy about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Strategies to address these barriers will be discussed, including the use of national quality measures to strengthen incentives for adult vaccination. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Health Behavior Change Interest Group.
Task Sharing in Hearing Care: Putting Principles Into Practice to Advance Access to Hearing Care
Authors: Marrone Nicole , Wong Aileen , Ingram Maia , Piper Rosie , Carvajal Scott , Colina Sonia
Published: December 2020

Task sharing, through models such as community health workers (CHWs), is considered an efficacious and cost-effective approach to extending access, addressing disparities, and building capacity. Increasingly, task sharing is recognized as a promising approach within sensory health. This session will share results from an NIH-funded trial of a first-in-kind CHW-delivered intervention along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trained CHWs provided a 5-week group aural rehabilitation program that included education and counseling on age-related hearing loss. A total of 136 Spanish-speaking older adults with hearing loss were randomized. Those in the immediate treatment group reported significantly greater use of communication strategies post-intervention, which was maintained over 1 year. Participants were more likely to report taking action on their hearing at 6 months (OR:1.56, p=0.001) and 1 year (OR:1.82, p=0.001). Building upon lessons learned, including post-intervention focus groups, the presentation will share guiding principles on the application of task sharing to support sensory health.
The Study of Sensory Aging in Existing Cohorts of Older Adults
Authors: Ehrlich Joshua
Published: December 2020

Sensory impairments in later life are associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including falls, depression, cognitive decline and dementia, and loss of independence. While population-based cohort studies offer a wealth of data for studying health and aging, these studies have not been widely leveraged to investigate the epidemiology of sensory impairment and the effect of sensory impairments on health outcomes and well-being in older adults. This symposium will provide attendees with examples from presenters’ own research using sensory function data from large-scale and population-based cohort studies. Presentations will also describe available sensory data and opportunities to improve measures of sensory function in cohort studies. Finally, presenters will focus on methodological considerations when studying the effect of sensory impairment on health outcomes, trends, and trajectories in older adults using data from cohort studies. The symposium will include presentations on vision, hearing, olfaction, and nesting of a randomized controlled trial within an existing cohort study. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the importance of measuring sensory function; methods for integrating sensory measures into existing cohorts; and the original results of analyses that have used sensory data from existing cohorts to study health and well-being in older adults. Sensory Health Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.
Vision Measures in Aging Cohorts: Gaps and Opportunities
Authors: Varadaraj Varshini , Shakarchi Ahmed , Assi Lama , Swenor Bonnielin
Published: December 2020

There is wide variation in the methods used to assess vision across existing aging cohort studies. While subjective vision measures are valuable in capturing individuals’ perspectives, objective criteria are often needed to fully characterize visual impairment in older adults. In addition, visual function extends beyond acuity; contrast sensitivity, visual fields, and depth perception are known to impact daily functioning, and are needed to comprehensively assess visual function. Broader uptake of subjective and objective vision measures, and harmonization of vision measures across datasets is needed to robustly examine the role of visual impairment on aging and health outcomes. In this presentation, we will draw on work using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, Health and Retirement Study, and Health, Aging and Body Composition Study, among others, to illustrate uses of vision data in aging cohort studies, and examine the gaps and opportunities for improvement in vision measures. Part of a symposium sponsored by Sensory Health Interest Group.
Developing Research and Education on Aging Among Asians Through International Networks
Authors: Li Wenjun
Published: December 2020

Asians are the largest and the fastest growing segment of the world population. However, age-related social and health issues are understudied among them. Studies on older Asians are often small-sized and scattered geographically, and use instruments that are inconsistent in context, language and culture. Findings from different studies on Asians are difficult to synthesize to support health promotion, clinical practice and policy evaluations. To advance research into aging among Asians, a fundamental step is to create content-relevant, linguistically and culturally appropriate research instruments, and encourage use of these consistent and comparable instruments across studies. In this interactive session, the author will lead the group to discuss the need, feasibility and strategies for developing an international network to promote resource sharing and research collaborations across country borders and disciplines. By bringing the isolated but passionate Asian aging researchers together, this network will accelerate the growth of research on Aging Among Asians.
Implementing the 4Ms in a Rural Federally Qualified Health Center: Lessons Learned
Authors: Faul Anna , D’Ambrosio Joseph , Yankeelov Pamela , Cotton Sam
Published: December 2020

The University of Louisville GWEP has partnered with Mountain Comprehensive Care, a FQHC with 9 practices in 5 rural counties in KY, to infuse the 4 M’s of age-friendly health care systems into their daily practices, namely what matters most, medication management, mentation and mobility. Many lessons were learned during this infusion period, specifically related to cultural and rural barriers that make some of these principles very difficult to implement. Specifically, what matters most to older adults in these very poor rural areas may not be the safest way to proceed; medication management may be difficult to do due to the extent of opioid addictions in these areas, mentation has many challenges related to isolation and lack of understanding of dementia and mobility issues are complicated due to the many home barriers to fall safety environments. These lessons will be discussed in this part of the symposium presentation.
Opportunities and Challenges With Creative Community Partnerships
Authors: Heinz Melinda
Published: December 2020

Arts programming can address chronic conditions prevalent among older adults. An overview of an implementation of the revised nationwide Opening Minds through Arts (OMA) program anchors the symposium. The paper reports an implementation by an area university and an eldercare facility to recruit and train student volunteers to collaborate with persons living with dementia, and create paintings for a public exhibition. The Arts for a Lifetime Program used bi-weekly student led programming in a long-term care community; the paper includes an overview of materials used throughout the program and reports resident preferences for materials. A report of results of an ethnographic investigation of the impact of creative aging fine arts programs on older adults adds information about how participation might influence the older person’s self-esteem or perceptions of aging. The presentation about creation of music modules investigates the potential of music therapy for the promotion of healing for older adults managing pain. The final paper describes the methodology lessons learned from ARTmail, a community engaged study of the benefits of a structured participatory arts program for older adults with memory symptoms or cognitive impairment. Presentations in this symposium inform identification and development of opportunities to create and engage in meaningful experiences with older adults.
Fostering Multidisciplinary Solutions in Aging: The Research Centers Collaborative Network
Authors: Kritchevsky Stephen , van der Willik Odette , Eldadah Basil
Published: December 2020

The important problems facing older adults will not be solved through the methods of a single discipline. In recognition of this, the NIA funded the Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN) to build collaborations between scientists from the 6 NIA-sponsored center programs: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers, Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging, Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers, Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research, and Roybal Centers for Translational Research on Aging. RCCN’s central premise is that researchers from different disciplines are most likely to collaborate when they are addressing similar problems. To foster collaboration the RCCN has convened 5 workshops on: 1. achieving and sustaining behavior change in older adults; 2. sex and gender in aging research; 3. reserve and resilience; 4. life course perspectives on aging; and 5. promoting the inclusion of older adults in clinical research. After each Workshop the RCCN awards pilot funds related to the theme. This symposium will review key learnings from the workshops and present work of four RCCN pilot teams from the first two workshops which focused on changing and sustaining behavior change in older adults, and sex and gender differences in aging. Dr. Hughes will discuss the value of interdisciplinary research to maintain behavior change while Dr. Lee will discuss social incentives to improve mobility postoperatively. Dr. Stites will discuss cognition and gender trends, while Dr. Ware will discuss sex differences in genetic effects.
Social Incentives to Improve Mobility Among Elderly Patients After Radical Cystectomy
Authors: Lee Daniel , Covinsky Kenneth , Greysen S Ryan
Published: December 2020

Radical cystectomy is a complex surgery that disproportionately affects elderly patients and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. We proposed a randomized control trial to improve mobility using gamification and social incentives while hospitalized, and immediately after surgery at home. Social incentives may be particularly useful in this population as the majority of cystectomy patients rely on a primary caregiver. There have been multiple challenges in this interdisciplinary work to utilize innovative technologies. This would represent one of the first use of gamification and behavioral economic principles in postoperative patients, so there are questions about how patients would respond to gamification while recovering postoperatively. There were challenges in patient selection and interdisciplinary collaboration to consider, especially in an elderly population that may not have ready mobile access. By collaborating across disciplines, we hope to make significant improvements in postoperative outcomes for elderly patients by utilizing innovative interventions.
User Involvement in Research on Aging and Health: Creating Knowledge and Technologies With Older Adults
Authors: Fristedt Sofi , Wanka Anna , Charness Neil
Published: December 2020

Although, user involvement is largely recognized as instrumental when developing relevant knowledge, services as well as products - aging populations are still likely to be sparsely involved in such processes. Surprisingly, many gerontechnologies are still developed based on a technological perspective rather than a gerontological perspective. Consequently, age-related changes as well as needs, actual use or perceptions of older adults are disregarded or neglected. Similar problems apply to public and private environments with potentially negative implications on accessibility. The present symposium includes four presentations that address user involvement, by capturing older adults’ and aging populations’ use as well as perceptions of emerging technologies, successful development of gerontechnologies, and a multigenerational mass-experiment on housing accessibility in later life. The first study from Germany captures the everyday situation of smartphone use as well as aspects of user experience, affect and social context among older adults. The second study addresses perceptions and attitudes of three generations in Sweden related to continuous technological advancement of products intended to support active and healthy aging. The third presentation will describe the iterative development process of the 2020 mass-experiment – the Housing Experiment -- involving older adults, stakeholders in the housing sector, teachers and pupils in Sweden. The fourth presentation from Canada explores the benefits, challenges, and solutions to support older adult engagement in research that leads to the successful development of technologies for and with older adults. Finally, our discussant will further elaborate on the respective study findings and summarize the symposium.
Multiple Chronic Conditions and Provision of Services in Residential Care Communities
Authors: Caffrey Christine , Lendon Jessica
Published: December 2020

This study describes the relationships between the number of selected chronic conditions among residents and the number and provision methods of services provided by residential care communities (RCCs). Estimates are from the 2016 wave of the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. Chronic conditions were measured by whether the RCC reported having at least one resident with any of the most common chronic conditions: dementia, diabetes, depression, or heart disease. Services included were mental health, social work, therapeutic, dietary, and skilled nursing. Each service type was categorized by provision method (provided by employees, arrangement or referral only, or not provided). Among RCCs, 63% had all four conditions among residents, 23% had three, 12% had one to two, and 1% had none. About 66% of RCCs provided all five services, 16% provided four, 15% provided 1-3, and 3% provided none. Of the 63% of RCCs that had all four conditions among residents, 69% provided all five services, 29% provided 1-4, and 2% provided none. In these RCCs, a greater percentage provided dietary (69%) and skilled nursing services (33%) with employees compared to the other methods; a greater percentage provided therapeutic (85%) and mental health services (83%) solely through arrangement or referral compared to the other methods. This study found that, in 2016, RCCs with multiple selected conditions among their residents tended to provide a greater number of services for managing chronic conditions. How these RCCs provide services varied based on service type.
Engaging Older Adults in Technology Research: Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators Using a Case Study Approach
Authors: Kirkland Susan
Published: December 2020

The aim of OA-INVOLVE is to provide recommendations to support older adult engagement in research that leads to the successful development of technologies for and with older adults. To support this aim we conducted a longitudinal case study project in which we interviewed eight AGE-WELL research teams conducting technology projects to explore the benefits, challenges, and solutions for meaningful engagement. Members of the OA-INVOLVE Older Adult Research Partner Group (OARPG) were involved in all aspects of the project. Findings from the case studies provided important insights regarding structural, contextual, and individual factors that enable and constrain active involvement of older adults. Many projects reported developing unique “workarounds” in order to move beyond involving older adults as participants to involving them as advisors and decision makers. Researchers identified that they often lack the skills, training and resources to engage older adults in a meaningful way and could benefit from capacity building.
Masculinities and Aging in Ireland
Authors: Leime Aine Ni
Published: December 2020

There is a need for research to gain understanding of the social and cultural constructions of ageing masculinities that, as Gullette emphasises, operate together to construct a ‘culture of decline’. This presentation explores how cultural images of older men inform constructions of ageing and lived realities in Ireland. It draws on the Irish findings from a cross-national, inter-disciplinary project conducted in 2019 investigating older men’s perceptions of how they are represented in film and advertising. It applies innovative narrative and thematic analysis to data from four focus group discussions, interviews and reflective diaries, to explore participants’ (Irish men aged 65+) reactions to the portrayal of older men in TV and film. Stereotypes identified included older men as conservative, grumpy, sad, streetwise, trickster, or action hero. Thematic analysis identified themes including men’s identification with their jobs; their diminishing roles in the family; and old age as a matter of perception.
Overview of the National Institute on Aging
Authors: Hodes Richard
Published: December 2020

Dr. Hodes will provide an overview of National Institute on Aging research priorities and funding availability.
The Measurement of Physical Resiliencies: Conceptualization, Study Design, and Early Data
Authors: Bandeen-Roche Karen , Varadhan Ravi , Buta Brian , Walston Jeremy
Published: December 2020

This talk presents the conceptual framework, study design, and pilot data for the Study of Physical Resilience and agING (SPRING). SPRING aims to develop signatures of physical resilience in older adults who will undergo clinical stressors; validate the signatures’ ability to distinguish those who will respond resiliently; and characterize underlying physio-biological determinants. The underlying physiology is conceptualized as a dynamical system, and resilience, as a property thereof. The SPRING pilot has assessed n=77 older adults before, during and repeatedly after experiencing knee replacement surgery, incident hemodialysis, or bone marrow transplant; a confirmatory study evaluating n=100 older adults per each of these stressors is underway. Resilience signatures grounded in dynamical data from multiple stress-response assessments will be presented. So also will resilience phenotypes—longitudinal functional trajectories over the study visits: These show considerable heterogeneity within and across stressors. If successful, our study will open the way for interventions to bolster resiliency. Part of a symposium sponsored by Epidemiology of Aging Interest Group.
Why Age Matters: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Intergenerational Contact With Older Adults With Dementia
Authors: Carden Keisha , Letang Sarah , Choi Jaimie , Potts Daniel , Allen Rebecca
Published: December 2020

This integrated mixed methods analysis examined outcomes for students enrolled in an experiential course (BATL), a didactic psychology of aging course, and introductory psychology courses. Students in the experiential course showed increased empathy, F(2, 345) = 29.058, p = .000 (M = 47.52, SD = .75), improved attitudes towards persons with dementia (PWDs), F(2,355) = 8.98, p < .0001 (M = 14.25, SD = .36), and greater increased interest in working with older adults, F(2,361) = 30.228, p=.000 compared to the other courses. A qualitative phase II follow-up explanations model (Creswell et. al., 2003) of participants’ journals using a hermeneutic coding process was employed to explore underlying mechanisms for such changes. These identified underlying mechanisms have significant implications for increasing interest and ability among students to work effectively with older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Further, this information yields insights for addressing workforce shortages in geriatric care.
Rediscovery of Older Adults’ Life Wisdom: Application of Narrative Therapy Using a Tree-of-Life Metaphor
Authors: Esther Chow Oi
Published: December 2020

Using narrative therapy with a “Tree of Life” metaphor, practitioners facilitated 144 Hong Kong Chinese older adults through 24 4-session groups to rediscover their preferred identity and celebrate their lives. Thematic analysis of their ‘Tree of Life’ drawings revealed five themes: 1) Insights about their abilities, intentions and problem-solving capabilities; 2) A sense of purpose and commitment to their preferred identities; 3) Realization of personal values and beliefs; 4) Reconnecting sense of agency and hope; and 5) Cherishing life as a journey to celebrate their wealth of wisdom for common good. Despite confronting life challenges, participants re-author their sense of self consistent to their preferred identity, and renew purpose of life through drawing and dialectic narrative conversations. These findings depict a deeper understanding of older adults’ lives, and have significant theoretical and practical implications for health and social care professions to advance a constructive perspective to late life development.
Meaningful Activities Among Vulnerable Older Adults Living With Dementia
Authors: Allison Theresa , Gubner Jennie , Smith Alexander
Published: December 2020

This paper examines self-identified meaningful activities in the daily lives of 21 vulnerable older adults living with dementia and the people who care for them at home (dyads). Using ethnographic observation and interviews, we asked the dyads to identify which aspects of daily life were most meaningful and how these activities changed as dementia progressed. Results ranged from pleasure-seeking activities like cigarette smoking and eating, to spiritual or mindfulness activities like hymn-singing, prayer and tai chi. Dyads identified specific examples of the ways in which meaningful activities and meaning-making both persisted and adapted throughout the progression of dementia. Using these identifiable moments of meaning-making as a starting point for inquiry, we explore underlying questions of how to adapt to dementia progression while retaining meaning in relationships.
Associations of Dietary Patterns With the Gut Microbiota in Older, Community-Dwelling Men
Authors: Shikany James , Demmer Ryan , Johnson Abigail , Meyer Katie , Ensrud Kristine , Orwoll Eric , Kado Deborah , Langsetmo Lisa
Published: December 2020

We investigated associations of dietary patterns with composition and diversity of the gut bacterial microbiota in 517 community-dwelling older men (mean age 84.3 y) who were participants in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study. Eligible participants provided a stool sample and completed a food frequency questionnaire at the MrOS Visit 4 in 2014-2016. Dietary patterns were derived by factor analysis. 16S rRNA target gene sequencing was performed. Linear regression and PERMANOVA considered variation in alpha and beta-diversity by dietary pattern, and metagenomeSeq assessed taxonomic variation by dietary pattern. In multivariable-adjusted models, greater adherence to the Western pattern was positively associated certain taxa, including Alistipes, Desulfovibrio, Dorea, Eubacterium, and Ruminococcus, while greater adherence to the prudent pattern was positively associated with certain taxa, including Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, and Paraprevotella. Dietary patterns were not associated with measures of alpha diversity; beta diversity measures were significantly associated with both Western and prudent patterns.
Quality of Diet Among Community-Dwelling Elders Participating in the Mobility and Vitality Lifestyle Program
Authors: Cheng Jessica
Published: December 2020

Dietary choices play an important role in disease prevention both through its effect on weight and independent of it. Improving diet can be an effective means of disease prevention among older adults. Participants (n=303) were recruited from the Allegheny County, PA area and received nutritional education in group sessions led by trained community health workers over one year. Diet quality was captured at baseline and final endpoint (either 9 or 13 months) using the Rate Your Plate (RYP) instrument for assessing healthfulness of diet and includes 24 items that can be summed to generate a total quality score. The mean RYP diet quality score improved from baseline (RYP=50.87) to endpoint (RYP=54.85) (p<.001). Over the course of the intervention, 30.9% of participants made enough improvement in diet to move to a better RYP category. A community-based group intervention for older adults was effective in inducing improvements in diet quality.
Community Arts Programming Supports Personal Growth and Well-Being in Older Adults
Authors: Dhokai Niyati , Ambegaonkar Jatin
Published: December 2020

Our research study examined how taking part in the arts compared to control affects older adults’ health and well-being. 64 older adults took part in dance, music, or control workshops 2 times/week for 10 weeks. We examined participants’ psychological health, social engagement, and personal growth outcomes using mixed methods during pre- and post-workshop assessments. Focus group and arts survey results revealed that participants felt ownership of new skills learned and felt engaged. Participants, especially for those in arts workshops, described having increased self-perception of creative skills resulting in a sense of personal growth, which occurred despite mind/body challenges experienced during workshops including musculoskeletal challenges, hearing impairments, and challenges retaining new information. Our observations provide avenues for future researchers to create programming that empowers older adults, as well as to utilize the participants’ ongoing feedback to create participant-empowered adaptations that transcends mind/body limitations through accessible pedagogical methods.
Arts Engagement Programs improves Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Ambegaonkar Jatin , Dhokai Niyati
Published: December 2020

We examined how different arts engagement programs compared to control affect health in community-dwelling older adults. 64 adults(71.3 + 4.6years; Dance n=23, Music n=17, Control, n=24) took part in free Dance(Ballroom), Music(Ukulele), or Control(Active social conversation) sessions 2 times/week for 10 weeks. We assessed cognition(Montreal-Cognitive-Assessment-MoCA), physical(Short-Physical-Performance-Battery-SPPB), and Health-Related Quality-of-Life(HRQoL-SF-20) 3 times: (1) before(pre), (2) at the end of 10 weeks(post-1) and (3) 1-month after intervention(post-2). Separate 3(Time)x3(Group) ANOVAs and Bonferroni-pairwise-comparisons examined changes across groups and time(p<.05). Participants’ physical health improved equally across groups(p=.4) and over time(p<.001), specifically from pre(10.5 + 1.4) to post-1(10.7 + 1.3; p=.002), and pre to-post-2(11.3 + 1.0;p<.001). Participants’ cognition improved equally across groups(p=.6) and over time(p<.001) from pre(26.3 + 2.8) to post-1(27.3 + 2.5; p=.002), and pre-to-post-2(27.5 + 2.5;p=.001). Participants’ HRQoL remained similar over time(p=.6) and across groups(p=.7). Overall, participants’ health improved after taking part in arts engagement and social conversation programs. Study findings offer insights about successful implementation of arts-engaged programs in community-dwelling older adults.
Physio-fEedback and Exercise pRogram (PEER) for Shifting Maladaptive Fall Risk Appraisal
Authors: Thiamwong Ladda
Published: December 2020

We aimed to examine the effectiveness of Physio-feEdback and Exercise pRogram (PEER) for shifting maladaptive to adaptive fall risk appraisal and determine the feedback and acceptability of the program. Forty-one older adults were assigned to either PEER intervention or attention control (AC) group. The 8-week PEER intervention consists of a visual physio-feedback, cognitive reframing, and combined group and home-based exercise led by a trained peer coach. The AC group read fall prevention brochures and continued their normal activities. BTrackS Balance Test and Fall Efficacy Scale were measured from pre- to post-intervention. About 11% of participants in the PEER group had positive shifting but none in AC group. Up to 32% of the participants in AC had negative shifting while 5.3% in the PEER group. PEER intervention facilitates a shift from maladaptive to adaptive fall risk appraisal. PEER group reported significant decreases in fall risk and high acceptability of the program.
Nutritional Ecology, Nutritional Geometry, and Aging Research
Authors: Raubenheimer David , Simpson Stephen , Couteur David Le
Published: December 2020

Substantial advances have been made in understanding both evolutionary and mechanistic aspects of biological ageing, but the two areas remain poorly integrated. I suggest that a greater emphasis on ecology can help to integrate evolutionary and mechanistic research on ageing, by providing insight into the interface between biological mechanisms and the environments in which they evolved. Among the most salient aspects of the environment relevant to ageing is nutrition. And yet in the bulk of ageing research nutrition is coarsely represented as dietary restriction or caloric restriction, without consideration for which components of the diet or which energetic substrates are driving the observed effects. I show how a method developed in nutritional ecology, called the nutritional geometry framework, can help to understand the nutritional interactions of animals with their environments, by explicitly distinguishing the roles of calories, individual nutrients and nutrient balance. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Interest Group.
Comparing the Effects of Low-Protein and High-Carbohydrate Diets and Caloric Restriction on Brain Aging in Mice
Authors: Wahl Devin , Raubenheimer David , de Cabo Rafael , Sinclair David , Simpson Stephen , Solon-Biet Samantha , Le Couteur David
Published: December 2020

The Geometric Framework for Nutrition (GFN) has revealed that ad-libitum low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diets improve cardiometabolic health and extend lifespan in rodents, but it is not known whether these diets are also beneficial for brain health. Here, we utilized previous results from GFN studies and compared hippocampus biology and memory in mice subjected to 20% calorie restriction (CR) or provided ad-libitum access to several LPHC diets. RNA expression in the hippocampus of 15-month-old mice were similar between mice fed CR and LPHC diets. Nutrient-sensing proteins, including SIRT1, MTOR, and PGC1-alpha, were also influenced by diet; however, the effects varied by sex. CR and LPHC diets were associated with increased dendritic spines in dentate gyrus neurons. Mice fed CR and LPHC diets had modest improvements in the Barnes maze spatial recognition memory paradigm and novel object recognition test. LPHC diets recapitulate some of the benefits of CR on brain aging. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Interest Group.
HIV and Older Adults: Evolving Into a Manageable Condition
Authors: Emlet Charles
Published: December 2020

I was fortunate to serve at the HIV and Aging Interest Convener from 2000 until 2008 and co-convener from 2009 until 2012. During this period, we began to see the full and positive impact of Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatments creating highly sought longevity for older adults. During that time, the numbers of people over the age of 50, living with HIV, climbed from an estimated 81,103 to 330,843. HIV was identified by President Clinton as a national security threat while the CDC unveiled a new plan for HIV prevention. In 2006 the CDC released revised HIV testing recommendations for those 18-64 years of age to include opt out testing, stopping short of recommending HIV testing for older people. HIV sessions at GSA’s Annual Scientific meeting continued to broaden and evolve. Part of a symposium sponsored by the HIV, AIDS and Older Adults Interest Group.
Causes and Mechanisms Underlying Disparities and Time Trends in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Authors: Akushevich Igor , Hill Carl , Arbeev Konstantin
Published: December 2020

The objective of the Symposium is to make progress in understanding the causes and mechanisms of health-related disparities in Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and other prominent age-related diseases. Topics will cover a range of academic and administrative topics including: i) partitioning analysis of disparities and time trends in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia; ii) a structural model approach to ethnic disparities in dementia and its assessment; iii) traumatic brain injury and dementia in the Medicare population: differences in genotype and phenotype-related risk between veteran and non-veteran subsets; iv) geographic disparities in county-level prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease across the United States; and v) the role of comorbidities in the geographic disparities of AD/ADRD mortality. A focus will be made on evaluating patterns of race/ethnicity and geographic health disparities as well as changes in time trends in AD/ADRD prevalence and mortality; identifying the causes and describing the mechanisms of these respective processes, and demonstrating how they can be identified in studies using established administrative data resources such as Medicare claims databases; and demonstrating how innovative analytic approaches such as partitioning analyses, structural model approaches, and methods of latent data analyses can be used in conjunction with empirical and regression approaches to uncover previously overlooked or understudied aspects in this area of research. Analyses of such increasingly available large health datasets provides an opportunity to obtain nationally representative results based on individual-level measures that reflect the real care-related and epidemiological processes generating disparities and time trends in AD/ADRD health outcomes.
Complementary and Integrated Studies of Longevity and Healthy Aging
Authors: Cummings Steven , Perls Thomas , Hadley Evan
Published: December 2020

Five NIH-funded studies, the Long Life Family Study (LLFS, U19), the Longevity Consortium (LC, U19), Longevity Genomics (U24), and Protective Omics Profiles in Centenarians (UH2) work together to triangulate on mechanisms of extreme longevity and healthy aging with the ultimate goal of discovering predictors and targetable pathways. Linkage analyses by LLFS identified extremely strong genetic linkage peaks for cross-sectional as well as longitudinal trajectory rates-of-change phenotypes. Deep sequencing suggests these peaks are driven by rare, protective variants in selected pedigrees. In cross-species studies (UH2, LC), genomics, metabolomics and proteomics are used to exploit many-fold variances in natural life spans to discover protective mechanisms that explain some of these differences. Proteome analysis reveal several longevity-related proteins such as Cip1/p21, FOXO3, TOP2A, AKT1, RICTOR, INSR and SIRT6 harboring post translational modification sites that preferentially appear in short- versus long-lived species. The U24 effort developed a tool using genetically-mediated gene expression to prioritize genes for longevity translational efforts. We found that BLOC1S1 was associated with longevity and protection from atrial fibrillation and hearing loss without being associated with adverse events. This novel target is undergoing functional characterization. A proteomic assay (4,131 proteins, Somascan) annotated by genome-wide association study results in a total of 1,797 centenarians and 3,685 controls divided into independent discovery and replication sets, discovered significant and replicated over-expression (thus, pro-longevity) of BIRC2 and under-expression of APOB in carriers of the APOE ɛ-2 allele. A novel protein signature of rs2184061 (CDKN2a/CDKN2B in chromosome 9) was also associated with slower aging.
Interprofessional Education Through Case Study: Learners’ Attitudes on Interprofessional Education
Authors: Halli-Tierney Anne , Allen Rebecca , Carroll Dana , McKinney Robert
Published: December 2020

Interprofessional education case sessions allow learners to apply discipline-specific knowledge to real-life scenarios through thorough facilitated discussion of a patient case. Our interprofessional case discussion was implemented for learners to develop care plans for complex geriatric patients; learners have intentional time to learn with, from and about each other’s roles in geriatric care. All learners receive the case and work through it from their discipline’s perspective, then join a facilitated group discussion to develop collaborative care plans. Participants were surveyed using the ICAS and qualitative comments about perceptions of interprofessional learning, and most interprofessional (medicine, pharmacy, psychology and social work) learners found the sessions to be educational. Themes emerging from qualitative analysis about what was most educational were “different professional approaches”, “professional roles”, “collaboration” and “problem solving”. Typically, learners were unable to identify “least educational” components to the activity. Overall feedback from learners aligns with the goals of interprofessional education. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Mental Health Practice and Aging Interest Group.
Health Among Sexual Minority Older Adults: Individual Differences and Implications for Improving Health
Authors: Wardecker Britney , Exten Cara
Published: December 2020

The number of sexual minority (SM) older adults is increasing rapidly, yet this population continues to be underrepresented in research (Fredriksen-Goldsen & Kim, 2017) and experiences significant disparities in health and health care access (Fredriksen-Goldsen, 2016; Wallace et al., 2011). In the current symposium, we analyze data from U.S. national probability samples of middle-aged and older adults (MIDUS, HRS, NESARC-III) to consider how age-related concerns and challenges may be experienced differently by SM individuals compared to their heterosexual counterparts. This symposium includes novel methods and statistical tools, such as daily diary assessments, multilevel modeling, and time-varying effects models. Individual presentations evaluate how: (1) SM women, compared to heterosexual women, may respond differently to menopause through norms and values surrounding womanhood; (2) midlife and older SM individuals use alcohol and cigarettes more frequently across a typical week than their heterosexual counterparts, though their substance use may not be tied to common triggers (e.g., negative mood, stress); (3) despite bisexual older adults reporting more health problems compared to lesbian and gay counterparts, they are less prepared for health concerns and crises (e.g., reporting a lower number of valid wills); and (4) the prevalence of depression and anxiety varies across age, such that older SM adults—especially women—are particularly vulnerable to psychological health problems. These presentations collectively examine complex issues facing older SM adults while emphasizing individual differences (i.e., women’s concerns, bisexual people’s issues). We discuss challenges in researching this growing at-risk population, and we highlight areas of future research and intervention.
The price of privilege: helping mom die at home
Authors: Beard Renee
Published: December 2020

Americans overwhelmingly wish to age in place and many explicitly want to die at home. Yet, the anemic welfare state means that only the most fortunate among us are able to achieve that goal. A disproportionate burden of care falls squarely to families, which are smaller and more geographically spread out than ever before. Carers too often wind up in environments that are far from conducive, namely being older and perhaps frail themselves or younger and perhaps with small children of their own. Drawing on an autoethnographic study of my mother’s final years and a case study analysis of one innovative home care agency, this project examines the individual and organizational factors that allow one family to grant their family member’s wish to die at home. Grounded theory methods revealed facilitators including presence of a home-based long term care insurance policy, geographic mobility, and access to a democratically-oriented home care organization. Barriers, of course, include lack of access to long term care insurance and a daughter who lives in a progressive state with a waiver for Home and Community Based Services. While the privilege of access underscores the social determinants of aging, this case study reveals some important features that suggest how senior social services could be. Even for the “ideal type” presented here, the many trials and tribulations of aiding a loved one to die at home relate to the untenable nature of doing it all in a context whereby social services are fragmented and driven by financial incentives.
Vincent Cristafalo Award Lecture
Authors: Barzilai Nir , Lederman Stephanie
Published: December 2020

The Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star Award in Aging Research lecture will feature an address by the 2020 recipient, Sean P. Curran, PhD. This award is given by the American Federation for Aging Research, Inc
Healthcare Affordability and Associated Concerns Among Older Adults in Florida
Authors: Wiltshire Jacqueline , Orban Barbara , Conner Kyaien , Colato Edlin Garcia , Anderson Erica , Carrion Iraida
Published: December 2020

Rising healthcare costs create significant financial burden for Americans and is a threat to the well-being of our growing, racially/ethnically diverse, older population. In a mixed method study, we assessed ability to afford care and ascertain concerns about healthcare cost in a racially diverse sample of Floridians ages ≥ 65. We surveyed 170 adults (40.4% White, 27.6% African Americans/Black and 31.8% Latino/Hispanic) and conducted three race-stratified focus groups (n=27). Most participants had Medicare coverage (97.1%) and 27% also had Medicaid. Approximately 11.6% of Whites had problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months versus 14.9% of African Americans/Blacks and 24.1% of Latino/Hispanics. Additionally, 13% of Whites, 19.2% of African Americans/Blacks and 20.4% of Hispanics reported not getting needed prescription drugs because they could not afford them. Approximately 45.7% either perceived that their doctor “never” takes into account costs for treatment or did not know whether costs were considered. Multiple regression analyses showed no statistically significant racial/ethnic differences in affordability problems. From the focus groups, healthcare cost concerns most frequently identified by participants were the high cost of prescriptions drug, rising co-pays and out of pocket expenses, and medical billing. Participants’ concerns about medical billing included understanding their bills, transparency in billing, timely posting of charges, and uncertainty about who to talk to about billing problems. Our findings suggest that routine discussions about healthcare costs with doctors or designated healthcare personnel should help ease financial burden and healthcare costs concerns among older adults.
Rising Star Early-Career Faculty Award Lecture
Authors: Hancock Cynthia
Published: December 2020

The Rising Star Early-Career Faculty Award lecture will feature an address by2020 recipient Laurinda Reynolds, MA. The Rising Star Early-Career Faculty Award acknowledges new faculty whose teaching and leadership stand out as influential and innovative.