bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN CHINA
Authors: Kang Bada , Xu Hanzhang , McConnell Eleanor S , Wu Bei 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Although subjective cognitive decline is considered as a potential symptomatic indicator of cognitive decline, little is known regarding the relationships in older adults in China. Using the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 data, we examined the association between subjective cognitive function, perceived memory decline, and objective cognitive function among adults aged 50 or older (N=13,367) in China. Objective cognitive function was measured by immediate and delayed recall test, digit span test, and verbal fluency test. Multivariate linear regression models were used to account for sociodemographic, psychosocial, and health-related factors. We found worse subjective cognitive function was associated with poorer working memory and verbal fluency. Greater perceived memory decline was also associated with poorer working memory but not with verbal fluency. Psychosocial factors including social cohesion and social support attenuated the relationships between subjective cognitive function, perceived memory decline, and objective cognitive performance.
FAMILY CAREGIVER SCREENING IN PRIMARY CARE: CLINICIAN AND CAREGIVER PERSPECTIVES
Authors: Riffin Catherine 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Despite broad appreciation of family caregivers’ relevance to older adults’ health care, few primary care-based interventions have incorporated mechanisms to facilitate systematic caregiver identification, screening, and support. Actionable knowledge regarding how such interventions may be incorporated into clinical practice is remarkably limited. This study used in-depth interviews to elucidate clinicians’ (N=25) and caregivers’ (N=20) perspectives on and suggestions for integrating caregiver screening into primary care practice. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Participants emphasized the importance of tailoring the caregiver screening intervention to local circumstances and to patient and caregiver preferences. They advocated for an action-oriented approach that would link identified risks with a concrete plan for follow-up (e.g., referral to training) and outcomes relevant to the patient’s care plan. Overall, participants advised that integrating the intervention into practice would require the support of multidisciplinary practice staff, stronger connections between medical and community-based services, and appropriate reimbursement for clinicians.
INCLUDING FAMILY CAREGIVERS IN SERIOUSLY ILL VETERANS' CARE: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY
Authors: Sperber Nina R , Boucher Nathan A , Delgado Roxana , Shepherd-Banigan Megan , McKenna Kevin , Moore Madison , Kabat Margaret , Van Houtven Courtney H 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Family caregivers often serve as unpaid members of the home- and community-based care workforce for individuals with serious illness; as key partners in the home-clinic continuum, they should be included in healthcare teams. Without formal recognition, inconsistent identification of caregivers will remain, engendering communication gaps between caregivers and providers and difficulty connecting with supportive services. The Campaign for Inclusive Care is an initiative within the Veterans Administration Health Care System to improve practices for including caregivers in treatment planning and decisions. We define inclusive care using literature review, provider interviews, and a caregiver survey. We found that inclusive care involves clear definition of caregiver role, system policies for inclusion, assessment of caregiver capacity, explicit involvement of caregivers, and mutuality in caregiver/provider communication. We recommend solutions based on the definition, informative for development of a national caregiver strategy, required by the 2018 Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Family Caregivers Act.
DISRUPTION OF CPG ISLAND-MEDIATED CHROMATIN ARCHITECTURE AND TRANSCRIPTIONAL HOMEOSTASIS DURING AGING
Authors: Beck Samuel , Lee Junyeong 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Aging causes the global disorganization of nuclear chromatin architecture. In a normal young nucleus, silent heterochromatin is associated with the nuclear lamina layer underlying nuclear envelope, thus spatially separated from euchromatin at the nuclear center. Notably, aging causes the disruption of nuclear lamina and the decondensation of associated heterochromatin. However, it is not clearly understood how these changes of chromatin architectures contribute to age-related diseases. Through large-scale computational analyses, we present that CpG islands (CGIs) give important clues to answering this question. CGIs are DNA elements with high Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine dinucleotide frequencies. In human, about 60% of total genes contain CGIs at their promoters (CGI+ genes) and are broadly expressed throughout the body. The other 40% of genes that do not have CGIs (CGI- genes) exhibit tissue-restricted expression patterns. Our results demonstrate that, in normal young nuclei, only CGI- genes can reside within lamina-associated heterochromatin when transcriptionally inactive, while CGI+ genes associate with nuclear central euchromatin even when they are repressed. In parallel, we show that age-associated heterochromatin decondensation can specifically de-repress tissue-specific CGI- genes leading to their uncontrolled expressions. Our results further demonstrate that global misregulation of CGI- genes increases the noise in gene transcription that, in turn, causes the loss of cellular identities during aging. Taken together, our study establishes critical implication of CGI-mediated chromatin architecture in age-associated degenerative changes and loss of tissue homeostasis.
THE LONGEVITY CONSORTIUM VISION
Authors: Evans Daniel S , Evans Daniel S , Cummings Steven R , Schork Nicholas 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Molecular factors and pathways promoting human longevity and healthy aging can potentially delay or prevent multiple chronic diseases and conditions, but identifying such factors that can be pharmacologically targeted requires an integrated multidisciplinary approach. We describe the design of the five research projects and three cores of the Longevity Consortium (LC) and how their cooperative research is designed to discover molecular factors and pathways that can predict healthy human aging and longevity, associate with extreme human lifespan, show relevance to chronic age-related conditions, respond to interventions to slow aging in mice, and show evidence for association with lifespan across species. A systems biology approach is undertaken to identify common molecular features across human traits and organisms, and a chemoinformatics approach to link molecular targets to candidate healthy aging interventions. The LC results are made publicly available and we provide funding opportunities to the scientific community to support pilot projects.
GENETIC SUPPORT FOR INTERVENTIONS THOUGHT TO PROMOTE HEALTHY AGING
Authors: Schork Nicholas J , Miller Richard , Girke Thomas 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
We consider the human genetic targets of many proven and hypothesized pharmacologic interventions meant to promote healthy-aging and explored not only how polymorphic these targets are in the human population, but also whether these polymorphisms have been shown to impact longevity and age-related phenotypes in general. We also determined if polymorphism in the genes or proteins modulated by healthy-aging interventions have been shown to also modulate the expression levels of those genes and proteins (i.e., act as gene or protein expression quantitative trait loci – eQTLs or pQTLs, respectively) and whether they have been subjected to mediation analyses testing their potential causal relationships to aging and longevity phenotypes. We compare our results to studies of other classes of drugs used to treat specific conditions, such as hypertension.
PRESIDENTIAL SYMPOSIUM: THE TIES THAT BIND: THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE LIVES OF OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Baker Tamara A , Lee Lewina O 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Data show that seven out of every ten adults, over the age of 50, own a smartphone, with one out of ten owning a tablet. While traditional activities dictate the use of technology among this cohort, there is growing evidence that adults similarly use devices to also manage their medical care and to learn online. This increase has guided scholars in recognizing the utility of technology from designing interventions to understanding how technology may serve as a barrier and/or facilitator to one’s general well-being. This symposium features four presentations from nationally recognized scholars that will expand traditional perspectives on technology use, and how it influences social ties among older adults. Dr. Charness will examine the population-level trends in social network use by aging adults and discuss a recent CREATE intervention study (PRISM), that used a computer-based platform to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Dr. Czaja will similarly present findings from CREATE, and other trials, on the access to and use of email, social media sites, and online support groups among older adults, and the resultant impact on social connectivity, loneliness and social support. Dr. Rogers will discuss technologies that currently exist (e.g., apps, mobile devices, social networking) or are being developed (e.g., robotics, telepresence, virtual reality) to support social engagement. Dr. Antonucci will examine aspects of new technologies and their influence on health and well-being, while underscoring the perspective that new and emerging technologies hold great promise in overcoming traditional barriers to maintaining social contact and exchange.
VACCINATION TO PROMOTE HEALTH THROUGHOUT LIFE AS A HEALTHY AGING STRATEGY
Authors: Friedland Leonard 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
This symposium addresses the role of vaccination to promote healthy aging, the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age. Life-span immunization of adults across all age categories can help to reduce morbidity and mortality. Healthy aging is critical for our global society to counter the surge in healthcare costs that is coming as a result of the demographic shift to older age. Immune system function and response to vaccination declines with advancing age. Generating effective immune responses against new infectious disease targets can be difficult in older individuals. Important progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms underlying immunosenescence, the age-related decline of the immune response to infections and vaccinations. Innovative research and the development of new technologies, such as adjuvants, substances that can enhance and shape the immune response to the target antigen(s), has facilitated the development of vaccines specially tailored for adults. This evidence-based approach to the development of innovative vaccines addressing immunosenescence is an important clinically relevant healthy aging strategy to promote health throughout life.
INTERACTIONS OF OPTIMISM WITH SOCIAL RELATIONS FOR WOMEN'S WELL-BEING
Authors: Sherman Aurora M 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The impact of personality on the relationship between social relations and well-being has been understudied. We assessed optimism, social support, and social strain in association with self-esteem, depressive symptoms and life satisfaction for a sample of 247 women (Mean age = 57.56, range 45-89 years) from three race groups (42% Native American, 34% African American, 24% European American). PROCESS models revealed significant interactions between optimism and support suggesting that high support buffers the risk of low optimism for all three dependent variables, and two interactions of optimism with social strain, showing that low optimism exacerbated the negative impact of high strain for CES-D and self-esteem scores. The full models accounted for 30-50% of the variance explained in each outcome. We discuss important resources for resilience shown by the women in the sample.
OLDER WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES OF AGING: THE PHYSICAL, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND THE SOCIAL
Authors: Newton Nicky J 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
According to the life course perspective (Settersten, 2003), major life transitions are embedded in contexts shaped by personal history and social circumstances “as natural as the changing seasons” (Miller, 2010, p.663). Aging itself is perhaps the epitome of all transitions: a relatively measured movement through a series of situations, conditions, and social roles (Hettich, 2010); a transition that particularly lends itself to a life course approach. In this qualitative interview study, 37 women (Mage = 72.27) responded to questions regarding their experiences of the physical, psychological and social aspects of aging. While themes of inevitability and physical health were evident, the highly-personalized nature of aging was also underscored through individual themes of invisibility, freedom from expectations, fear of cognitive decline, and the quality and maintenance of friendships. Similarities and differences in women’s experience of aging are compared; the need to contextualize aging within the life course is discussed.
ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS: MEN’S HEALTH AND AGING
Authors: Thorpe Roland J 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Historically men typically have had more opportunities, privileges, and power; yet men die sooner and have earlier onset of health conditions compared to women. This is largely because there is a paucity of research focusing on the complex interaction that exists between social, behavioral, biological, and psychosocial factors among men. This symposium contains a collection of papers in the latest Volume of the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics that discuss some key factors that can provide insights to advance our understanding of men’s health and aging. Kelley and colleagues bring together several important concepts from sociology and gerontology to provide an explanatory framework for older men’s differential health profiles within and between cohorts, and over time. Wilmoth and colleagues discuss the complexities of understanding the health and well-being of male veterans in late life by providing critical insight on next steps that are needed on specific war-era cohorts to identify the mechanisms that shape veteran status differences in late-life health and mortality. Taylor and Taylor focus on social isolation and loneliness among a diverse sample of older men including understanding how social isolation and loneliness impact health outcomes. Bruce and Thorpe focus on how faith has implications for socio-biologic interactions associated with elevated risk for disease and premature death among this marginalized population. These presentations collectively will bolster our knowledge on men’s health and aging.
SOCIAL ISOLATION, LONELINESS, AND MEN'S HEALTH
Authors: Taylor Harry O 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Strong and fulfilling relationships are important components of men’s health and well-being across the life course; however, social isolation and loneliness are important but under-assessed conditions among older men. This is important to note because older men often subscribe to common masculinity themes regarding independence and self-sufficiency which places them at greater risk for social isolation and loneliness in comparison to older women. The purpose of this presentation is to review the social isolation and loneliness literature specifically among older men by 1) discussing gender differences, and the potential mechanisms behind these differences, in social isolation and loneliness, 2) examining health, behavioral and physiological effects of social isolation and loneliness specifically among older men, and 3) providing future research directions for understanding social isolation and loneliness among older men including understanding social isolation and loneliness and their associative outcomes among diverse samples of older men.
ACTIVITIES ACROSS AMERICA: EVALUATING GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES IN ACTIVITY ENGAGEMENT
Authors: Trubenstein Brittany P , Corley Robin , Gebelin Kyle D , Rey Sergio , Wadsworth Sally , Reynolds Chandra A 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Rurality is associated with cognitive health disparities. We investigated proximal and distal indices of rurality, activity engagement and cognitive performance in the ongoing Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan behavioral development and cognitive aging (CATSLife; N = 979; 47% female). The Index of Relative Rurality (IRR) (0 = Urban to 1= Rural) was calculated using population density, population, percent urban, and remoteness at the census tract (IRRtract; M=0.40,SD =.05) and county levels (IRRcounty; M=0.53, SD=.09), which were moderately correlated (r = .21, p = .000). Individuals reported weekly-hours of engagement in 19 activities, classified into social (M=6.85, SD=4.03), physical (M=6.53, SD=4.76), family (M=10.76, SD=7.06), sedentary (M=11.84, SD=5.83), or cognitive (M=4.63, SD=3.74) domains. Social activities correlated with IRRcounty (r=0.091, p = .005) but not with IRRtract (r=-0.004). WAIS-III IQ scores were available. Social activities modestly correlated with IQ, particularly Verbal-IQ (r = .063, p = .049). Cognitive activities correlated with all IQ measures (r’s = .17 to .25, p &lt; .000). While IRRcounty correlated positively with IQ (r’s=0.057 to 0.094, p’s = .079 to .000), IRRtract correlated negatively but not significantly with IQ (r’s=-0.053 to -0.062, p’s = .104 - .054). Analyses accounting for family nesting, sex, and age suggested compensatory associations between IRRcounty versus IRRtract and Full-Scale-IQ (p &lt; .019), with similar patterns for Verbal-IQ and Performance-IQ. Social activities did not uniquely contribute. Further investigation is warranted to better understand the complex relationships between proximal and distal rurality and the implications that these relationships have on activity engagement and cognitive performance.
SOCIAL COHESION, TRANSPORTATION, AND PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AMONG OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Latham-Mintus Kenzie , Miller Keith 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this research is to examine the role that social cohesion and access (conceptualized as mobility and transportation) plays on participation in social activities (i.e., visiting friends/family, attending religious services, participating in organizations, and going out for enjoyment). Participation in valued, social activities promotes of well-being through social interactions and the maintenance of personally meaningful relationships and lifestyles. Methods: Data from the National Health and Aging Trends (NHATS) study were used. The NHATS is representative of U.S. Medicare recipients ages 65 and older. The NHATS collects information on health and participation as well as detailed environmental measures, which makes it well suited for this research. Results: Higher ratings of social cohesion were associated with higher cumulative odds of participating in social activities among older adults, net of sociodemographic characteristics, personal network size, neighborhood disorder, and health factors. Taking public transportation services and walking places were associated with higher cumulative odds of participating in social activities. An interaction between social cohesion and walking places was significant (p=0.002). Older adults who reported high levels of social cohesion and walked to get around their community were more likely to participate in social activities compared with those reporting low social cohesion and walking as a transportation. Discussion: This research provides evidence that socially cohesive neighborhoods enable greater access to social activities through transportation services. Offering a range of transportation services is only piece of creating an age-friendly community—older adults must also feel comfortable using these options.
ADMINISTRATIVE INDICATORS OF FAMILY SUPPORT AMONG COMPLEX PATIENTS
Authors: Jimenez Elvira E , Trivedi Ranak , Huynh Alexis , Haderlein Taona , Katz Marian , Chang Evelyn 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Greater access to family support has been shown to positively affect the management of complex patients (i.e., multiple chronic conditions and psychosocial needs). However, patients’ availability of family support is not easily obtainable from medical records. We aim to identify administrative variables that can be used as indicators of family support. We investigated secondary next-of-kin (i.e., patient identified two next-of-kin) and marital status as administratively defined family support availability in a Veteran sample (n=2210). A subsample (n=329) was further evaluated with documented responses to questions “Are there any friends/family members you would like to involve in any aspect of your health care?” (i.e., “actual availability”) and “Does anyone help you with your daily activities?” (i.e., “obtained” availability). We performed a logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between administratively defined and “actual” or “obtained” availability of support controlling for age, race/ethnicity, and gender. The sample was 90% male, mean age 63 years, 50%White and 44% African American. We found that 32.9% had administratively defined availability by being married, and 32.5% by listing secondary next-of kin. Married Veterans were significantly more likely to report greater actual availability (p=0.01) and obtained (p=0.04) support. Veterans listing a secondary next-of-kin were significantly more likely to report “actual” availability (p= 0.04) but not on “obtained” (p=0.08) support. Marital status may be a useful proxy of actual family support and listing a secondary next-of kin may be an alternate indicator for complex patients. Our study provides guidance on the use of administrative data in understanding caregivers.
IDENTIFYING UNMET NEED IN INFORMAL CAREGIVING: DISPARITIES BY GENDER, EMPLOYMENT STATUS, AND RACE-ETHNICITY
Authors: Cohen Steven A , Xu Furong , Meucci Marissa R , Woodham Symone , Greaney Mary L 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Older adults, including those with dementia and other types of cognitive decline, often report a desire to remain in their homes. Over 50 million informal caregivers in the US provide needed in-home assistance to those in need, and there are well-documented disparities in informal caregiving responsibilities by sociodemographic factors , yet little is known about “unmet need” in informal caregiving. Therefore, the study’s objective is to examine discrepancies in unmet caregiving-related need by race/ethnicity, gender, and employment status. We abstracted data about caregivers from the 2017 National Study of Caregiving and linked these data to participants in the National Health and Aging Trends Study on caregivers of older adults (n=993). Generalized linear models were used to model the discrepancies between the number of activities of daily living for which the care recipient required assistance and the number of tasks caregivers provide, by race/ethnicity, gender, and employment status, accounting for confounders and complex sampling. Care recipients whose primary informal caregivers were employed were 69% more likely than those whose informal caregivers were not employed to experience unmet caregiving need (OR 1.69, 95%CI 1.19-2.41). A similar association between employment and unmet caregiving was observed among White caregivers (OR=1.79, 95% CI 1.16-2.69), while the association was not significant among Black caregivers (p=0.228). These findings suggest potentially addressable disparities in informal caregiving duties between Black and White caregivers, and can be used to inform and develop of policies and programs designed to improve caregiver health and reduce undue strain on caregiver health and wellbeing.