bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Who Matters For The Subjective Perceptions Toward Gerontechnology?
Authors: Joo Susanna , Kim Seong Hee , Lee Changmin , Kim Chang Oh , Lim Yun Mook , Jun Hey Jung 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The present study aims to investigate how personal relationship satisfaction moderate the associations between types of social support providers and the subjective perceptions toward gerontechnology among Korean older adults. Data were collected by an online survey in February 2021. The sample was 256 older Koreans who have a partner and children (N=109 older adults with low personal relationship satisfaction, N=147 older adults with high personal relationship satisfaction, Age: 66-88, M=69.91, SD=4.19). The dependent variables for the subjective perceptions toward gerontechnology were attitude toward using gerontechnology and anxiety for gerontechnology. Independent variables were four types of social support providers (spouse, children, siblings/relatives, and friends/neighbor). Personal relationship satisfaction was a binary moderator, dividing the sample into low and high personal relationship satisfaction groups. We applied multigroup structural equation modeling. The results showed associations between social support providers and subjective perceptions toward gerontechnology differed by the quality of personal relationships. In detail, receiving support from spouses was associated with the lower level of anxiety of using gerontechnology among older adults in the low personal relationship satisfaction group. Moreover, receiving support from spouses was associated with a higher level of attitude toward using gerontechnology in the high personal relationship group. Receiving social support from other providers were not significant in both groups. The findings imply that the partner living with was salience for positive perception toward gerontechnology. Furthermore, support from spouses may differently work on the subjective perception toward gerontechnology by the quality of personal relationships.
Caregiver Challenges of Older University Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kenning Heather , Yang Yunjia , O'Neill Lisa , Fain Mindy , Wager Mark , Sokan Amanda 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has created numerous challenges for older employees who are also caregivers. Some challenges are associated with disruptions in community-based support services leading to the intensification of caregiver responsibilities. Other challenges are related to caregivers’ concerns about their health or the risk of bringing the virus to the care recipient. This study investigated the impacts of those challenges on older (age 55+) working caregivers, from a major university, with a sample that included 57 male and 80 female caregivers. The investigation explored the association of gender and perception of COVID risk, vulnerability, loneliness, resilience, and interpersonal change. Although literature suggests that female caregivers report more risk-perception, stress, and overburden than male caregivers, our findings showed no significant differences based on gender. These findings suggest the importance of understanding that both male and female older working caregivers have been affected by stress and overburden due to the recent pandemic.
Differentially Methylated Genes in Muscle Associated with Gait Speed in a Non-Human Primate Model of Aging
Authors: Quillen Ellen , Frye Brett , Wildeman Bethany , Stainback Maggie , Register Thomas , Shively Carol 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Age-related changes in DNA methylation are potent regulators of gene expression and may in part explain the onset of disease and disability. Vervet monkeys are a well-described model of neurocognitive and physical aging. Like humans, gait speed declines with age in vervets, and variability in gait speed in older animals is associated with age-related musculoskeletal and cognitive decline. To identify methylation patterns linked to aging-related physical decline, we investigated differentially methylated loci in vastus lateralis biopsies of 29 female vervets aged 8-28 years (~25-90 years in humans). We evaluated 107,490 loci on the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC Human Array that aligned with high fidelity to the vervet genome using the R package minfi and fit generalized linear mixed models to account for underlying genetic relatedness. We found 13 CpG methylation sites associated with 12 genes (CALCR, EBF4, GDNF, GMCL1, HAND1, HOXC10, IRX2, LBX2, MPPED2, SHISA6, SOX2, and WNT2) significantly differentially methylated with gait speed. Increased methylation was negatively associated with gait speed for all loci except GMCL1, reflecting the pattern of global hypermethylation of skeletal muscle tissue with age. Several of the associated genes are involved in development and differentiation including HOXC10 and LBX2, which regulates myoblast migration. CACNG8 regulates voltage-dependent calcium gated channels, and GDNF promotes motor neuron innervation of skeletal muscle. Most associations with muscle phenotypes are novel, but several have been linked to age-related bone diseases. We are currently evaluating the relationships of these differentially methylated loci with muscle mRNA expression and protein abundance.
Epigenetic Signature of Childhood Adversity in Older Adults
Authors: Klopack Eric , Crimmins Eileen 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Past research has shown that childhood adversity (CA) affects the health of older adults; however, the biological mechanisms underlying this association are unclear. Though past research has implicated DNA methylation (DNAm), studies utilizing representative data from older adults and reliable DNAm measures are needed to answer key questions about how stable DNAm changes associated with CA are in later life. Methylation risk scores (MRSs) are an emerging tool that can be used as biomarkers of exposure and as a dimension reduction approach for mediation analyses. This study clarifies the association between CA and later life health by generating MRSs for childhood adversity based on an epigenome wide association study conducted in an independent sample and validating that measure in a nationally representative sample of older adults living in the US from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), including 2016 methylation data from the HRS Innovative Subsample of the Venous Blood Study. For these 4,018 respondents, DNAm was assessed in whole blood using the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation EPIC BeadChip microarray. Results indicate that retrospective report of childhood SES is significantly associated with an MRS for CA after controlling for demographic factors (viz., race and ethnicity, age, gender, smoking status, and BMI), suggesting that DNAm signal from CA persists across the life course into older adulthood. This study helps clarify the biological processes underlying the association between CA and adult health.
Epigenetic Trajectories of Aging and Reprogramming
Authors: Niimi Peter , Levine Morgan , Meer and Margarita 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The epigenetic landscape is remodeled with age, bringing about widespread consequences for cell function. With the revolutionary discoveries by Yamanaka and Takahashi, as well as those that built on this work, the transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, KLF4, and C-Myc (OSKM) can be expressed in a variety of cells, including fibroblasts, to make iPSCs. Once cells are reprogrammed, they show an erasure of epigenetic remodeling, suggesting an avenue to reverse aging. It has been recently shown that ectopic expression of three factors, OSK, can restore vision in mouse glaucoma model and reduces epigenetic age. It is not known the path epigenetic remodeling takes or whether all three factors, OSK, are required to remodel the epigenetic landscape. We hypothesize that during reprogramming, cells will reverse along a similar path they took during aging and eventually reverse along that path they took during differentiation. Alternatively, it may also be possible that cells take entirely new paths to reach a state of partial reprogramming or pluripotency. We used DNA methylation and RNA-seq as a multi-omics approach to map the trajectories cells make during aging, differentiation, and reprogramming. In human fibroblasts and hepatocytes, we tested the three-factor OSK mix, as well as pairwise factors OS, OK, and SK and individual Oct4, Sox2, and KLF4 for their effect on cell trajectories. This study provides a dynamic model for epigenetic changes in aging, differentiation, and reprogramming and highlights barriers and bottlenecks throughout the process.
Epigenome Wide Associations of Smoking Behavior in the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Fisher Jonah , Mitchell Colter , Meier Helen , Crimmins Eileen , Thyagarajan Bharat , Faul Jessica 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) is an increasingly popular biomarker of health and aging outcomes. Smoking behaviors have a significant and well documented correlation with methylation signatures within the epigenome and are important confounding variables to account for in epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS). However, the common classification of individuals as ‘current’, ‘former’, and ‘never’ smokers may miss crucial DNAm patterns associated with other smoking behaviors such as duration, intensity, and frequency of cigarette smoking, resulting in an underestimation of the contribution of smoking behaviors to DNAm and potentially biasing EWAS results. We investigated associations between multiple smoking behavioral phenotypes (smoking pack years, smoking duration, smoking start age, and smoking end age) and single site DNAm using linear regressions adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and cell-type proportions in a subsample of individuals who participated in the HRS 2016 Venous Blood Study (N=1,775). DNAm was measured using the Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip. All 4 phenotypes had significant associations (FDR &lt; 0.05) with many methylation sites (packyears=6859, smoking duration=6572, start age=11374, quit age=773). There was not much overlap in DNAm sites between the full set of models with only 6 overlapping between all 4. However, the phenotypes packyears and smoking duration showed large overlap (N=3782). Results suggest additional smoking phenotypes beyond current/former/never smoker classification should be included in EWAS analyses to appropriately account for the influence of smoking behaviors on DNAm.
Longitudinal course of GDF15 levels before acute hospitalization and death in the general population
Authors: Tavenier Juliette , Andersen Ove , Nehlin Jan O , Petersen Janne 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Growth differentiation 15 (GDF15) is a potential novel biomarker of biological aging. To separate the effects of chronological age and birth cohort from biological age, longitudinal studies investigating associations of GDF15 levels with adverse health outcomes are needed. We investigated changes in GDF15 levels over 10 years in an age-stratified sample of the general population and their relation to the risk of acute hospitalization and death. Serum levels of GDF15 were measured three times in 5-year intervals in 2176 participants aged 30, 40, 50, or 60 years from the Danish population-based DAN-MONICA cohort. We assessed the association of single and repeated GDF15 measurements with the risk of non-traumatic acute hospitalizations. We tested whether changes in GDF15 levels over 10 years differed according to the frequency of hospitalizations within 2 years, or survival within 20 years, after the last GDF15 measurement. The change in GDF15 levels over time was dependent on age and sex. Higher GDF15 levels and a greater increase in GDF15 levels were associated with an increased risk of acute hospitalization in adjusted Cox regression analyses. Participants with more frequent admissions within 2 years, and those who died within 20 years, after the last GDF15 measurement already had elevated GDF15 levels at baseline and experienced greater increases in GDF15 levels during the study. The change in GDF15 levels was associated with changes in C-reactive protein and biomarkers of kidney, liver, and cardiac function. Monitoring of GDF15 starting in middle-age could be valuable for the prediction of adverse health outcomes.
Metabolic Syndrome and Neurocognitive Function among older Hispanics/Latinos with HIV
Authors: Marquine Maria , Kamalyan Lily , Yassai-Gonzalez David , Cherner Mariana , Ellis Ronald , Umlauf Anya , Jeste Dilip , Heaton Robert 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Neurocognitive impairment is prevalent among persons with HIV (PWH), particularly among Hispanics/Latinos/as/x (henceforth Hispanics). We examined disparities in HIV-associated neurocognitive function between older Hispanic and non-Hispanic White PWH, and the potential role of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in explaining these disparities. Participants included 116 community-dwelling PWH ages 50-75, who were enrolled in a cohort study in southern California (58 Hispanic [53% Spanish-speaking] and 58 age-comparable non-Hispanic White; Overall group: Age: M=57.9, SD=5.7; Education: M=13, SD=3.4; 83% male, 58% AIDS, 94% on antiretroviral therapy [ART], 4% detectable plasma RNA). A global neurocognition score was derived from T-Scores on a comprehensive neurocognitive battery, with separate demographic adjustments for English and Spanish-speakers. MetS was ascertained via standard criteria that considered central obesity, elevated triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated fasting glucose, as well as current medical treatment for these conditions. Covariates examined included sociodemographic, psychiatric, substance use and HIV-disease characteristics. Hispanics had higher rates of MetS (56%) than non-Hispanic Whites (37%; p&lt;.05). A stepwise regression model on global neurocognition including ethnicity and covariates that differed between ethnic groups, selected only Hispanic ethnicity as a significant predictor (B=-3.82, SE=1.27, p&lt;.01). A comparable model also including MetS showed that both Hispanic ethnicity (B=-3.39, SE=1.31, p=.01) and MetS (B=-2.73, SE=1.31, p=.04), were significantly associated with worse global neurocognition. Findings indicate that MetS does not fully explain disparities in neurocognitive function between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White older PWH, but rather is an independent predictor of neurocognitive function along with Hispanic ethnicity.
Methods used in 'ALDH2*2 association with longevity and reduced risk of cognitive decline in Japanese-American men'
Authors: Sachan Anubhav Nikunj Singh , Edland Steven , Chosy Julia , Launer Lenore , Seshadri Sudha , White Lon 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
ALDH2*2 is a loss of function mutation common in East Asian populations associated with facial flushing on exposure to alcohol and increased risk of certain cancers. Conversely, absence of the ALDH2*2 mutation is associated with increased risk of hypertension and cerebral microbleeds, and two recent studies report a higher frequency of ALDH2*2 alleles in nonagenarians compared to population control samples. We used survival analysis to investigate the association between ALDH2*2 and risk of cognitive impairment and death after controlling for midlife alcohol consumption and other covariates. Participants are 621 Japanese-American men (72 to 92) enrolled in the Honolulu Asia Aging Study (HAAS) and assessed for cognitive impairment for up to 20 years. Impairment was defined as crossing below a threshold score of 74 on the Cognitive Assessment Screening Instrument (CASI). Age at death was determined by Hawaii state death certificate. Ounces of ethyl alcohol consumed per month was assessed by structured interview (number, frequency, and type of beverage) conducted 25 years prior to baseline cognitive assessment. Persons heterozygous for the ALDH2*2 variant have reduced risk of cognitive impairment and reduced risk of death, compared to homozygote non-carriers. Covarying by alcohol exposure had no effect on observed associations. This study replicates previous findings associating ALDH2*2 with longevity, and provides evidence the protective effect extends to cognition. This poster details the statistical analysis carried out to obtain these results.
Living With Early-Onset Dementia in China: Through a Person-Centered Care Lens
Authors: Wang Jing , Ding Ding , Zhao Qianhua 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 35 dyads of persons with early-onset dementia (EOD) and their primary informal care partners to explore their dyadic experiences of living EOD in Shanghai, China. Many of them are in their 50s and still need to make familial, financial, and social commitments. They experienced significant disruptions of their "normal" family life and family dynamics, social stigma, and felt marginalized when there was very limited age-appropriate support for them. During COVID-19 pandemic, many persons with EDO and their care partners had decreased social networking opportunities, physical exercises and experienced an increased level of social isolation. The pandemic further complicated their family dynamics, relationships, and communications. Care partners used their strengths to adaptively deal with multiple challenges, cope with the stress, social isolation, and normalize their family life by facilitating collaborative work with persons with EOD.
Claims-Based Network Analysis of Disease Progressions in Complex and Non-Complex Older Adults
Authors: Onglao Peter Nicholas , Janer Ciara , Ventura Maria Eloisa , Bangerter Lauren 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Older adults are the fastest growing subset of complex patients with high medical, behavioral, and social needs. Understanding differences in disease progression patterns between complex and non-complex older adults is critical for understanding disease risk and tailoring patient-centered interventions. We identified complex patients as those having frequent medical encounters and multiple chronic conditions within the first year of the study period and non-complex patients as the converse. This study compares the disease progression patterns of (a) complex and (b) non-complex older adults by creating disease progression networks (DPN) from claims data of 762,362 patients (mean age = 73) from 2016 to 2020. We characterized the network size and density between the complex patient DPN (C-DPN) and non-complex patient DPN (NC-DPN), and compared disease progression incidence, time-to-progression, and age- and gender-related risk. Results show that the C-DPN was denser and had a wider range of values for risk of progression compared to the NC-DPN. This implies more varied disease progression patterns occurring in the complex adults. We were also able to compare (median) time-to-progressions of diseases relative to each subpopulation and found variation in disease progression time. Furthermore, k-means clustering on the network allowed us to identify highly connected diseases involved in many disease pathways that are prevalent among older adults. (e.g., lipoprotein disorders, hypertension, major depressive disorder). Our results suggest that DPNs can be used to identify important conditions and time-points for tailoring care to the complex and non-complex older adults.
Implications of Biological Rates of Aging on Healthcare Expenditures and Morbidity
Authors: Santos Alix Jean , Asuncion Xavier Eugenio , Rivero-Co Camille , Ventura Maria Eloisa , Geronia Reynaldo , Bangerter Lauren , Sheils Natalie 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Understanding biological aging, which entails impeding the progressive decline of biological systems, is important in enabling older adults to live independently. However, the differences in how individuals evolve as they age suggest that aging is a process that does not progress on a single-dimensional trajectory. Moreover, longitudinal studies of aging that follow a cohort of individuals over the course of several years are commonly limited by cost, attrition, and subsequently small sample size. In this study, we used a variational autoencoder to estimate multidimensional rates of aging from cross-sectional routine laboratory data of 1.4 million Americans of at least 40 years of age, collected from 2016 to 2019. We uncovered four aging dimensions that represent the following bodily functions: 1) kidney, 2) thyroid, 3) white blood cells, and 4) liver and heart. We found that fast agers along these dimensions are more likely to develop chronic diseases that are related to these bodily functions. They also had higher health care expenditures compared to the slow agers. K-means clustering of individuals based on the different aging rates revealed that clusters with higher odds of developing morbidity had the highest cost across all types of health care services. Results suggest that cross-sectional laboratory data can be leveraged as an alternative methodology to understand rates of aging along different dimensions, and analysis of their relationships with future costs can aid in the development of interventions to delay disease progression.
Older adults show biomarker evidence of PICS after sepsis
Authors: Mankowski Robert , Anton Stephen , Ghita Gabriela , Leeuwenburgh Christiaan , Moldawer Lyle , Efron Philip , Brakenridge Scott , Moore Frederick 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background: Hospital deaths after sepsis have decreased substantially and most young adult survivors rapidly recover (RAP). However, many older survivors develop chronic critical illness (CCI) with poor long-term outcomes. The etiology of CCI is multifactorial and the relative importance remains unclear. Sepsis is caused by a dysregulated immune response and biomarkers reflecting a persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome (PICS) have been observed in CCI after sepsis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare serial PICS biomarkers in a) older (versus young) adults and b) older CCI (versus older RAP) patients to gain insight into underlying pathobiology of CCI in older adults. Methods: Prospective longitudinal study with young (≤ 45 years) and older (≥ 65 years) septic adults who were characterized by a) baseline predisposition, b) hospital outcomes, c) serial SOFA organ dysfunction scores over 14 days, d) Zubrod Performance status at three, six and 12-month follow-up and e) mortality over 12 months. Serial blood samples over 14 days were analyzed for selected biomarkers reflecting PICS. Results: Compared to the young, more older adults developed CCI (20% vs 42%) and had markedly worse serial SOFA scores, performance status and mortality over 12 months. Additionally, older (versus young) and older CCI (versus older RAP) patients had more persistent aberrations in biomarkers reflecting inflammation, immunosuppression, stress metabolism, lack of anabolism and anti-angiogenesis over 14 days after sepsis. Conclusion: Older (versus young) and older CCI (versus older RAP) patient subgroups demonstrate early biomarker evidence of the underlying pathobiology of PICS.