bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CHALLENGES TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Authors: Dobbs Debra , Haley William , Sadeq Nasreen 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The University of South Florida has more than 50,000 students. The School of Aging Studies first offered an MA in Gerontology in 1967. We currently offer many undergraduate General Education courses, two undergraduate majors, online graduate certificate and master’s programs, and a PhD in Aging Studies. Accountability and addressing university metrics and priorities have become an increasing requirement at USF and elsewhere. We have had great success in our General Education courses, consistently reaching over 5,000 students per year and producing high Student Credit Hour (SCH) numbers, an important metric. Recently, our programs experienced challenges with increased class sizes resulting from higher demand for our general education courses. In several cases, the number of course sections offered and the number of seats in each had doubled. Meeting these demands placed a strain on faculty, instructors, and graduate student assistants. We also face challenges as our university funding formula increasingly focuses on undergraduate major enrollment, and therefore we are focusing on innovative methods to recruit more students at the undergraduate, master’s, and PhD level. In this presentation, we will describe some of the strategies that have maximized our successes, and efforts to address challenges in sustaining larger numbers of degree seeking students in our programs. We will include data on SCH, grant funding, publications, citations, and program graduates per year which help us monitor our successes and areas needing improvement.
UNDERGRAD AND GRAD COMBINED PROGRAMS: FACILITATING RECRUITMENT THROUGH NEW PATHWAYS
Authors: Newsham Tina , Fugate-Whitlock Elizabeth 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The University of North Carolina Wilmington was reclassified as an R2 institution in 2018. As such, additional focus has been placed on graduate programs and the generation of research. More recently, UNCW’s Chancellor Volety followed recommendations from faculty, staff, and students to seek to endorse the Age Friendly University principles. These two accomplishments create ideal conditions for growing the gerontology program, which had been on the low productivity list and considered for dissolution (as has happened with many programs around the country). To facilitate recruitment into the MS in Applied Gerontology, new pathways known as “4 + 1” or “combined programs” were created. By allowing qualified undergraduate students to take a portion of their coursework at the graduate level, students explore their interest in gerontology, become invested in gerontology education, and meet undergrad and graduate requirements simultaneously. Students are then able to complete their MS in Applied Gerontology in as little as one more year. Such programming has created a steady stream of students into the graduate program, which is no longer on the low productivity list. While this approach has many strengths, challenges exist that must be acknowledged. Marketing the program to a now very broad prospective student base requires finesse. For example, marketing that would appeal to an exercise science student may not be what speaks to a psychology student. These challenges also translate to the classroom. Although gerontology is an interdisciplinary field, career goals for students now vary even more widely as do their expectations and academic needs.
AGE-INCLUSIVE STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING AND WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS IN U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION
Authors: Silverstein Nina , Bowen Lauren , Berg-Weger Marla 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This symposium reports on recent research to develop informed strategies to expand age-friendly campus practices related to institutional functions our previous study identified as areas of high-need and broad-impact within an age-friendly campus environment: Teaching and Learning, Personnel, and Student Affairs. The current research aimed to identify barriers and opportunities for age inclusivity as experienced by older campus members (faculty, staff, and students); identify challenges and strategies for implementing age-friendly campus practices; and recommend practical strategies to expand and enhance age-friendly practices. To this end, we drew on data collected from several sources: open-ended responses to the Age-Friendly Inventory and Campus Climate Survey (ICCS) administered to a sample of 23 U.S. members of the Age-Friendly University (AFU) network; responses from 16 focus groups of faculty, administrators/staff, and students; and 18 experts on a nationally selected Delphi panel of experts in higher education. Based on the focus group data, we generated over 50 strategy recommendations within the academic functions that were then evaluated by the Delphi panelists to assess their efficacy, feasibility, likelihood of implementation, and perceived impact. Silverstein will provide an overview of the research objectives, Bowen will discuss what the open-ended responses revealed about perceptions of campus age-inclusivity, Lin and Xu will describe the study samples, Whitbourne will describe the results of the focus group analyses, and Montepare will discuss the final set of recommendations based on the Delphi panel analyses. Berg-Weger will serve as Discussant.
IDENTIFYING CHALLENGES FOR AGE-INCLUSIVE HIGHER EDUCATION: SURVEY RESPONSES BY FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS
Authors: Bowen Lauren 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
To ground and contextualize focus group discussions, potential challenges to age-inclusivity were identified from open-ended responses in a survey of faculty, staff, and students at 25 AFU institutions in the United States. First-level coding identified 2,368 responses that indicated participants’ perceptions of their campus’s efforts to be age-friendly across major function areas of higher education institutions; of these, many responses directly addressed key functions that the current study aims to address: 508 on Teaching and Learning; 260 on Student Affairs; 348 on Personnel. Second-level coding identified particular themes capturing common negative perceptions by faculty, staff, and students within each function area. For example, in teaching and learning, the four common complaints were that classroom practices and environments were not age-inclusive; that accessing appropriate academic support outside the classroom was difficult for older/nontraditional students; and that classes could do more to maximize the benefits of age diversity. As potential challenges to age-inclusivity in higher education, these themes provided the base structure of 8 focus group discussion guides tailored to function area and constituent group: Teaching and Learning (for faculty, staff, and students), Student Affairs (for faculty, staff, and students), and Personnel (for faculty and staff).
IDENTIFYING AGE-FRIENDLY CAMPUS STRATEGIES USING A DELPHI PANEL METHODOLOGY
Authors: Montepare Joann 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This presentation will describe the results of a Delphi panel study of 18 experts in higher education who independently assessed age-friendly strategies in three core areas of institutional function: teaching and learning, personnel practices, and student affairs. To begin, experts evaluated the relative importance of 21 common challenges for advancing age inclusivity on U.S. campuses. They then assessed the extent to which 53 potential strategies were appropriate, feasible, and likely to be implemented by campus leaders. In the first round of evaluations, 3 of the 21 challenges were rated as not very important by some experts. On the second round of evaluations, experts assessed why these particular challenges were rated as such. During the first round of reviews, experts also indicated that while 8 strategies were feasible and appropriate to addressing challenges to age inclusivity, they were unlikely to be implemented on campuses. Thus, in the second round, experts were asked why this might have been the case by selecting 2 probable barriers from a list of barriers to adoption. Finally, experts rated the potential impact of all strategies for improving age inclusivity. That is, aside from feasibility or likelihood, the extent to which they thought the strategies could transform age-inclusive environments in higher education. In addition to describing which strategies were most highly recommended, insights will be presented about how the experts viewed various age-friendly challenges and the barriers that hold institutions back from taking up more age-inclusive practices to support older students, faculty, and staff.
DOWNWARD DEMENTIA TREND GOES INTO REVERSE IN ENGLAND AND WALES? ENGLISH LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF AGING 2002–2019
Authors: Chen Yuntao , Bandosz Piotr , Stoye George , Liu Yuyang , Lobanov-Rostovsky Sophia , French Eric , Liao Jing , Brunner Eric 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Recent evidence suggests dementia incidence rates are declining in high-income countries. However, data for the trend after 2010 are scarce. We examined the temporal trend in England and Wales from 2002-2019, considering bias and non-linearity. We used population-based panel data linked to the mortality register across wave 1 (2002-2003) to wave 9 (2018-2019) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Uniform standard criteria based on cognitive and functional impairment were used to ascertain incident dementia cases. Crude incidence rates were determined in seven overlapping initially dementia-free sub-cohorts followed over four years. We estimated the age- and sex-adjusted trend of dementia incidence with Cox and multi-state models. Restricted cubic splines allowed for potential non-linearity. 19 806 people were included in the study. Crude dementia incidence declined from 2002 to 2008 (8.7 to 7.4 per 1000 person-years), and increased from 2008 to 2019 (7.4 to 10.3 per 1000 person-years). Adjusting for age and sex, and accounting for missing dementia cases due to death, estimated dementia incidence declined by 28.8% from 2002 to 2008 (incidence rate ratio 0.71, 95% CI 0.58-0.88), and increased by 25.2% from 2008 to 2016 (incidence rate ratio 1.25, 1.03-1.54). The higher education group had a sharper decline of dementia incidence from 2002 to 2008, and a smaller increase after 2008. Dementia incidence may not be declining. There was a rebound after 2008 in England and Wales. If the upward dementia incidence trend continues, along with population ageing, the burden on health and social care may be large.
KNOWLEDGE OF GENDER-SPECIFIC TYPES OF CANCER AMONG OLDER LATINOS/AS
Authors: Carrion Iraida , Neelamegam Malinee , Estapé Tania , Estapé Jorge 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Given the growing population of Latino/a immigrants 60 years and older and the current lack of relevant data, our study aimed to understand the knowledge of gender-specific types of cancer among older Latinos/as to ensure effective prevention, intervention, and cancer care. Using convenience sampling, 200 individuals identifying as Latino/a were surveyed in Tampa, Florida. Results indicate significant differences in men’s and women’s knowledge of breast cancer and prostate cancer preventative measures. The differences in cancer knowledge among older Latino/a men and women regarding the opposite gender are relevant when providing cancer education to older adults. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate cancer care and education can help address decision-making, achieve equity, and improve cancer outcomes for older Latinos/as.
PREVALENCE OF MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND DEMENTIA IN ADULTS WITH DIABETES
Authors: Zheng Yaguang , Qi Xiang , Zhu Zheng , Wu Bei 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Diabetes is a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. However, there is limited evidence on the prevalence of MCI/dementia in individuals with diabetes using a nationally representative sample in the U.S.. We aimed to address this knowledge gap by using the nationally representative data from the 2018 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The validated 27-point Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) was used to assess MCI (TICS 7-12) and dementia (TICS &lt;7). A total of 4192 (28.0%) out of 14,988 adults had self-reported diabetes. The mean age was 66.5±11.4 years, with White (64.5%) and Black (23.1%). Adults with diabetes had a higher prevalence of MCI than those without diabetes (19.9% vs. 14.8%; odds ratio [95% confidence interval] (OR[95%CI]): 1.47 [1.34, 1.61]) and higher prevalence of dementia (5.32% vs. 3.46%; OR[95%CI]: 1.68 [1.42, 1.99]). In those with diabetes, adults aged 65-75 years, and 75 years and older had a higher prevalence of MCI (OR[95%CI]: 1.13 [1.00, 1.27]; 2.36 [2.13, 2.61]) and dementia (OR[95%CI]: 1.60 [1.25, 2.06]; 5.071 [4.14, 6.21]) than those who aged 50-65 years. Black and other races had a higher risk of MCI (OR[95%CI]: 2.14 [1.94, 2.36]; 1.602 [1.41, 1.83]) and dementia (OR[95%CI]: 2.32 [1.93, 2.79]; 1.82[1.43, 2.31]) than White. Our study, using large-scale and nationally representative data, found that adults with diabetes had a higher prevalence of MCI/dementia than those without diabetes. Older adults and racial/ethnic minorities with diabetes need to gain further attention for disease management due to the higher prevalence of MCI/dementia.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT (K) AWARDS AT NIA: PROGRAMS, PEER REVIEW, AND SETTING YOU UP FOR SUCCESS
Authors: Kahana Shoshana , Kahana Shoshana 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of the 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), leads the federal government in conducting and supporting research on aging and the health and well-being of older people. The growing investment in training, and specifically career development awards (K), has resulted in substantial growth at NIA. The purpose of this symposium is to provide an overview of the 1) various types of NIH career development awards and programs; 2) effective strategies for preparing strong career development award applications; and 3) NIA peer review process for career development awards. Providing information to attendees of the various career development awards, as well as the critical factors to understand in the process of the peer review process, can optimize future success.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS AT NIA/NIH
Authors: Carranza Maria 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
NIA offers a variety of individual research career development (K) awards, which enable scientists to enhance their careers in biomedical research. Mentored career development (K) awards are effective tools at retaining investigators in research careers and contributing to their subsequent research success. Specifically, those who receive K awards are significantly more likely to have subsequent research publications and to apply for subsequent NIH research awards. In this presentation, Dr. Carranza will review different K programs offered at NIA, including those targeted at postdocs, early career faculty, and more senior faculty, as well as clinician-science focused awards.
PEER REVIEW PROCESS OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS (K) APPLICATIONS AT NIA
Authors: Gianina Dumitrescu Ramona , Nakhai Bita 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In this presentation, Dr. Dumitrescu will take you behind the scenes of what occurs in a peer review meeting of career development award (K) applications at NIA. Some of the mechanics of the peer review process will be discussed, including composition of study groups, general timelines, and how the results of the peer review process are communicated to applicants via Summary Statements. Attendees will understand how reviewers evaluate the 5 core domains that generate a final impact score, including the: 1) candidate’s qualifications; 2) the career development plan and career goals & objectives; 3) research plan; 4) mentor(s), collaborators & consultants; and 5) institutional environment & commitment to the candidate. Dr. Dumitrescu will help to de-mystify the peer review process in order help applicants leverage their respective applications for maximum success.
EFFECT OF LONG-TERM CALORIC RESTRICTION ON THE PACE OF BIOLOGICAL AGING IN HEALTHY ADULTS FROM THE CALERIE TRIAL
Authors: Belsky Daniel 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The geroscience hypothesis proposes that therapy to slow or reverse molecular changes that occur with aging can delay or prevent multiple chronic diseases and extend healthy lifespan. Caloric restriction (CR), defined as lessening caloric intake without depriving essential nutrients, can change molecular processes associated with aging, including DNA methylation (DNAm), and increases healthy lifespan in multiple species. Here we report results of a post-hoc analysis of the influence of CR on DNAm measures of aging in blood samples from the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) trial, a randomized controlled trial in which n=220 non-obese adults were randomized to 25% CR or ad libitum control diet for 2years. We found that CALERIE intervention slowed the pace of aging, as measured by the DunedinPACE DNAm clock, but did not lead to significant changes in PhenoAge- or GrimAge-clock-measured biological age. Treatment effects were small; changes in DunedinPACE suggest a ~3% slowing of the pace of aging. Nevertheless, this small effect may be substantive; in an independent study of older adults, 3% slower DunedinPACE is associated with a 15% lower risk of death. The finding that CR modified DunedinPACE in a randomized controlled trial supports the geroscience hypothesis, building on evidence from small and uncontrolled studies and contrasting with reports that biological aging may not be modifiable. Ultimately, a conclusive test of the geroscience hypothesis will require trials with long-term follow-up to establish effects of intervention on primary healthy-aging endpoints, including incidence of chronic disease and mortality.
EARLY-LIFE EXPOSURE TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND THE PACE OF BIOLOGICAL AGING
Authors: Schmitz Lauren 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis proposes that insults to early-life development can result in increased risk for aging-related disease later in life. There is growing interest within gerontology in the potential role such early life exposures play in shaping processes of aging. However, causal research linking early-life exposures to processes of aging in later life is rare. Moreover, there are difficulties in distinguishing the impacts of exposures occurring at different stages of early life development. In this study, we build on a quasi-natural experiment design we developed that leverages state-year variation in economic shocks during the Great Depression to examine the causal effect of environmental exposure in early life on aging outcomes in the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (2022 PNAS). Our design allows us to distinguish effects of exposure during different periods of early life development – in-utero, in the first year of life, and later in childhood. In the present study, we apply this framework specifically to study impacts of early-life exposure to the Great Depression on pace of aging in later life. We measure pace of aging using repeated-measures longitudinal functional test and biomarker data and, in parallel, a single-timepoint blood-DNA methylation assessment of the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock through the 2016 HRS assessment wave. We further examine whether impacts of the Great Depression on the pace of aging translate into differences in morbidity and mortality through 2020.
DIVERSE WOMEN’S LIVES: THE STUDY OF BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL IMPACT ON DISABILITY WITH AGE
Authors: Harrison Tracie , Nagel Corey , Harrison Tracie 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In this symposium we examine the extent to which psychosocial interventions might promote healthy aging among women with emotional, mobility, and sensory limitations. A growing literature explains the need for culturally tailored care for men and women with disabilities while also stressing the importance of accommodations when living in inaccessible environments. Creating positive social participation amongst diverse groups based on sex/gender with varying levels of function and types of limitations may require more thought and resources than society is willing to forfeit. In this symposium, we begin by examining these issues among people aging in Mexico with few environmental accommodations in place. Creating recognition for the needs of men compared to women who age into mobility limitations in Mexico begins with identifying their unique individual and environmental risks. Next, we examine the needs of women in acute and long-term care with schizophrenia related emotional limitations. Stigma and neglect may create an environmental barrier to healthy aging in the U.S among this population. Our next study examines how sleep duration and quality can impact levels of depression and fatigue for men and women with sensory limitations, drawing attention to the additive effects of emotional changes on functional limitations. Finally, Taylor’s group draws our attention to the work of creating social participation interventions for depression among African American women as they age with severe arthritic pain. We conclude by facilitating a discussion on social and cultural barriers for diverse women aging with functional limitations. This is a Women’s Issues Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.
THE LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVES OF WOMEN AGING WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA: CONCERNS WITH HEALTHY AGING
Authors: Walker Veronica Garcia 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Multiple semi-structured interviews were conducted between August 2021- June 2022 to obtain life course insights of women aging with schizophrenia (N=14). 2 (14%) identified as Hispanic; 5 (36%) as African American, 7 (50%) as non-Hispanic White. Findings: 1) Getting Old Has Made it Worse, indicating decrease in functioning related to aging 2); I Need Meds to Live a Healthier Life, indicating a need for access to health care to address age related health conditions; 3) I’m Afraid to Die, indicating worry expressed as death becomes more imminent; 4) Who’s Going to Help an Old Lady Like Me?, indicating a need for assistance to manage health conditions associated with aging. These findings support the need for experts that are considerate, have good communication, are genuine, and trustworthy in gerontology to provide important care for persons to ensure long, high quality lives for people with severe mental illness.