bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DESIGNING TUTORIALS TO AUGMENT MOBILITY FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Authors: Charness Neil , Gray Nicholas , Kossowska-Kuhn Dorota , Na Hunui , Pervratil Michael 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The Augmenting User Geocoordinates & Mobility with ENhanced Tutorials (AUGMENT) project aims to support aging adults experiencing navigation difficulties accompanying cognitive impairments due to stroke, mild cognitive impairment, and traumatic brain injury. We describe the process and principles for designing tutorials for Uber and Google Maps, two applications that can support improved mobility for those with navigation difficulties associated with cognitive impairment. Initially we examined predictors of self-reported navigation difficulty in a sample (n=300) of older adults aging normally. In the multiple regression, self-reported memory problems (beta = .35), severity of memory problems (beta=.18), and female gender (beta=.16) were the strongest predictors of wayfinding difficulty in addition to a standardized spatial orientation test (beta=.13). Finding that memory difficulties were strongly related to navigation difficulties even in normal aging implied that tutorials could not make strong demands on retention and helped define the queries for interviews in the needs assessment phase. Next, we interviewed aging adults with cognitive impairment and their care partners about navigation problems, focusing on difficulties using navigation devices and applications. We also presented screenshots of the two target apps and asked simple questions about actions that could be taken. We then designed prototype tutorials using principles such as directing attention to relevant display features by highlighting the features, minimizing extraneous workload, and providing spaced retrieval practice for interactions with the interface. We also describe the iterative design process being used to refine the tutorials and the planned summative test of tutorial efficacy.
SOCIAL DISCONNECTION, EPIGENETIC AGING, AND MOTORIC COGNITIVE RISK SYNDROME: A CAUSAL MEDIATION ANALYSIS
Authors: Qi Xiang , Belsky Daniel , Yang Yang , Malone Susan , Zheng Yaguang , Wu Bei 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Social isolation and loneliness are two different aspects of social disconnection. Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), a preclinical phase of dementia, is characterized by memory complaints and slow gait. It is unclear how social disconnection relates to MCR and its underlying mechanisms. Using data from Health and Retirement Study 2012-2020, we aimed to 1) examine the association between social isolation and loneliness and MCR and 2) investigate whether accelerated epigenetic aging mediates this association. We measured social isolation and loneliness at baseline (2012-2014) and epigenetic aging in 2016 using three DNA methylation-based measures (GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPoAm38), and recorded the incidence of MCR in 2016-2020. We used Cox proportional hazard models to investigate the association between social disconnection and MCR, and counterfactual mediation analysis to examine the role of epigenetic aging. Our sample consisted of 3,287 participants without MCR, with 678 developed MCR during follow-up. Our results showed that social isolation was significantly associated with an older GrimAge, a faster aging pace (DunedinPoAm38), and higher risks of MCR (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.10-1.68), while loneliness was associated with faster DunedinPoAm38 aging pace but not MCR (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.79-1.14). Further, GrimAge mediated 16% of the effect of social isolation (Indirect Effect HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.15), and DunedinPoAm38 mediated 11% (Indirect Effect HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.10). Findings suggest that epigenetic aging is a biological mechanism that underlies the association between social isolation and MCR. Further research is necessary to identify strategies to reduce social isolation for dementia prevention.
BETTER TOGETHER: STRENTHENING THE AGE-FRIENDLY ECOSYSTEM
Authors: Dabelko-Schoeny Holly , Sheldon Marisa 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Frameworks to make communities, universities, public health systems, and health services more inclusive and equitable for older adults and people with disabilities have expanded over the last decade. Centering the voices of older adults, these “age-friendly” initiatives have sought social change through building knowledge, changing attitudes, and developing new practices and policies in a variety of settings. Despite the similarities in values and principles across these initiatives, these models of social change have largely operated independently from one another with unique administrative structures, networks, and resources. This presentation will utilize a macro application of the KAP (knowledge, attitude, practice) theory of behavior change to identify the vast opportunity for synergies across the age-friendly ecosystem, strengthening the potential for collective impact and lasting change. Often these initiatives have overlapping and intersecting goals and would benefit from intentional alignment across the initiatives. Modeled after the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges and the Grand Challenges for Social Work, we propose the Grand Challenges for the Age-Friendly Ecosystem, areas in need of action and support, for transformational change in our social, educational, service, and built environments to better meet the needs of our aging society.
CHANGES IN LONG-TERM CARE ARRANGEMENTS AMONG OLDER ADULTS WITH ADRD DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Authors: Wiemers Emily , Truskinovsky Yulya , Leggett Amanda , Hoffman Geoffrey , Freemdan Vicki 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This study will examine how COVID-19 affected care needs and immediate long-term care (LTC) outcomes including paid and family care, coresidence with adult children, and nursing home use for older adults living with ADRD. For this study we use the 2018 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a longitudinal, nationally representative survey of individuals aged 51 and older in the U.S. To assess how long-term care arrangements changed among older adults with dementia during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we first describe the needs and LTC outcomes of older adults living with dementia and examine changes between 2018 and 2020 comparing them to changes among older adults with care needs but no dementia. Then, to identify changes associated with COVID-19 (rather than secular trends due to disease progression) we compare the 2020 LTC outcomes of HRS respondents with care needs who had differential exposure to the severity of the pandemic. We proxy pandemic severity with county level COVID-19 deaths. To understand whether changes in LTC outcomes among older adults with dementia were different from the broader population of high-need older adults, we interact local COVID-19 severity with the presence of dementia in 2018. Preliminary findings indicate a retreat from paid care and increases in coresidence with adult children and receiving unpaid help but no significant differences in LTC outcomes among high need older adults with and without dementia.
FAMILY DYNAMICS IN CARING FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Authors: Choi HwaJung , Leggett Amanda 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
A nuanced understanding of family care dynamics (e.g., change in care availability, care network, and care involvement) is important to assess the coping mechanism in dementia care during the pandemic. We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed methods study. We examined 300 spouses and adult children of people with dementia (PWD) from the National Health and Aging Trend -- Family and Friend, surveyed for July 2020-Feb 2021 (Quantitative analysis), and conducted qualitative analyses based on one-to-one in-depth interviews with an independent sample of 40 family members of PwD (Jan-Dec 2022). Fifty-five percent lived with PwD at the time of the interview (7% moved in with PwD during the pandemic). 35% of the non-coresident family members had fewer in-person contacts with PwD during vs. before the pandemic. More than one in ten of the sample persons lost their jobs during the pandemic. Overall, family members were more likely to provide personal care and instrumental help for PwD during vs. before the pandemic. Caregiving however is more concentrated on coresident family members during the pandemic as in-person visits were limited. Flexible work situations during the pandemic were valued as they facilitated caregiving. Family members who were not directly involved in providing personal care for PwD provided emotional and instrumental support for the primary caregiver. Findings from the study will provide valuable insights into the family dynamics in dementia care during the COVID-19 pandemic, which would inform the development of intervention programs for mitigating the adverse impacts of the pandemic and beyond.
THE RELEVANCE OF SNAP PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY FOR FOOD INSECURITY, FOCUSING ON ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
Authors: Samuel Laura , Wright Rhonda , Varadaraj Varshini , Swenor Bonnielin 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Individuals with disabilities are not only more likely than their peers without disabilities to experience food insecurity, but also encounter disproportionate barriers to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment. This study examined associations between state-level measures of SNAP enrollment accessibility (flexibility, efficiency, and accessibility in the enrollment process; and the presence of either broad-based categorical eligibility or the Combined Application Project) with SNAP participation and food insecurity levels among low-income participants (income ≤185% of the poverty threshold) aged ≥15 years in the 2021 Current Population Survey, both overall (n=19,895) and among those with disabilities (n=3,484). In multi-level models adjusted for individual and state characteristics, living in a state with broad-based categorical eligibility was associated with higher rates of SNAP participation among all low-income individuals (b= 0.300, 95% CI: 0.096, 0.505). Among those with disabilities, having greater flexibility in SNAP enrollment (b= 0.141, 95% CI: 0.007, 0.276) and living in a state with the Combined Application Project (b= 0.271, 95% CI: 0.017, 0.525) were associated with a higher likelihood of SNAP participation. Living in a state with more efficient SNAP enrollment was associated with lower food insecurity levels (b= -0.073, 95% CI: -0.136, -0.010) among all low-income individuals and having broad-based categorical eligibility was associated with lower food insecurity levels (b= -0.237, 95% CI: -0.451, -0.022) among those with disabilities. These findings highlight the importance of SNAP program accessibility to address food insecurity among all low-income Americans and suggest that enrollment barriers may differ for people with and without disabilities.
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AS A PREDICTOR OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS IN WOMEN
Authors: Tavares Karina , Tsotsoros Cindy , Leedahl Skye , Tsotsoros Jessica 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Individuals who experience adversity during childhood are at a higher risk of negative health outcomes in adulthood. This study aims to identify whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) influence health lifestyles throughout adulthood. This was accomplished by collecting data from 233 women aged 18-25 and 65-85 who reported either no ACEs or three or more ACEs. Demographic indicators, the 10-item ACEs questionnaire (Felitti et al., 1998), and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II; Walker, Sechrist, & Pender, 1987) were examined. ACEs were categorized into three variables: abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. The HPLP-II was categorized by its six subscales: health responsibility, nutrition, spiritual growth, physical activity, stress management, and interpersonal relations. When comparing the ACEs and no ACEs groups, t-tests revealed significantly different scores for overall HPLP-II and the six subcategories showing that individuals without ACEs have higher scores on health behaviors. A structural equation model was calculated using the three ACE categories and six health domains. Substantial differences were observed in the variance captured for each of the six health behavior measures. Findings indicate that abuse significantly predicts physical activity, stress management, and spiritual growth (β=-.21, -.23, -.20); neglect significantly predicts interpersonal relationships and spiritual growth (β=-.17, -.18); and household dysfunction significantly predicts health responsibility, nutrition, stress management, and interpersonal relations (β=-.20, -.22, -.10, -.17). The present investigation extends research in displaying that ACEs play a significant role in future health behaviors, with household dysfunction being the greatest predictor.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN COUNTY TEMPERATURE AND VISION IMPAIRMENT IN A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Fuller-Thomson Esme , Deng ZhiDi , Fuller-Thomson Elysia G 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Several small studies have associated exposure to elevated average temperature with specific vision problems. However, no large-scale studies have examined the relationship between vision impairment and average area temperature in the general population. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a large nationally presentative sample of older adults to further explore this relationship through secondary analysis of the American Community Survey (ACS). Data from six consecutive years of the cross-sectional survey were analyzed (2012-2017). The subsample analyzed included community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults aged 65 and older in the coterminous US who lived in the same state in which they were born (n =1,707,333). The question on severe vision impairment was “Is this person blind or does he/she have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?”. Average annual temperature data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was combined into a 100-year average and mapped to corresponding US Census Bureau’s public use microdata areas (PUMAs) from the ACS. Higher average temperature consistently correlated with increased odds of severe vision impairment across all cohorts (i.e. age, sex, race, income, and educational attainment cohorts). Among all participants, the odds of severe vision impairment increased by 9.2% for every 5°F (2.8°C) elevation in annual average temperature (OR 1.092; 95% CI 1.088-1.097). If the association is found to be causal, the predicted rise in global temperatures could impact the number of older Americans affected by severe vision impairment and the associated health and economic burden.
DEVELOPING A COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE INTERVENTION FOR MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT FOR FOREIGN-BORN ARAB AMERICANS
Authors: Darwish Hala 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Cognitive and affective dysfunctions are challenging clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), which may be more prevalent among foreign-born Arab Americans. One study reported that cognitive limitations were present among 9.7% of foreign-born Arab Americans, compared to 7.4% of US-born non-Hispanic whites, blacks, and Asians. This presentation will describe the design and development of culturally valid interventions targeting cognitive and affective dysfunction in foreign-born Arab Americans with MCI and their caregivers (NIH Stage 1B). Individuals with MCI and their caregivers will receive comprehensive cognitive rehabilitation and behavioral therapies. The cognitive performance will be assessed in Arabic using a culturally valid battery, including a verbal memory Arabic test (VMAT) we developed using a systematic item selection procedure (NIH Stage 1A). During Stage 1A, cultural and psychometric validity evidence for Arabic versions of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), and the newly developed VMAT was generated from a sample of 180 healthy Arabic-speaking individuals age 16-80 in Lebanon of whom 45 were 65-80 years, and 63 were retested after 2-3 weeks. Test-retest reliability and criterion-related validity were examined, and regression-based norms were derived. In Stage 1A, we also established the psychometric validity of Arabic measures of anxiety, depression, and fatigue (i.e., Hopkins symptoms checklist-25, modified fatigue impact scale) that will be used in the pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT)-stage 1B. A description of cultural adaptations and preliminary results will be discussed.
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DAILY STRESSOR CONTROL AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION
Authors: Cerino Eric , McClaskey Brady , Cruz-Carrillo Yesenia , Almeida David 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Perceived control is an important psychosocial correlate of cognitive health and aging. Most prior research examining this association has focused on global aspects of control, ignoring influences of more dynamic aspects of specific areas of control, such as control over daily stressors. Using data from the third wave of the Midlife in the United States study and the National Study of Daily Experiences (N=992, Mage=67.67, SD=10.34, 57.20% Female), we examined how control over different types of stressors (arguments, avoided arguments, work stress, home stress, network stress) was associated with cognitive performance. Over eight consecutive days, people reported their perceived control over stressors they had experienced. Participants also completed a telephone-based battery of tests measuring executive function (EF) and episodic memory (EM). Hierarchical regression analyses adjusted for number of daily stressors, age, sex, race, and education. The facilitative role of daily stressor control for cognitive health depended on age and the type of stressor experienced. For EF, greater control over arguments was associated with better EF (Est. = 0.07, SE = 0.03, p &lt; .05). For EM, there was a stressor control by age interaction (Est. = 0.01, SE = 0.01, p &lt; .05) such that greater control over home stress was associated with better EM among comparatively older adults (Est. = 0.07, SE = 0.03, p &lt; .05). Results suggest that perceiving control over daily stressful experiences, especially arguments and home stress, may serve as a psychosocial resource for cognitive health in older adulthood.
CONSOLATION SPACES: DO THEY HELP TO MAKE SERIOUS ILLNESS, DEATH, AND LOSS DISCUSSABLE IN THE COMMUNITY?
Authors: Dury Sarah 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
A recent groundswell of movements and organisations is rising in Flanders, Belgium, stimulating engagement with serious illness, death, and bereavement. One result is the huge growth of public consolation spaces. However, it remains largely unknown how consolation spaces are developed, what actions are taken or how they are used. To investigate the development, meaning, their role in a neighbourhood, and the use of consolation spaces, a multi-method design was used. We first examined six different consolation spaces through focus groups. Various stakeholders took part in these, such as volunteers, members of the municipal administration, visitors to the consolation space and care staff. At the same time, an online survey aimed at the use of consolation spaces ran (N=123). Following, the consolation space initiators completed an online survey measuring specific project characteristics, observed outcomes and elements crucial to the realisation of the project (N=still running). Preliminary results indicate that consolation spaces are often created in collaboration with several organisations. The meaning of consolation spaces for people is a space where people seek silence, comfort or to feel connected. Most take or would like to take part in connecting activities linked to the consolation spaces such as consolation walks, reflection moments, planting flower bulbs, etc. People mainly visit this place alone or with a friend and this mainly on an annual basis. The connection with the neighbourhood is present within many consolation spaces. The discussion aims to critically reflect on the findings from the perspective of sustainability and systemic change within neighbourhoods.
REFRAMING (MY OWN) AGING: SCHOLARLY AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES ON PRODUCTIVE AGING
Authors: Morrow-Howell Nancy 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Advocacy and scholarship grounded in the productive aging paradigm have evolved over 40 years. From an age-drain to an age-as-asset perspective, productive aging scholars have focused on programs and policies to optimize the vital engagement of older people in paid and unpaid work (working, volunteering, caregiving). I have contributed to this body of work and I have evolved with it. I have changed what I study, how I think about later life, and what I think is important for gerontologists to consider. In this presentation, I will review the development of productive aging literature, including tensions that have existed in the scholarship. Themes of ageism and diversity, equity and inclusion have gained prominence in this work; and I will suggest future directions. I will reflect on how my own aging and experiences have shaped my thinking on productive aging.
THE IMPACT OF INTERGENERATIONAL SOLIDARITY ON GRANDPARENT WELL-BEING
Authors: Scott Rachel , Nadorff Danielle 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Bowen’s Family Systems theory provides a framework for examining how values and beliefs are transmitted between family members and the overall potential impact that transmission may have on the well-being of family members. While familial emotional closeness has been shown to predict well-being for older adults, there is still a lack of research investigating the influence of level of agreement on ideology among family members within this relation. Objective: This study examined the impact that level of agreement on religious and political values (consensual solidarity) has on the relation between emotional closeness in intergenerational relationships (affectual solidarity) and well-being in grandparents. Method: Using a sample from the Longitudinal Study of Generations, the current study examined grandparent-adult child (N = 336) and grandparent-grandchild (N = 239) dyads to assess the extent to which agreement on ideological beliefs moderates the relation between intergenerational emotional closeness and well-being in the grandparent generation.
Results: Affectual solidarity ratings among the three generations, as well as religious ideological differences between grandparents and grandchildren, were found to influence the well-being of grandparents. Additionally, model fit was found to be excellent for both moderation models between the three generations.
Discussion: These findings suggest that emotional closeness is a predominant factor in predicting well-being in grandparents that may not be as heavily influenced by the level of agreement on ideological beliefs as is often assumed.