bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
AGE-INDUCED SYSTEMIC REPROGRAMMING DRIVES DRUG RESISTANCE IN LUNG CANCER
Authors: Gomes Ana 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Lung cancer accounts for the largest number of cancer-associated deaths in the United States. While great strides have been made due to the introduction of immunotherapies and targeted therapies against oncogenic drivers, chemotherapies remain the standard of care for the majority of lung cancer patients. However, many patients do not respond to these treatments or relapse following an initial response. We postulate that part of the problem is the lack of consideration in preclinical research and clinical trials of the main driver of lung tumorigenesis, the aging process. Here, we show that the organismal reprogramming that occurs with aging makes lung tumors in an aged host more conducive to withstand chemotherapies and targeted therapies. We traced this to an age-induced chronic accumulation of the stress hormone cortisol in circulation. Mechanistically our data show that chronic accumulation of cortisol drives the upregulation of metallothioneins—small, highly conserved, cysteine-rich metal-binding proteins—through activation of the glucocorticoid receptor in lung cancer cells, which in turn rewire these cells to be refractory to chemotherapies. Together, our work demonstrates a role for age-induced cortisol levels in promoting resistance to standard of care chemotherapies in lung cancer and offers a rationale for using therapeutic agents that block the glucocorticoid receptor to sensitize the average and most vulnerable lung cancer patients, the elderly, to chemotherapy.
ADVANCING AGE INCLUSIVITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION: INTERGENERATIONAL EXCHANGE AS A PATHWAY TO CAREER READINESS
Authors: Montepare Joann , Farah Kimberly , Borrero Lisa 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Higher education is becoming more age-inclusive on several fronts and age-friendly teaching and learning strategies are being used in new and novel ways to support a variety of students’ educational outcomes. In this AFU-ILRCE collaborative symposium, presenters will discuss ways that intergenerational exchange in the classroom and beyond can help to prepare students for entry into the workforce. To begin, Montepare, Farah, and Frazier will give an overview of the Age-Friendly University (AFU) initiative and discuss how older adults can serve as teaching allies in career-focused classroom activities such as serving as job recruiters in mock interviews. Graf and Terhune will share reflections from focus group data on intergenerational exchanges in the workplace conducted with working and recently retired adults 60+ years of age. They will highlight the utility of such perspectives for informing career training programs for students regardless of major or career path. Mastel-Smith, Kimzey, and Garner will describe Dementia Bootcamp, an online program for high school students that utilized didactic information, experiential activities, presentations by people with dementia, and volunteering at a dementia day program. Focus group findings and how the program has been integrated into a health sciences curriculum also will be presented. Ghazi-Saidi & McKelvey will discuss an innovative experiential learning activity in two core courses of a Speech Language Pathology (SLP) graduate program that prepares future SLPs to use telepractice to provide cognitive health interventions to community older adults. Lisa Borrero, chair of AGHE’s Education Resource Development Workgroup (ERDW) will serve as discussant. This is a collaborative symposium between the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Network and Intergenerational Learning, Research, and Community Engagement Interest Groups.
SIMILARITY IN HEALTH-RELATED BEHAVIORS WITHIN OLDER ADULTS’ CLOSE SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
Authors: Webster Noah , Chin Kristi 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Health-related behaviors are socially contagious, spreading through social networks via multiple mechanisms. It remains unclear though which mechanisms are most salient among older adults. Guided by Social Contagion Theory and the Convoy Model of Social Relations we examine similarity in health-related behaviors (exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption) between older adults and their closest social network members and investigate associations with multiple social factors (homophily, network structure, relationship quality). Data are from Wave 3 of the Detroit-based Social Relations Study collected in 2015. Panel respondents nominated people who were close and important in their lives, and up to the first three nominated were interviewed. Analyses were conducted at the dyad-level, and we selected dyads in which at least one member was age 60 or older (n=247 dyads). Generalized estimating equations were used due to some panel respondents being in multiple dyads. Greater homophily was found to be associated with similarity in both exercise frequency and number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week. Specifically, pairs of close social network members who were more similar in self-rated health were significantly more similar in exercise frequency, and those of the same gender and more similar in age were significantly more similar in alcohol consumption. Network structure, specifically greater contact frequency, was associated with significantly more similarity in alcohol consumption, but less similarity in exercise frequency. Findings suggest the salience of multiple aspects of older adults’ close social relationships that can be incorporated into behavior change interventions and leveraged to encourage healthy lifestyles in later life.
EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN SLEEP AND DEMENTIA: MULTIFACETED APPROACHES
Authors: Petrovsky Darina , Luth Elizabeth 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Sleep and sleep quality have been linked to cognitive function over time. The quality of caregiver sleep can also affect their ability to function and provide support to persons living with dementia. This symposium leverages longitudinal survey data from two large US population-based surveys: the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC). This symposium aims to explore the relationship between sleep, cognitive function, and care activities for older adults living with and without dementia and their caregivers. First, Dr. Petrovsky will report findings that examined the relationship between caregiver sleep quality and persons living with dementia status using NHATS and NSOC data. Next, Dr. Esiaka will present cross-sectional findings from examining the relationship between older adult sleep quality, neighborhood disorder, and cognitive function using the NHATS data. Drs. Klingman and Sullivan will present the results of an analysis comparing the relationship between sleep and frequent hospitalization in persons living with dementia and those without dementia. Collectively, these papers will report on findings examining how a potentially modifiable factor, sleep, relates to cognitive function and caregiving.
DO SLEEP QUALITY AND SOCIAL COHESION MEDIATE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD DISORDER AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING?
Authors: Esiaka Darlingtina , Luth Elizabeth 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Daily exposure to neighborhoods with high levels of disorder, such as public drinking, graffiti, and vandalism, has been linked to worse cognitive functioning and a higher risk for dementia in older adults. The present study examined the association between neighborhood disorder and cognitive functioning. This study also examined sleep quality and social cohesion as potential mediators of this association using Hayes’ (2013) Macro Process via bootstrapping method. The sample included cross-sectional data for 2,529 older adults (1,115 men and 1,482 women, age 70+) using the 2021 National Health and Aging Trends Study. Neighborhood disorder was measured as a 3-item scale capturing physical neighborhood characteristics completed by the interviewer (e.g., trash on sidewalks). The social cohesion scale measured participant agreement with 3 questions about their community (e.g., “People can be trusted”). The sleep quality scale measured participant responses to 3 questions about their sleep in the last month (e.g., taking 30+ minutes to fall asleep). Cognitive functioning was assessed using performance on tasks evaluating memory, orientation, and executive functioning. Results showed greater neighborhood disorder was associated with worse performance on cognitive tasks (B=-0.417; p&lt;0.001). Results of mediation testing indicated that social cohesion was a significant mediator (B=0.224; p&lt;0.0001). Though sleep quality was not a mediator, better sleep quality was associated with better cognitive functioning (B=0.053; p&lt;0.05). Understanding the contribution of neighborhood disorder, sleep quality, and social cohesion to cognitive functioning will inform neighborhood-level interventions that can buffer cognitive decline in older adults aging in place.
HEARING LOSS AND FATIGUE IN MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Jiang Kening , Spira Adam , Lin Frank , Deal Jennifer , Reed Nicholas 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Fatigue is associated with worse cognitive and physical functioning, psychosocial wellbeing, and quality of life. Hearing loss may be a risk factor for fatigue, perhaps through greater cognitive demand to compensate for degraded auditory signal. However, prior studies are predominantly in audiology clinical samples, which may be oversampled for individuals experiencing hearing-loss-related fatigue. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis including 3,031 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-18. Fatigue was based on self-reported frequency of feeling tired or having little energy over the past 2 weeks. Hearing loss was defined as better-ear 4-frequency (0.5, 1, 2, 4 kilohertz) pure-tone average &gt;25 decibels hearing level. Multivariable-adjusted multinomial logistic regression was used to model the relative risk ratios (RRR) of reporting a higher vs. reference frequency category of fatigue associated with hearing loss, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, smoking, drinking, occupational and off-work noise exposure, body mass index, comorbidities, and depressive symptoms. In this nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older adults (40-80 years, 48% male, 10% Black), 713 (24%) had hearing loss. When compared to normal-hearing participants, hearing-loss participants were more likely to report fatigue for more than half the days (RRR=2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24, 3.75) and nearly every day (RRR=2.09, 95% CI: 1.24, 3.52) relative to not feeling fatigue at all. Hearing loss is associated with fatigue at the population level. Public health efforts to manage hearing loss might improve fatigue and associated downstream health outcomes.
HEALTH CARE SETTINGS: A MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS HEARING LOSS
Authors: Wallhagen Margaret 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
Identifying hearing loss (HL) within the healthcare system is essential to mitigate its risk for associated negative psychosocial and health conditions, including isolation and depression yet is rarely assessed. This qualitative study sought to gain in-depth understandings of how HL affects communication regarding care preferences within the older adult-partner dyad in the context of chronic illness. Its premise was that older adults with HL may not be able to participate effectively in care discussions and are at risk of not receiving patient centered care. Method: Planned as in-person, pandemic restrictions mandated transition to zoom. 15 older adults (≥60) with HL and 13 partners participated.

Results
One key story line evolving from the data is “Compulsory Self-Advocacy”. Almost uniformly, participants reported that healthcare practitioners “Never Asked” about HL. During one-on-one communication, HL wasn’t necessarily brought to the surface and often went unnoted because participants didn’t see it as pertinent to issues discussed. Still, they were unsure the practitioner was aware of their HL. Rather, they asked that information be repeated or noted they had trouble hearing or understanding when they realized problems. Reporting their HL didn’t generally result in on-going consideration of their specific communication needs. They had to self-advocate to obtain accurate information or bring their partner to appointments to help. Some commented on the value of policies mandating access to notes or written reports.

Conclusions
Healthcare settings provide unique opportunities to identify HL and initiate interventions that may mitigate its negative effects, including social isolation and loneliness.
PREVALENCE AND TYPES OF PATIENT PORTAL USE AMONG OLDER ADULTS RECEIVING HOME HEALTH CARE
Authors: Burdgorf Julia , Wu Mingche , Fabius Chanee 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Home health care (HHC) delivers skilled nursing and therapy services in the patient’s home and is a valuable source of care for community-living older adults, particularly those living with complex conditions such as dementia. However, lack of visibility into patients’ clinical records and difficulty communicating with other providers are perennial challenges to HHC quality. Patient portals― provider-sponsored online applications that allow patients to perform care management tasks including viewing health information and messaging providers―present a promising opportunity to bridge this gap. However, no prior work has examined patterns of portal use among HHC patients. We leveraged a unique dataset containing electronic health record and patient portal utilization data for 10,212 older adults who received HHC between 2017-2019. We found that 25% of HHC patients had an active patient portal prior to HHC and, of those with an active portal, 85% used their portal during HHC. Among those who used their portal during HHC, the most common portal activities were reviewing the clinical record (82%), managing appointments (60%), and seeking provider advice (45%). Compared to community-referred patients, hospital-referred patients were more likely to use their portal to manage appointments or review their clinical record. Compared to patients without dementia, patients with dementia were more likely to use their portal to message their provider but less likely to view their clinical record. Findings suggest that portal users are actively engaging with their portal during HHC, indicating an opportunity to empower patients to facilitate information transfer between HHC and other providers.
MUSCLE MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION PREDICTS COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH PET AND BLOOD BIOMARKERS OF AD
Authors: Tian Qu , Bilgel Murat , Walker Keenan , Moghekar Abhay R , Resnick Susan , Ferrucci Luigi 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of aging. Whether mitochondrial dysfunction is related to future cognitive impairment and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is unknown. In the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, we used Cox regression to examine the association of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function (post-exercise recovery rate of phosphocreatine, kPCr) via MR spectroscopy with future MCI or dementia over an average follow-up of 3.3 years among 460 initially cognitively normal participants (mean age=76.8±11.0 years, 56.7% women, 22.4% Black). We also examined associations with PiB-distribution volume ratio (DVR) for β-amyloid (Aβ)(n=115), Flortaucipir (FTP)-standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) for tau(n=70), and blood biomarkers of AD pathology (Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio,n=299; pTau181,n=505), neuronal injury (NfL)(n=299), and astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation (GFAP)(n=299) using linear regression. After adjustment for age, sex, and race, each SD higher kPCr (i.e. 0.005) was associated with 45% lower hazards of developing cognitive impairment (19 MCI, 4 dementia) (p=0.04). In the PET sample, each SD higher kPCr was associated with 51% lower odds of being PiB positive(p=0.003). Higher kPCr was specifically associated with lower DVR in precentral and postcentral gyri, superior parietal lobe, and pallidum (FDR-adjusted p&lt;0.05). In samples with blood biomarkers, higher kPCr was associated with lower GFAP(p=0.01) and showed a trend toward significance with lower pTau181(p=0.08). Preserved skeletal muscle mitochondrial function is associated with reduced risk of cognitive impairment and PET and blood biomarkers of AD. Future studies are needed to investigate the role of mitochondrial function of the central nervous system in dementia risk and the progression of AD pathologic change.
THE INTERTISSUE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HYPOTHALAMUS AND WHITE ADIPOSE TISSUE IN MAMMALIAN AGING AND LONGEVITY CONTROL
Authors: Imai Shin-ichiro 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Recent studies in model organisms have demonstrated that the intertissue communications play a critical role in the regulation of aging and longevity. Our major goal is to understand the systemic regulation of aging and longevity in mammals and translate that knowledge into an effective anti-aging intervention that could make our later lives as healthy and productive as possible (“productive aging”). In mammals, we have previously demonstrated that the intertissue communication between the hypothalamus and adipose tissue, particularly mediated by extracellular vesicles-contained extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltrasferase (eNAMPT), the rate-limiting NAD+ biosynthetic enzyme in mammals, functions to counteract age-associated physiological decline and promote longevity in mice. We have recently found that Ppp1r17-positive neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMHPpp1r17 neurons) regulate white adipose tissue (WAT) function, including lipolysis and eNAMPT secretion, through the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), and the feedback loop between DMHPpp1r17 neurons and WAT plays a critical role in the regulation of aging and longevity in mice. Within DMHPpp1r17 neurons, the phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation of Ppp1r17, regulated by cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG; Prkg1), affect gene expression regulating synaptic function, causing synaptic transmission dysfunction and impaired WAT function. Both DMH-specific Prkg1-knockdown, which suppresses age-associated Ppp1r17 translocation, and the chemogenetic activation of DMHPpp1r17 neurons significantly ameliorate age-associated WAT dysfunction, increase physical activity, decrease age-associated mortality rate, and extend lifespan. Thus, these findings clearly demonstrate the importance of the intertissue communication between the hypothalamus and WAT in mammalian aging and longevity control and provide critical insights into the development of effective anti-aging interventions.
NAD+ METABOLISM IN MITOCHONDRIA AND MICROBES
Authors: Baur Joseph 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a redox cofactor essential to all living organisms. NAD+ levels fall with age or disease and rise with exercise or caloric restriction. Supplemental NAD+ precursors have beneficial effects on health in rodent models, renewing interest in this molecule and the enzymes that require it. Although NAD+ is present in the mitochondrial matrix and critical to the function of the organelle, the source of mitochondrial NAD+ was only recently elucidated. We identified SLC25A51 as the carrier that is primarily responsible for this activity in cultured cells. Here we show that, like in cells, SLC25A51 is important for establishing the mitochondrial NAD+ pool in vivo. Shifting NAD+ into hepatic mitochondria is sufficient to replicate the effects of supplemental NAD+ precursors on liver regeneration. Thus, the mitochondrial NAD+ pool appears to be responsible for some of the benefits of increasing whole-body NAD+. In a separate series of studies, we have used heavy isotope tracing strategies to show that the popular supplement nicotinamide riboside is metabolized by the microbiome when administered orally to mice. Further studies revealed a surprising role for the microbiome in normal NAD+ metabolism. Host-derived nicotinamide is released into the gut lumen and processed to generate microbial NAD+ as well as nicotinic acid that is reabsorbed by the host. These findings reveal a previously unappreciated cycle by which NAD+ precursors are shared between the host and microbes.
THE CREATION OF THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL GSA STUDENT CHAPTER IN PORTUGAL
Authors: Casanova Giuliana , Passos Lígia , Rodrigues Edna , Ribeiro Oscar 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Student Chapter Pilot Program provides a platform for students in all academic levels to exchange academic ideas, network with industry professionals, and share scientific and educational experiences. Developing an international student chapter based at the University of Aveiro in Portugal was a challenging but fullfiling task, accomplished through the dedication and perseverance of its members. This student chapter, created by and for students, aims to serve as an opportunity for networking, education, research, and community work. We aspire to create a bridge between Portugal and the United States, promoting educational and research opportunities for students and increasing awareness in the field of aging. By sharing the challenges and rewards we encountered during the creation of this chapter, we hope to inspire other universities worldwide to do the same and build an even larger international network. Through this network, students working with older adults can find common ground, share ideas, create connections, and develop new ways to enhance the field of Gerontology worldwide. The GSA student chapter is a unique opportunity that enables students to connect, share knowledge and contribute to the field of Gerontology. Our hope is that this model will be replicated globally, fostering collaboration and advancing our understanding of aging in all corners of the world.
SOCIAL NETWORK SIZE AND THE TRANSITION TO NONDRIVING
Authors: Hansmann Kellia , Gangnon Ronald , McAndrews Carolyn , Robert Stephanie 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Having family and friends available to provide rides is an important coping factor after people stop driving. Social networks may also be a means by which older adults can reduce or stop driving earlier while maintaining their mobility. We examined whether social network size was associated with 3-year changes in driving behavior among U.S. older adults. We analyzed data on community-dwelling drivers in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (n = 5,140; 2015 cohort). We categorized whether participants reported zero, one, or two or more people to talk to about important things (who lived in their county). We used weighted logistic regression models to estimate whether having more same-county people to talk to about important things was associated with incidence of any of four new driving avoidance behaviors (avoiding driving: at night, in bad weather, on highways, or alone) or driving cessation, at three-year follow up, adjusting for biopsychosocial variables. There was no significant association between having two or more same-county people to talk to about important things and the odds of driving cessation at follow up (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 1.00, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.58-1.71) compared to drivers who reported having no one to talk to about important things. Similarly, there was no significant association with the incidence of one or more new driving avoidance behaviors (aOR: 1.16 95% 95% CI: 0.91-1.47). Future research should examine whether other aspects of social networks (e.g., type, quality, closer proximity) might play important roles in supporting the transition to non-driving.