bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ADIPOCYTE-DERIVED FACTORS: IMPACT ON HEALTHSPAN AND LIFESPAN
Authors: Scherer Philipp 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Adipocytes secrete numerous lipid and protein factors with profound effects on systemic energy homeostasis. One such adipokine that we first identified in the early 1990’s, adiponectin, has garnered significant attention as a potent mediator of insulin sensitivity and cell survival. FGF21 is another factor that is secreted by a number of cell types (including adipocytes), which has a beneficial effect on metabolism. Our group generated a novel mouse model that overexpresses, in an inducible fashion, physiological levels of FGF21 from adipocytes in the adult mouse. While comparable levels of constitutive overexpression of FGF21 from the liver do not have an impact on aging, adipocyte-derived FGF21 exerts a profound beneficial impact on health- and lifespan. This demonstrates that selective manipulation of adipose tissue per se has the potential to significantly reduce mortality and extend lifespan. The adipocyte-specific FGF21 transgenic animals have increased energy expenditure, weigh considerably less and exhibit an improvement in all systemic metabolic parameters examined to date. The mice further display unique immune-metabolic profiles of their adipose tissue depots, which defy the conventional changes associated with aging. Importantly, all these phenotypic alterations are achieved without a significant impact on adipose tissue beiging/browning. Moreover, at least some beneficial aspects of FGF21 appear to be mediated through a lowering of leptin, which leads to central leptin sensitization. Combined, these efforts shed additional light on the physiological effects of FGF21.
HDL-localized plasma ceramides support body temperature regulation
Authors: Wade Gina , Simcox Judith 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
As organisms age, the balance of energy expenditure is disrupted. One of the major ways in which this disruption is observed is in an inability to maintain body temperature. Our lab is interested in understanding the signals that regulate this energy balance, and we focus on lipids as energy substrates and signaling molecules to regulate this process. During cold exposure, plasma lipids produced by peripheral tissues are required to fuel and activate heat production in the brown adipose tissue. One of the lipid classes that increases with cold exposure is plasma ceramides. Beyond cold exposure, ceramide lipids are also elevated in aged individuals and are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease where they are thought to signal inflammation. However, the functions of ceramides in non-disease states are unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, we have shown that ceramide production in 12-week-old C57Bl6/J mice is required for body temperature maintenance in the cold. Moreover, plasma ceramide levels in 2-year-old mice are unchanged in the cold, and these mice are unable to maintain their body temperature. In disease states, ceramides are transported through the plasma in LDL, but ceramides are enriched in the HDL plasma fraction in the cold. This differential plasma lipid transport suggests dynamic modes of lipid uptake and tissue targeting to regulate energy expenditure. This work will identify molecular mechanisms governing ceramide function in the mammalian response to cold and better our understanding of the systemic lipid metabolism dysregulated in disease.
IMPACT OF AN EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION ON KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT MEMORY LOSS AND CARE ISSUES
Authors: Galambos Colleen , Ellis Julie 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
While previous studies have evaluated the impact of education interventions on knowledge and attitudes about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (Kaf, Barboa, Fisher, & Snavely, 2011; Kimzey, Mastel-Smith, & Alfred, 2016; Yamashita, Kinney, & Lokon, 2011), there is little research about the impact on knowledge and attitudes about issues related to caregivers of those with dementia. This paper reports on the results of an education intervention to increase college students’ knowledge, and positive attitudes on memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and related caregiver issues. The intervention consisted of a series of lectures and readings, including a caregiver memoir. The intervention was conducted in social work and nursing classes over two semesters. A questionnaire, using established scales that measured knowledge and attitudes about dementia and caregiving issues, was administered to the students using a pretest-posttest design. The educational intervention tested successfully increased knowledge and positive attitudes about Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, memory loss, and caregiving (p=.0001). This finding held across courses, grade levels, previous experience with older adults, knowledge of someone with memory loss, and relationships with caregivers and persons with memory loss. A memoir as a storytelling informational narrative, and structured lectures and readings served as effective learning tools that influenced both knowledge and attitude levels about Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, memory loss, and caregiving. Gains made in knowledge and attitude changes were true for both face- to- face and online teaching venues. Implications for training, classroom teaching, and workforce development will be discussed.
WHAT AND HOW DID IT WORK? A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE INTERVENTION STUDIES OF CHANGING PERCEPTION TOWARD OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Lee Yeonjung , Li Lun , Shrestha Laxman 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Social workers are one of the major professionals serving for older adults. However, social work students often rank gerontology at the bottom of their future professional practice. Studies show that students have negative attitudes about, and perceptions of older adults and aging. Such stereotypes result in social work students considering practice areas other than gerontological social work. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review and identify any types of the intervention studies of changing perception and attitudes toward older adults and aging among social work students. This systematic review identified empirical research studies written in English that were published in a peer-reviewed journal before November 2021. Systematic search was carried out within four electronic databases (AgeLine, Education Research Complete, Social Work Abstracts, SocINDEX with full text) with the key words such as “social work student” and “aging or ageing or elderly or older adults or seniors or geriatrics or gerontology”. A total of 470 abstracts were identified, and after careful review of 143 full articles yielded from the databases, 43 journal articles were included in this study. Analysis of the selected literature provides that major interventions have been tried include service learning, lecture, curriculum development, simulation, training program, and intergenerational program. This systematic review highlights the importance of the experiential learning, partnership development with community, and interprofessional collaboration to provide the best model of practice for changing perception toward aging and older adults among social work students.
EMBRACING OUR DIVERSITY: ENHANCING THE GEROFIT PROGRAM FOR PATIENT EXPERIENCE
Authors: Hall Katherine , Serra Monica 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The Veterans Health Administration has long been at the forefront of telehealth development and advances. Gerofit to Home (GTH) is a novel, telehealth-based adjunct to a widely successful Gerofit facility-based program for Veterans ages 65 and older with multi-morbidities and functional limitations. Of note, participants are allowed to remain in the program as long as they wish, all of which enhances social engagement and camaraderie. Now disseminated to nearly 30 VA medical centers across the country, all of our sites transitioned within 6 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic to group-based virtual classes, aptly called GTH. Because of the rapid and continuously evolving changes in telehealth, we had near daily Veteran feedback on what was working and what was not working. We cast a wide net and used multiple methods to obtain Veteran feedback. These were quite successful and allowed us to make ongoing improvements to our classes. The first presentation describes results from a telephone survey deployed to all patients who transitioned from facility-based Gerofit to GTH. The second presentation describes the development of a Gerofit Veterans Advisory Panel and the perspectives they provided in terms of scheduling, patient-requested content, feasibility and access. The third presentation explores patient satisfaction and retention in GTH participants, with an emphasis on rural vs non-rural settings. The fourth paper details an innovative approach to integrating student learners in to the Gerofit program, and explores the impact of these inter-generational interactions.
BUILDING CAPACITY FOR PATIENT-CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH IN AGING RESEARCH: TRAINING ACROSS THE CONTINUUM
Authors: McGaffigan Erin , Cohen Marc 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) models are increasingly used to ensure stakeholders inform evidence-based systems of care. Unfortunately, older adults are often left out of PCOR, leading to continued health and service disparities. The Aging PCOR Learning Collaborative was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute in 2020 to conduct a series of training activities to change how older adults are viewed and engaged in research. Training was extended to Gerontology students, researchers new to engagement, established researchers, and to older adults to advance the strategies needed to infuse PCOR within aging research design and implementation. Project staff analyzed data relevant to these activities, which demonstrated the project’s reach to over 300 older adults, researchers, funders, and academic leaders. This session will review the steps required to implement training, our project reach, outputs, and mid-term outcomes, providing one of the first glimpses into how to measure this shift in our research paradigm.
RECRUITING, FACILITATING, AND SUPPORTING PERSONS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AS TRAINERS IN RESEARCH
Authors: Hirsch Jen , Sun Fei , Cohen Dan , Kim Ha-Neul , Barbieri Steven , LeBlanc Brian 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Research demonstrates that dementia education programs are effective in improving knowledge of dementia, but it takes more effort to change attitudes or skill sets. Empathy toward people living with dementia (PLWD) is low among college students due to lack of experience interacting with PLWD. Exposure to PLWD is recommended in training aimed to improve dementia literacy. We engaged PLWD from an active advocacy group, The National Council of Dementia Minds, to be co-trainers in an intervention with college students in health and social care professions to provide quality care for PLWD. Presenters will discuss the process for recruiting, engaging, and training PLWD successfully, including explanation of informed consent, preparation for training sessions, and structural support around communication and information processing needs. Emphasis will be on lessons learned directly from our co-trainers for successful support mechanisms, particularly in an online environment as all interaction occurred primarily over zoom and email.
PILOT STUDY TO PRAGMATICALLY EMBED CAREGIVER DEMENTIA EDUCATION AND SUPPORT IN HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS
Authors: Fortinsky Richard 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Evidence-based interventions offering meaningful benefits to informal caregivers of people living with dementia (PLWD) would be attractive to office-based practitioners if pragmatic linkages could be made between these interventions and outpatient care settings. This presentation will explain experiences and lessons learned in an ongoing pilot study in which we are: pragmatically identifying and inviting caregivers of PLWD to join online dementia education and support programs; collecting and storing caregiver outcomes data into electronic health records where these data are accessible to clinicians. Participating outpatient health care settings are a geriatrics practice at UConn Health and a memory care clinic at Emory Healthcare. Caregivers recruited at both sites participate in either Tele-Savvy or Caregiving During Crisis programs. Outcomes data will inform effects of program participation on caregivers’ competence and stress, and help clinicians gain insights into caregivers’ capacity to manage PLWD. Implementation evaluation strategies and results also will be discussed.
INFUSION OF AGE-FRIENDLY PRINCIPLES INTO CURRICULA USING INTERACTIVE MODULES
Authors: Greenberg Sherry , Adrian Shayle , Twal Riad 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
This presentation highlights the development of Age-Friendly care interactive modules to prepare the future healthcare workforce to care for older adults in Age-Friendly Health Systems. To date, there is a gap in the educational preparation of nurses, advanced practice nurses, and other health professionals to work in Age-Friendly Health Systems upon entry into practice. This project, funded by a faculty innovation grant at Seton Hall University, provides undergraduate and graduate nursing and interprofessional students with the background knowledge to care for older adults in Age-Friendly Health Systems. The aim of this project was to develop five interactive modules to embed in undergraduate and graduate nursing and interprofessional curricula focusing on the provision of care to older adults using the evidence-based 4Ms Framework: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. Faculty collaborated with instructional designers in development of the modules using Articulate 360 to embed them in curricula. The first module focuses on the background of the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement, how health systems may become an Age-Friendly Health System, and the evidence for the 4Ms Framework. The second module focuses on assessment and act on strategies related to What Matters to older adults including advance care planning strategies. The third module covers crucial information related to Medication such as avoiding potentially inappropriate medications, deprescribing, and antibiotic stewardship. The fourth module focuses on Mentation and covers assessment and act on strategies for depression, delirium, and dementia. The fifth module focuses on Mobility such as promoting mobility and decreasing fall risk.
COMPARISON OF SLEEP PARAMETERS FROM WRIST-WORN ACCELEROMETERS IN OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Liu Fangyu , Schrack Jennifer , Wanigatunga Sarah , Rabinowitz Jill , He Linchen , Wanigatunga Amal , Simonsick Eleanor , Spira Adam 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Researchers often prefer different accelerometers for measurement of sleep and physical activity (PA) in older adults, but wearing multiple accelerometers increases costs and participant burden. We tested the hypothesis that the Actiwatch-2, commonly used to measure sleep, and the ActiGraph GT9X Link, commonly used to measure PA, yield comparable sleep parameters among 331 participants (aged 71+/-14 years, 50.5% women) who wore them simultaneously for 7+/-1.6 nights in the BLSA. Compared to the Actiwatch-2, the ActiGraph estimated 50% greater wake after sleep onset, 89% longer wake bout length, 18% lower sleep fragmentation index (SFI), 5% lower total sleep time (TST) and 5% higher sleep efficiency. Yet, despite yielding different absolute values of TST and SFI, the devices generated similar between-person (relative) differences in TST and SFI. These devices may only be interchangeable for measurement of some relative sleep parameters in older adults. Studies with both devices and gold-standard polysomnography are needed.
NOVEL INSIGHTS INTO GAIT, MOTOR CONTROL, AND THE BRAIN: IMPLICATIONS FOR COGNITIVE AGING
Authors: Rosso Andrea , Fraser Sarah , Holtzer Roee , Salzman Talia , Rosano Caterina , Baillargeon Emma , Sprague Briana , Tian Qu 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
What can muscles, gait, and brain activity tell us about cognitive decline? Are there certain markers we can track that are early predictors of cognitive status years later? In the current symposia, our goal is to address these questions with recent pilot, longitudinal and cross-sectional studies that measure potential markers of cognitive decline in different older adult cohorts. The first speaker will present findings on changes in skeletal muscle adiposity and 10-year change in global cognition from the Health Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study. The second speaker explores cross-national comparisons of gait speed and its association with cognitive function from the Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium (COSMIC). The third speaker investigates changes in brain activity with functional near infra-red spectroscopy (fNIRS) from single to dual-task walking and its relation to changes in several gait quality parameters. The fourth speaker presents pilot work that examines dual-task gait and tapping with fNIRS and compares the dual-task performance and brain activity of older adults who report experiencing subjective cognitive decline to those that do not. The final speaker presents findings from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging (BLSA) that demonstrate that early markers of slow gait and metabolic dysfunction could identify those at risk of progression to dementia 7 years prior to onset. Taken together, the findings from this symposium present novel markers of changes in cognitive function in older adults and ultimately targets for prevention or slowing of cognitive declines in older adults at risk for dementia.
THE RESPONSIBLE DESIGNER: USING A HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN APPROACH TO CREATE AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR AD
Authors: Mitchell Kimberly , Zhao Xiaopeng 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Our interdisciplinary team of designers, computer scientists, and engineers have begun the development of a low-cost social robot called FRED (the Friendly Robot to Ease Dementia). FRED has a conversational capability which will allow the device to be used as assistive companions for people with AD, engaging conversation, assisting with reminders, playing simple games and music, and relieving caregivers of some of their responsibilities. FRED was created using 3-d printing technology and a single board computer based on raspberry Pi. Interaction between human and the system was implemented using the Mycroft open-source voice assistant. The overall cost of the robot is estimated to be less than $300, rendering it possible for wide distribution among the public. Our presentation will share results from our participatory focus group which helped assist in the design and interactions of FRED. This human-centered design approach included neurologists, healthy older adults, as well as ADRD patients and their caregivers. A common language of important terms (e.g., feedback, interface, training, cognitive assessment) to aid in initial conversations were implemented. A thinking-aloud protocol was adopted once we had a prototype of FRED, where users were able to express freely any problems and/or concerns during interaction. Insights from the thinking-aloud results were used to improve the user interface design to enable the users and robot to interact and collaborate in an effective, natural way. Feedback from the focus group were carefully documented and the results will be shared during our presentation.
INTERMUSCULAR ADIPOSITY: A NOVEL RISK FACTOR FOR COGNITIVE DECLINE IN A BIRACIAL COHORT OF OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Rosano Caterina , Newman Anne , Zhu Xiaonan , Santanasto Adam , Goodpaster Bret , Miljkovic Iva 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Skeletal muscle and brain health both decline with age. Poorer skeletal muscle characteristics may be early markers of cognitive decline. The Health ABC study obtained repeated measures of thigh intermuscular adiposity via CT (IMAT, Years 1 and 6) and Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE, Years 1 through 10), in 1634 adults (69-79 years, 48% women, 35% black). Linear mixed effects models accounted for change (Years 1 and 6) in weight, muscle (strength, area), and adiposity characteristics (abdominal subcutaneous, visceral, total fat mass) and for dementia risk factors (education, APOE4, diabetes, hypertension, physical activity). IMAT increased by 0.97 cm2/year (SD:1.16), and MMSE declined by 0.4 points/year (0.02). Each SD of IMAT corresponded to a MMSE decline of 0.22 points/year (p&lt;0.0001), similar in adjusted models and stratified by race or gender. Aging-related IMAT increase may be a novel predictor of cognitive decline beyond traditional risk factors, with potential implications for muscle-brain cross talk.
HOUSING, AGING, AND HEALTH: NEW FINDINGS AND FRAMEWORKS FROM HOUSING-FOCUSED RESEARCH IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19
Authors: Berlinger Nancy 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Older adults have been the most vulnerable population to severe illness, hospitalization, or death from COVID-19. During the pandemic, housing became a site of health and safety for some, while reinforced inequities for others due to underlying problems of affordability, accessibility, safety, and service access. This symposium showcases five housing-focused studies reflecting the pandemic context, including research by early-career investigators. The first speaker will present findings from a study of materials preserving promising practices and policy ideas generated by housing-focused pandemic responses to middle-income and low-income community-dwelling older adults. The second speaker will discuss narrative lessons from “avoidance hotels” – an infection-reduction strategy that transferred older adults from shelters to hotel rooms – with potential to guide planning for the needs of older adults facing homelessness and serious illness. The third speaker will analyze findings from multi-city research on the pandemic housing experiences of lower-income Black women, who faced severe intersectional threats to housing security. The fourth speaker will share data from a qualitative study of a Medicare-financed home care program for residents of HUD housing, including recommendations for improving experiences of participants and providers. The fifth speaker will describe the evolution of the pandemic-response roles of HUD service coordinators, based on findings from surveys in 2020 and 2021. We will conclude with audience discussion about ways for age-focused researchers to collaborate in crafting policy solutions and effective public narratives about housing equity in America's aging society.
ENHANCED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A RURAL CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL, A RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY, AND PRIMARY CARE
Authors: Morissette Lee 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
A need to improve the transitions of care between a small rural emergency department, a residential care facility and a primary care practice emerged early on in our work to become a level 2 accredited emergency department. One challenge is bringing together 3 partners all with distinct types of health records, unique foci of care and a variety of disciplines and workforce. This paper will focus on our journey of creating an individualized plan of care to help mitigate problems of poor communication with a focus on the 4Ms framework including: What Matters Most, Mobility, Medication and Mentation.