bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVER SATISFACTION AND BURNOUT IN ASSISTED LIVING
Authors: Morton Elizabeth , Zimmerman Sheryl , Efird-Green Lea , Davis Scott 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Professional caregivers (direct care workers) perform most of the care for residents in assisted living (AL) and have consistently high turnover rates. Because high turnover is associated with low job satisfaction and decreased quality of care, understanding professional caregiver satisfaction can inform approaches to improve the well-being of both staff and residents. This study obtained information from 559 professional caregivers from 69 AL communities to explore job satisfaction, burnout, and how satisfaction varies based on professional caregiver and AL characteristics (e.g., resident-case mix, staffing ratio). It also established the validity of the Direct Care Worker Job Satisfaction Scale (scored 1-4) as applied to this population through a principal components analysis. Principal components analysis produced a single-factor solution with an eigenvalue of 10.8, the only eigenvalue above 1. All scale items loaded at least 0.70 on the single factor. Overall, professional caregivers had an average satisfaction of 3.05 (“satisfied”), and 18.5% were burned out; satisfaction and burnout were negatively correlated (-0.46, p&lt; 0.0001; adjusted -0.43, p&lt; 0.0001). Satisfaction was positively correlated with the percent of residents with dementia (0.19, p&lt; 0.0001) and provision of special/memory care at their AL community (0.17, p&lt; 0.0001); it was negatively correlated with the professional caregiver-to-resident staffing ratio (-0.18, p&lt; 0.0001) and presence of licensed nursing staff (-0.27, p&lt; 0.0001). Results suggest that caring for individuals with dementia is particularly rewarding for professional caregivers, while being responsible for more residents and working alongside licensed nursing staff may lessen satisfaction.
REFINING CARE NETWORK MEASURES FOR DIVERSE DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS USING CROSS-CULTURAL COGNITIVE INTERVIEWING
Authors: Howe Melissa , Tiburcio Alan Rodriguez , Pudelek Kelly , Zhong Selena , Compernolle Nell , Piedra Lissette 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
It is often assumed that American English speakers universally understand validated instruments and survey items used in previous research. However, comprehension can vary widely due to differences in dialect, education background, and other factors, impacting both survey data quality and respondent burden. To address this, we used cross-cultural cognitive interviewing methods to: (1) facilitate the inclusion of caregivers from diverse cultural and linguistic groups and (2) ensure that survey items elicit comparable data across these groups for accurate analysis. We conducted ~60-minute interviews with 20 informal caregivers to test new and existing survey questions designed to characterize the care networks and caregiving experiences of adults who regularly assist a family member or friend living with dementia. We assessed their ease or difficulty when answering survey questions with close-coded response options and probed into their understandings of key terms. Initially, we interviewed ten caregivers purposefully selected to represent diverse ethnoracial and gender identities, education backgrounds, and geographic locations (urban/rural). After analyzing the transcripts to identify and remedy problematic wording, we conducted ten additional cognitive interviews with new respondents, focusing on Latinx caregivers who primarily speak American English. This iterative process informed specific changes, such as refining the description of “caregiver” in a question designed to be maximally inclusive and replacing misunderstood words such as “dominant” and “primary” with more familiar words. Variations in participant comprehension underscore the importance of rigorously pre-testing research materials. Post-survey development, our data and findings will provide valuable context for interpreting survey results.
SERVICE AND PROGRAM NEEDS TO SUPPORT OLDER, LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS AGING IN PLACE
Authors: Lee Sung-Jin , Robinson Renee , Hopfer Elizabeth , Lee Minyong , Parrott Kathleen 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
An interdisciplinary team of the Housing, Kinesiology, and Textile programs at North Carolina A&T State University is collaborating on a multi-year research project to examine the person-environment fit perspective for older, low-income homeowners in North Carolina. Using a qualitative phenomenological study approach, researchers conducted 19 in-home and personal interviews with urban low-income, older homeowners in community-dwelling units. A local nonprofit housing agency providing home modification services to low-income older adults assisted with sample recruitment. Researchers conducted a content analysis using interview transcripts from recorded voices, home assessment data, photos taken during home visits, and interviewers’ notes. Data analysis revealed personal elements (e.g., living alone, informal support, mortgage payments, technology capability levels) and environmental elements (e.g., steps, dust/unclean home conditions, clutter, continuous upkeep needs) that can be associated with respondents’ aging-in-place practices. The qualitative data also highlighted the need for additional services and programs to improve their home environment or housing conditions beyond home modifications. Examples include cleaning services (e.g., dust on floors, carpets, ceilings, or vents), laundry services for home textiles (e.g., fabric drapes on windows), lawn care programs, and services for placing trash bins at the curb for pickup and returning them near the home. This study provides an opportunity to understand older, low-income homeowners aging in place and their home environments, which have been less explored using a qualitative approach. This research presentation will be supported by qualitative comments from study participants, along with photos of home environments.
SHEMANCIPATION: A GROUNDED THEORY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN’S PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING TO AGE 50
Authors: Bradley Lisa 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
The study of adult development has produced numerous theories to describe participants’ experiences, processes, and related developmental milestones. Despite the number of studies found in the literature, few have explored adult development for African American women, and fewer still have explored African American women’s midlife experience. The present study, rooted in theories of intersectionality and critical gerontology, used constructivist grounded theory to investigate a discrete aspect of midlife aging for African American women, the age-50 transition. Guided by the research question, “How do African American women describe their experience of turning 50?”, eighteen semi-formal interviews were conducted with 11 African American women, age 50 to 55, which coincides with Levinson’s (1986/1996) Middle Adulthood. The women confirmed that they were born, raised, and currently lived in the United States. During data collection, constant comparison and memoing were used to evaluate the data for gaps and overlapping instances. Initial coding generated the assignment of 161 unique codes. After four rounds of coding, the three processes of Reflection, Realization, and Resolution, and the theoretical concept of “Shemancipation” emerged. Findings of the present study were partially aligned with Cohen’s (2005/2006) stages of Midlife Reevaluation and Liberation, and Howell & Beth’s (2002) midlife development stages of External Awareness and Internal Awareness stages. The findings report includes several direct quotes from the participants to intentionally amplify voices long omitted from the literature. Further study with additional cohorts was recommended, as well as an investigation of the role played by the global pandemic on introspective processes.
SUBJECTIVE FINANCIAL STRAIN AMONG CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA
Authors: Zhu Yujun , Enguidanos Susan , Wilber Kathleen , Benton Donna , Falzarano Francesca 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia often face significant caregiving burdens. While the cost of care is admittedly high for dementia patients, research on the financial strain experienced by family caregivers remains limited. This cross-sectional study used publicly available data from the “Caregiving in the U.S. 2020” survey of 1,241 caregivers who identified as caring for an adult age 50 and older. Comparative analyses were conducted to assess subjective financial strain and caregiving intensity among caregivers of individuals with and without Alzheimer’s disease/dementia. Logistic regression models were used to explore the association between caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia and family caregivers’ subjective financial strain after controlling for caregivers’ demographic characteristics, care recipients’ conditions and care intensity. The average age of caregivers was 56.1 (SD=16.5) years and 59% were female. About 61% of caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia reported financial strain, significantly higher than the 51% reported by caregivers of individuals without these conditions (P&lt;.001). Caregivers assisted in more activities of daily living (2.1 vs. 1.4) and instrumental activities of daily living (4.9 vs. 4.3) in the Alzheimer’s group compared to the non-Alzheimer’s caregivers. Caring for recipients with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia was associated with a higher (OR=1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.0) likelihood of experiencing subjective financial strain. This study highlights the amplified financial challenges faced by caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The results underscore the necessity for comprehensive support systems, including financial assistance programs to alleviate the burdens on this population.
DOES THE PERCEIVED DOSAGE OF BZRAS DURING TAPERING AFFECT SLEEP QUALITY IN OLDER ADULTS?
Authors: Wong Sarah , Mitchell Michael , Camacho Karen , Nguyen Thien , Fung Constance 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Reducing adverse events (e.g., falls) is a primary motivator to deprescribe benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs) in older adults, but success rates vary despite intensive approaches (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia [CBTI]). Mechanisms such as placebo effects may be unexplored targets for improving deprescribing success. A masked taper is one approach to disrupting these mechanisms. Using data from the masked tapering arm of a 5-year randomized clinical trial that augmented CBTI with a masked taper (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03687086; n=89, 67% male, mean age = 69.2 years, 77.5% White, mean Insomnia Severity Index =13.6), we investigated relationships among BZRA pharmacokinetics (duration of action, receptor localization, lipophilicity), perceived BZRA dosage, and sleep quality. Daily, participants guessed their BZRA dosage taken nightly relative to their baseline dosage (guesses classified as over/concordant/underestimation) and completed diaries assessing sleep quality (sleep efficiency, sleep latency, wake after sleep onset). Mixed models examined the effects of pharmacokinetics on underestimation and perceived dosage (over/concordant/underestimation) on sleep quality. Pharmacokinetic measures were not significantly associated with dosage underestimation (all p-values &gt;.05). Dosage overestimation was associated with improved sleep efficiency, reduced sleep latency and reduced wake after sleep onset) (all p-values &lt;.001). Dosage underestimation was associated with worse sleep quality (all p-values &lt;.001). Pharmacokinetics were not associated with estimation of BZRA dosage in a masked taper, but participants who perceived taking a higher dosage of BZRA reported better sleep quality. Future studies may explore the effects of perceived dosage of other drugs (such as analgesics) to aid in masked tapering efforts.
HETEROGENEOUS METABOLOMIC AGING ACROSS THE SAME AGE AND PEDICTION OF HEALTH OUTCOME
Authors: Jia Xueqing , Fan Jiayao , Wu Xucheng , Deelen Joris , Zhou Dan , Liu Zuyun 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Existing metabolomic clocks exhibit deficiencies in capturing the heterogeneous aging rates among individuals with the same chronological age. Yet, the modifiable and non-modifiable factors in metabolomic aging have not been systematically studied. Here, a new aging measure—MetaboAgeMort—was generated and validated using metabolomic profiles from 239,291 UK Biobank participants for 10-year all-cause mortality prediction. The MetaboAgeMort showed significant associations with all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, and diverse incident diseases. Adding MetaboAgeMort to a conventional risk factors model improved the predictive ability of 10-year mortality. A total of 99 modifiable factors across seven categories were identified for MetaboAgeMort. Among these, 16 factors representing pulmonary function, body composition, socioeconomic status, dietary quality, smoking status, alcohol intake, and disease status showed quantitatively stronger associations. The genetic analyses revealed 99 genomic risk loci and 271 genes associated with MetaboAgeMort. The tissue-enrichment analysis showed significant enrichment in liver. This study illuminates heterogeneous metabolomic aging across the same age, providing avenues for identifying high-risk individuals, developing anti-aging therapies, and personalizing interventions, thus promoting healthy aging and longevity.
IMPACT OF NUMBER OF FUNCTIONAL TEETH ON INCIDENT MOBILITY DISABILITY IN OLDER ADULTS: FINDINGS FROM THE KFACS
Authors: Lim Nahyun , Shin Hyung Eun , Lee Daehyun , Jung Heeeun , Jang Jae Young , Cho Hyunjin , Won Chang Won , Kim Miji 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
The prevalence of mobility disability among older adults has a detrimental impact on their ability to live independently. It has been reported that losing functional teeth (FT) is linked to mobility disability. Nevertheless, there is insufficient longitudinal research investigating an association between the number of FT and incident mobility disability. We aimed to evaluate the association between the number of FT at baseline (2016–2017) and incident mobility disability after 6-year (2022-2023) in community-dwelling Korean older adults. A total of 1,090 older adults without mobility disability at baseline (50.2% women; mean age 75.3 ± 3.4 years) were analyzed from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. FT were defined as total teeth, including remaining natural teeth and prosthetically restored teeth on panoramic radiography. Mobility disability was defined after 6-year as gait speed less than 1.0 m/s. The multivariate logistic regression analysis evaluated the association between FT and incident mobility disability. Participants having FT less than 20 were 26.3% (n=287), and the incident mobility disability was 30.2% (n=329). FT less than 20 were significantly associated with a higher risk of incident mobility disability in un-adjusted model (odds ratio [OR]: 2.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.71–3.00). After adjusting for confounders, FT less than 20 had a higher risk of incident mobility disability (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.38–2.75). In conclusion, the number of FT was independently associated with incident mobility disability. Our findings suggest that maintaining FT at least 20 is essential to prevent mobility disability in older adults.
MARITAL TRAJECTORIES, RACE/ETHNICITY, NATIVITY, AND CARDIOVASCULAR COMORBIDITIES AMONG US ADULTS
Authors: Karakida Maki , Stokes Jeffrey , Song Qian 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Marital loss – one of the most stressful and emotional life events – often ties to negative cardiovascular health outcomes, which can be comorbid with other chronic conditions, like diabetes. Cardiovascular complications, spousal bereavement, and grey divorce are increasingly common in older adulthood, yet their effects may vary among US-born and foreign-born racial-ethnic minorities. The present study examines the longitudinal relationships between marital quality, race/ethnicity, nativity, and cardiovascular comorbid conditions among 6,953 Americans aged 58 and over. Leveraging the RAND HRS Longitudinal File 2020 (2010–2020) and binomial logistic regressions, we analyzed how married or partnered adults in 2010 undergone marital loss and developed heart disease, high blood pressure and hypertension, stroke, and/or diabetes by 2020, during the COVID-19 crisis. Across all the models, the main effects highlighted that the widowed group had a significantly higher likelihood of cardiovascular comorbidities (all p &lt; 0.026) unlike the married and divorced groups. The model, examining the intersection of race/ethnicity and nativity – interacted with marital status – revealed that compared with US-born White married adults, US-born Hispanic divorcees (OR = 4.39; p &lt; 0.022) and foreign-born non-Hispanic Other divorcees (OR = 10.49; p &lt; 0.038) indicated 4-10 times greater cardiovascular comorbidity risks. Findings suggest that among older nonnative and/or racial-ethnic minorities, spousal bereavement and martial dissolution/separation developed worse cardiovascular comorbid conditions, especially during the first year of the pandemic outbreaks. Cardiovascular comorbidities, interacted with race/ethnicity, nativity, and marital status, are warranted to be further investigated.
PERFORMANCE ON THE MOCA IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH COGNITIVE RESERVE IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Barneclo Marcella , Isenberg A Lisette , Stradford Joy , Espejo Kimberly , Pa Judy 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
The Cognitive Reserve (CR) hypothesis suggests that more experiential resources (e.g. education, occupation, recreational activities) can help individuals combat age-related cognitive decline and maintain higher cognitive function with age. As such, higher CR has been implicated in greater cognitive resilience potentially correlated to delaying the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Previous research in cognitively normal populations found that the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a well-established neuropsychological assessment of global cognition used to identify Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or mild AD in older adults, may reflect CR. However, limited information exists on the association between MoCA and CR for MCI. The present study investigates the relationship between MoCA and CR in older adults with early MCI using the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq), a proxy measure of CR determined by education, occupational activity, and recreational activity. The study includes 138 older adults aged 50-85 with early MCI, comprising 50 males and 88 females, with an average age of 66.1 ± 7.40. No correlation between MoCA and total CRIq scores (r = 0.12, p = 0.17), or the subcategories of working activity (r = 0.08, p = 0.35), education (r = 0.05, p = 0.54), and leisure time (r = 0.11, p = 0.19) were observed. Age was included as a covariate in the models. There were no differences between sexes for CRIq scores, MoCA scores, or years of education, respectively. These findings suggest that performance on the MoCA is not associated with CR in older adults with early MCI.
PROGRESSION TO FRAILTY – THE ROLE OF MUSCLE RESILIENCE
Authors: Thompson LaDora , Perazza Lais 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
The impact of a stressful event within the progression to frailty is unknown. In this study we determined the response to an acute stress in Robust, Prefrail, and Frail mice. We hypothesized the Robust mice would show greater resilience compared to Prefrail and Frail mice following a stressful event; whereas the Prefrail mice would show an intermediary resilience status. 17-27-month-old C57BL/6 female mice were classified as Robust, Prefrail or Frail using the Vitality Phenotype (strength, endurance, activity, walking speed, health deficits.) Stress was induced by downhill running (DR). Resilience was determined by muscle contractility and bone mineral density (BMD). 38% of cohort was classified as Prefrail, 33% as Frail and 29% as Robust. Performance parameters were different between the 3 categories of frailty. Tetanic force (soleus) in Frail mice was significantly reduced compared to Prefrail and Robust mice. When tetanic force was normalized to muscle mass, the frailty-driven reduction in force was still observed, suggesting impairment in protein quality. BMD was similar between Prefrail and Frail, while both differed from Robust, suggesting that BMD loss occurred early in the progression to frailty. Following DR, the Robust and Prefrail mice showed a significant reduction in tetanic force compared to non-damaged control Robust and Prefrail mice. In contrast, soleus tetanic force in Frail mice following DR was not different between non-damaged control Frail mice, likely due to the already preexisting muscle dysfunction. In sum, our data suggests that resilience after acute stress is dependent on the frailty status.
RELATING SPECIFIC MEDICATIONS TO RECORD OF FALLS IN A LARGE COHORT OF OLDER SWEDISH ADULTS
Authors: Peterson Daniel , Johansson Linda , Westerlind Bjorn , De Oliveira Thais Lopes , Finkel Deborah 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Falls are common and devastating for older adults and can be impacted by medication. However, analyses relating medication and falls often focus on a subset of medications. We assessed relationships between medication prescription and prospectively captured falls within a large, Swedish National Quality Register (Senior Alert) sample. Participants (N=441) were tracked for approximately 2.5 years. The observation period was separated into 30-day windows, within which the presence of medication prescription and number of falls were noted. To relate medication prescription and falls, we used Logistic Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) self-comparison models, considering the dependence of longitudinal data as a cluster to correct confidence intervals and individuals as the cluster. Total number of medications for each 30-day window was included in the model. 286 unique medications were identified and initially considered. However, for model convergence, only medications that were prescribed 100 or more times across all participants and timeframes were included in the analyses, leaving 86 medications. After correction for multiple comparisons, 3 classes of medications were related to falls (annotated with 5-digit ATC codes): B01AB (antithrombotics), B03BB (folic Acid), and A03AX (functional gastro-intestinal [GI] disorder medications). Findings are partially consistent with previous work, as antithrombotic agents were related to falls. Folic acid and GI medications were not previously related to increased fall-risk. Results extend previous work in several ways. 1) data were analyzed via a robust, within subject design, 2) data were collected in older adults living in a novel, Swedish cohort, and 3) we interrogated many common medications.