bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
BLOOD-BASED BIOMARKERS FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND NEURODEGENERATION IN RELATION TO INCIDENT COGNITIVE STATUS
Authors: Sullivan Kevin , Blackshear Chad , Pike James , Walker Keenan , Windham B Gwen , Mosley Thomas , Griswold Michael , Palta Priya 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and neurodegeneration, including amyloid-beta (AB), ptau-181, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NFL), could advance the monitoring and detection of individuals at high risk for adverse cognitive outcomes. At visit 5 (2011-13) of the community-based ARIC study, AB42, AB40, ptau-181, GFAP, and NFL were measured in plasma using ultrasensitive single-molecule array (Simoa; Quanterix) assays in a sample of 919 cognitively unimpaired participants (mean age 76±5 years, 61% female, 31% Black). Cognitive outcomes included adjudicated dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) ascertained using a neuropsychological battery, functional status questionnaires, and informant interviews across three in-person clinic exams [median follow-up of 6.5 years (IQR:5.8-6.9)]. Multinomial logistic regressions estimated Relative Risk Ratios (RRR) of the four-category outcome of MCI, dementia, and death vs. cognitively unimpaired status for each base(2) log-transformed biomarker separately, adjusted for age, sex, education, site-race, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, APOEε4, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. All blood biomarkers were associated with incident dementia risk [AB42:40 (RRR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.40,0.83); ptau-181:AB42 (RRR=2.40, 95% CI: 1.74,3.30); GFAP (RRR=2.35, 95% CI: 1.22,4.53); NFL (RRR= 1.95, 95% CI: 1.29, 2.94)] and incident MCI risk [AB42:40 (RRR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.62,0.95); ptau-181:AB42 (RRR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.31,1.99); GFAP (RRR=1.24, 95% CI: 0.99,1.56); NFL (RRR= 1.44, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.87)]. Blood biomarkers indicative of varying neuropathological processes show potential utility in cognitive risk assessment and disease characterization in Black and White older adults with up to a decade of follow-up.
AD/NEURODEGENERATION BLOOD BIOMARKER ASSOCIATIONS WITH PREVALENT AND INCIDENT MOBILITY AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Authors: Windham B Gwen , Blackshear Chad , Sullivan Kevin , Pike James , Walker Keenan , Mosley Thomas , Palta Priya , Griswold Michael 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Blood biomarkers of Alzheimer Disease pathology (Aβ42, Aβ40, p-tau181) and neurodegeneration (neurofilament light (NFL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)) may identify individuals at risk for mobility and cognitive impairment. Among 1751 ARIC study participants at Visit 5 (V5, 2011-13, mean age 76.2 years (5.3), 41% men, 28% Black), usual gait speed and cognitive status were assessed over 8 years at V5, V6 (2016-17), and V7 (2017-18). Impairment outcomes were mobility-only (gait speed &lt;0.8m/s, n=430), cognitive-only (dementia, n=38), dual (n=54), or neither (referent, n=1229). Multinomial regression models examined relative risk ratios (RRR) per higher IQR of V5 log-transformed biomarkers with cross-sectional impairments and, among those with neither impairment at V5, incident impairments or death without impairment (n=168) through V7. All models adjusted for V5 age, sex, self-reported race (Black or White), renal function, and body mass index. Aβ42 was reversed and adjusted for Aβ40 (-Aβ42|40) for consistent directions of associations (higher=worse). Higher biomarkers were associated with greater prevalence of mobility, cognitive, and dual impairments. Incident impairments occurred in mobility-only (n=471), cognitive-only (n=39), and dual domains (n=55). All biomarkers were associated with incident dual impairment: p-tau181 (RRR=2.54; 95% CI: 1.45, 4.44), -Aβ42|40 (RRR=1.66; 1.31, 2.09), NfL (RRR=2.69; 1.22, 5.91) and GFAP (RRR=2.13; 1.07, 4.25). P-tau181, -Aβ42|40, and GFAP were also associated with incident cognitive-only impairment; P-tau181, NFL and GFAP were associated with incident mobility-only impairment. AD-pathology versus neurodegeneration blood biomarkers may help identify older adults at differential risk of functional decline, potentially facilitating earlier targeted interventions to preserve mobility and cognitive outcomes.
ADVANCING HOME MODIFICATION SERVICE DELIVERY THROUGH SYNTHESIZING DATA AND EVIDENCE
Authors: Steinman Bernard A , Trudeau Scott , Henke Maria 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Supportive housing options are a cornerstone to aging in place. Whereas most older people prefer to remain in their homes as they age, challenges associated with aging, including declines in physical health and functioning, often act as barriers to meeting this goal. Additionally, the home’s condition can affect a person’s ability to care for themselves and the ability of caregivers to provide quality care. Home modifications (HM) that increase safety and support daily activities play a key role in helping people stay in their homes and communities. Indeed, evidence-based interventions with HM components have been shown to reduce falls-related accidents, address a range of caregiving needs, and delay or prevent institutionalization–outcomes that otherwise come with high costs to individuals and society. In this symposium we have three aims: 1) to summarize previous research supporting the efficacy of programs with HM components in promoting aging in place via improved safety and access in the home; 2) to present three original studies that incorporated data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) to reveal HM use patterns (e.g., whether HMs are implemented proactively in advance of acquiring disability, or reactively in response to acquiring disability); and 3) to introduce a current HM service delivery model, describe its development, and discuss implications and next steps, including how current research findings can inform service delivery strategies in the future.
HEALTH DIMENSIONS AS PREDICTORS OF HOME MODIFICATION IMPLEMENTATION: A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF NHATS DATA
Authors: Steinman Bernard A , Yan Mengzhao , Pynoos Jon 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
A significant proportion of older Americans experience chronic conditions, functional impairments, participation limitations, activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disabilities that could impact their capacity to live independently in their homes. Home modifications (HM) implemented to promote safety and access can support aging in place by improving environmental fit with health characteristics of older individuals. We conceptualized health dimensions using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) to estimate risk profiles for implementing shower/tub and toilet HMs. We analyzed data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) using Cox regression, to examine associations between each ICF health dimension (i.e., personal characteristics, chronic conditions, functional impairments, social participation, ADL and IADL disability) and the probability of community dwelling older adults implementing HMs over a five-year period (2011 to 2015). Results indicated that being older age, married, having more functional impairments, greater social participation, and greater ADL and IADL disabilities are each independently associated with a higher probability of acquiring both types of HM. For example, each additional functional limitation was associated with a 12% increased risk of implementing toilet modifications and a 4% increased risk of implementing shower/tub modifications. Additionally, compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics are less likely to implement either type of HM. Implications of this study are that older individuals choose to implement HMs in response to different need profiles and that some age-related changes may be more impactful in decision making than others.
DO RECOMMENDATIONS FROM REHABILITATION THERAPISTS MOTIVATE OLDER ADULTS TO INSTALL HOME MODIFICATIONS?
Authors: Yan Mengzhao , Steinman Bernard A , Pynoos Jon 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
With the rapid growth of the aging population, private homes have increasingly become an alternative setting for the provision of long-term care (LTC). For many, LTC needs increase during recovery from acute medical events and subsequent rehabilitation services. An estimated 20% of older Americans undergo physical rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, that can help to promote function and improve their ability to carry out daily activities. Often, rehabilitation therapists may recommend that older adults receiving their services make home modifications (HMs) to facilitate their recovery and improve home accessibility and safety. Nevertheless, it is unclear to what extent receiving recommendations is associated with decisions by older adults to install HMs. Guided by Andersen’s healthcare utilization model, which assesses factors that lead to the use of health services, we hypothesized that those who received recommendations from rehabilitation therapists would be more likely to modify their homes to accommodate disability. We analyzed data from the most recent round (2022) of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). We used multivariate logistic regression to estimate the relationship between the recommendation and implementation of shower/tub and toilet HMs. Results indicated that older adults who received recommendations to modify their showers/tubs had 158% higher odds of installing shower/tub HMs, whereas those who received recommendations to modify areas around their toilets had 160% higher odds of installing toilet HMs. Findings suggest that older adults may be especially motivated to implement HM regimens when directed by rehabilitation professionals.
AGEISM EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE: DIFFERENT MANIFESTATIONS AND RESEARCH APPROACHES
Authors: Chasteen Alison 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
In the over 50 years since ageism was defined, the impact of age prejudice has never been clearer, with the increased expression of age bias both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This symposium aims to highlight the pervasive nature of ageism through a range of methodological approaches, including in-depth interviews, social media scraping, and experimental surveys, to underscore the ubiquity of ageism in contemporary society. We delve into various facets of ageism, exploring its manifestations in ageist group labels, media representations, beauty standards, and even its correlation with suicidal ideation. We also investigate ways to challenge ageist comments through confrontation. Vale assesses the impact of using ageist terms such as ‘elderly’ and ‘senior citizen’ on perceptions of older people. Fraser and colleagues explore online reactions to “The Golden Bachelor,” the first older adult-focused version of the reality tv show. Soulie et al. investigate older women’s responses to ageist beauty norms, including when they accept or resist them. Gendron and colleagues examine the role of internalized ageism in suicidal ideation among older people. Gans et al. test whether reactions to ageism confrontation vary by the intersecting identities (gender and race) of the older adult confronter as well as by the confrontation technique that is used. Altogether, these talks shed light on the multifaceted nature of ageism in North American society and offer valuable insights into strategies for combatting age bias. International Association of Gerontology & Geriatrics North American Regional Committee Sponsored Symposium
THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA PORTRAYALS ON AGEISM: A CASE STUDY OF THE GOLDEN BACHELOR
Authors: Fraser Sarah , Menard Alixe , Chasteen Alison , Van Gameren Mateja , Belanger Chris 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Background: Age-based discrimination or ageism is often propagated through media platforms (TV, news, social media). Focusing on the reality television show “The Golden Bachelor,” which features older adult contestants seeking romance, this study explored ageism spread via social media posts related to the program. Methods: Using social astronomy software we scraped Reddit’s English-language corpus for posts containing “golden bachelor” and extracted a sample of 1000 posts shared between August and September 2023. Qualitative content analysis of these posts revealed four forms of ageism (1) personal, (2) explicit, (3) implicit, and (4) benevolent. Results: Personal ageism emerged through comments devaluing older contestants’ appearance: “Hey at 75 you can go on The Golden Bachelor; wouldn’t that be fun. Wrinkles upon wrinkles…” Explicit ageism was evident in derogatory remarks targeting contestants’ age and limited physical capabilities: “Can the Golden Bachelor still get it up?”. Implicit ageism was discernible in subtle reinforcement of age-related stereotypes: “The guy who’s going to be the Golden Bachelor is 71 and he looks much younger than I remember 71-year-olds looking. He seems like a pretty normal guy.” and benevolent ageism manifested through the infantilization of older contestants: “cute old people love”. Discussion and Implications: While “The Golden Bachelor” may help some understand the capabilities of older adults and counter the misperception of them as asexual, existing ageist stereotypes emerge and are propagated on social media platforms. These findings underscore the pervasive nature of ageism in social media and highlight the importance of addressing age-related biases in media representation.
“JUST DON’T LOOK OLD; THAT’S WHAT’LL KILL YOU”: EXAMINING OLDER WOMEN’S RESPONSE TO AGEIST BEAUTY NORMS
Authors: Soulie Brianna , Barrett Anne , Mimbs Hope 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Aging beyond youth presents challenges for women, who often struggle to remain visible and valued in an ageist society. Much of the literature has focused on women’s engagement with age-related beauty work, with less attention given to the encounters with ageist beauty norms that motivate it. Studies also have given limited attention to the range of women’s responses to these norms, which can include elements of acceptance or acquiescence, as well as resistance. Our study examines these issues using in-depth interviews with 20 women, ranging in age from 57 to 83. Analyses revealed that ageist beauty norms are woven into women’s everyday interactions, often with co-workers, friends, or acquaintances. Our analyses unpack these norms to reveal the dominant age ideologies they reflect. They center on the assumption that faces and bodies that have aged beyond youth are unattractive and that the morally and practically appropriate response is to engage in beauty work to mask signs of aging. Women differed, however, in how they responded to these pressures, with some engaging in age-related beauty work and others opting out of it. Our analyses revealed that this choice often hinged on women’s perceived security in their social roles – in particular, their employment and marital or partnership statuses. While many studies have examined how women engage in beauty work to remain competitive in the youth-oriented dating and job markets, our analyses revealed how security in these realms can lead women to disengage from beauty work aimed at masking signs of aging.
UNMET COMMUNITY CARE NEEDS AND THE WELL-BEING OF OLDER ADULTS IN CHINA
Authors: Yan Shibin 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
As China has experienced rapid population aging, the demand for elder care services has increased dramatically. The gap in service demand has become concerning because the traditional provision of eldercare heavily relies on informal care provided by the family. Social and demographic transformations have made the family-reliant care model unsustainable. Community care has become a reasonable and practical option to balance the care demand. However, there is a huge gap between community care provision and need. This prevailing unmet needs in community care services necessitated a deeper understanding of its impact on the well-being of older adults. Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study, we employ fixed-effect regressions to examine the effects of unmet community care needs on older adults’ health status and subjective well-being (SWB), including specific insights on disabled and childless subpopulations. We find a negative association between unmet needs and both health and SWB, with no significant different effect among subpopulations. Interestingly, Its effect on life satisfaction is moderated by place of residence, with a stronger negative impact in urban areas. These findings highlight the urgent need for more equitable and accessible community care services, particularly for urban older adults, to improve their overall well-being.
ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT IT: ATTITUDES, AFFECT, AND ABILITY IN THE ASSESSMENT OF SUBJECTIVE COGNITION
Authors: Bower Emily , Zammitti Melissa , Chenoweth Claudia Jacova 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD)—self-perceived persistent cognitive decline in the absence of objective cognitive impairment—is a risk factor for dementia. Despite the potential for SCD to aid in the detection of future dementia, differentiating trajectories of normative from non-normative decline among people with SCD is complicated for several reasons, including that self-perceived cognition is associated with socioemotional and general health factors in addition to objective abilities. Moreover, operational definitions of self-perceived cognition vary across the research literature and overlap with subjective aging. A robust understanding of the relationships among self-perceived cognition and aging, objective cognition, mood, attitudes, and health will strengthen the characterization and differentiation of SCD. This symposium will explore measures of perceived cognition and describe their relationships with mood, health, and aging attitudes among healthy older adults. The first presenter will describe the differential impacts of negative and positive affect on perceived memory difficulties, highlighting the complex relationships among depression, affective states, and subjective memory decline. The second presenter will expand on these findings by contrasting a measure of subjective memory decline with related measures of subjective memory and subjective age, and explore differential impacts of perceived health and objective memory. The third presenter will focus on perceived cognitive ability more broadly to describe its relationship with attitudes toward aging, depression, and objective cognition. The Discussant will compare and contrast findings with regard to operational definitions of self-perceived cognition and consider implications of the findings as they relate to emerging issues of clinical classification and management of SCD.
AGE TRAJECTORIES OF LYSOPHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINES IN RELATION TO ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: FINDINGS FROM LLFS
Authors: Arbeev Konstantin , Bagley Olivia , Ukraintseva Svetlana , Cosentino Stephanie , Kulminski Alexander , Stallard Eric , Yashin Anatoliy 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC) are phospholipids involved in apoptosis and demyelination, among other functions. They have been linked to cancer, atherosclerosis, and neurodegeneration (with potential trade-offs) and explored as early markers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and accelerated aging. However, relationships between longitudinal changes in LPC levels and AD risk remain poorly understood. We applied statistical approaches for joint analyses of longitudinal and time-to-event outcomes, joint models (JM) and stochastic process models (SPM), to study longitudinal dynamics of LPC in relation to AD incidence in the Long Life Family Study (LLFS) participants. In total, 4,017 measurements of 23 LPC species in 2,858 LLFS participants from the U.S., who had 93 incident AD cases and up to two LPC measurements per individual, were analyzed. In JM applications, we found sex-specific relationship (for males only) between the dynamics of LPC species and AD incidence in the model adjusted for baseline age, education, smoking, medication use, and two genetic principal components. The strongest association was found for LPC(14:0/0:0) in males (regression coefficient: 0.739, p=2.3e-23). In SPM applications, we demonstrated that various hidden biomarkers of aging, embedded within the model’s structure and indirectly evaluated from individual LPC trajectories and data on AD incidence, significantly contribute to the associations between LPC and AD. We also observed sex differences in ‘optimal’ and ‘equilibrium’ LPC trajectories, as well as in vulnerability to LPC deviations from these trajectories, and in how these relations change with age. Our findings call for further investigation into the biological mechanisms underlying the observed associations.
SLEEP DURATION AND COGNITION IN THE LONG LIFE FAMILY STUDY
Authors: Gordon Emma , Gu Yian , Cosentino Stephanie , Anderson Stacy , Ukraintseva Svetlana 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Numerous studies demonstrate associations between sleep and cognition. This study includes a subset of 2344 participants from the Long Life Family Study, a cohort with slower overall rates of cognitive decline, and seeks to examine how sleep and cognition are related in this population. Our neuropsychological battery measured episodic, semantic, and working memory at baseline (2006-2009), and in a subset of 1633 participants at the follow-up visits 6.9 (SD=2.7) years later. Sleep habits were assessed once, using the Health Habits (HH) Questionnaire, between the two cognitive measures. Associations between sleep duration and memory were examined using generalized estimating equations models, accounting for relationship with long-lived families. Compared to those with 6.5-8.5 hours of sleep, those with &gt; 8.5 hours of sleep had lower episodic memory scores at baseline (b=-0.705, p=0.021), but not at follow-up (b=-0.627, p=0.149), after controlling for age, sex, field center, APOE, and generation. Sleep duration was not associated with semantic or working memory. Those who had &gt; 8.5 hours of sleep had faster decline in all memory scores, although not significantly. There was no difference in memory scores comparing &lt; 6.5 hours of sleep to 6.5-8.5 hours of sleep. Lower memory scores at baseline predicted longer sleep time subsequently, while sleep time did not predict memory performance on follow-up. Overall, the current study did not support sleep duration as a significant contributor to memory decline, contradicting some earlier findings in the literature, and prompting further investigation into the connection between sleep and cognition, especially within this population.
HOW CAREGIVERS USE BEST PROGRAMS FOR CAREGIVING TO FIND INTERVENTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
Authors: Cannon Rachel , Bass David , Minyo Morgan , Powers Sara , Fete Zoe , Huth Megan 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
A new public version of Best Programs for Caregiving (BPC) launched in 2024 to help family and friend caregivers find evidence-based, dementia caregiving support programs that are available to them in their communities. The new version of BPC profiles healthcare and community organizations that are verified delivery sites of the 47 programs that are included in the professional version that launched in 2020. More than 200 organizations were verified to be delivering these programs and completed a survey requesting information about their offering of the program. The new version of BPC displays organization’s information on how caregivers can enroll in the program, types of help the program provides, program costs and eligibility requirements, how the program is delivered, and whether the program has been adapted for diverse groups. Caregivers can access Best Programs for Caregiving at bpc.caregiver.org and use their zip code to search for programs available to them both in-person and online. This presentation provides an overview of the interventions included in Best Programs for Caregiving and the data collection process, including a demonstration of how to use the site to find and compare evidence-based dementia caregiving programs.