bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION AT MIDLIFE: EVALUATING THE MEDIATING ROLE OF EDUCATION
Authors: Hair Nicole 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Educational attainment is one of the strongest predictors of dementia among older adults. It is unclear, however, whether this association reflects the benefits of education per se or early life factors that influence educational attainment. We leverage the introduction of the first measles vaccine in 1963, which contributed to a pronounced and sustained reduction in infectious disease morbidity, to evaluate the effects of better overall health in childhood on cognitive function at midlife and, further, to assess the role of educational attainment in the causal pathway from early life health to later life cognition. Our project links early-life contextual data, e.g., state-level socioeconomic, epidemiologic and policy measures, to the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal population-based study of individuals over age 50 with validated cognitive measures. Our analytic sample includes older adults in the War Baby (1942-47), Early Baby Boomer (1948-53), Mid Baby Boomer (1954-59), and Late Baby Boomer (1960-65) cohorts who were born and attended school in the United States. Our analytic approach compares outcomes across birth cohorts with more or less exposure to measles vaccination campaigns in the 1960s and 1970s and across states with higher or lower baseline measles incidence. We find that mass vaccination against measles had positive and significant impacts on both educational attainment (e.g., years completed) and cognitive function (e.g., global cognition and episodic memory) at midlife and that education mediated the association between better overall health in childhood and cognitive function later in life.
WHEN CONTEXT GETS UNDER THE SKIN: HOW ATTITUDES SHAPE CONTEXTUAL IMPACT ON AGING WELL IN LATE LIFE
Authors: Schilling Oliver , Slaug Björn , Schilling Oliver 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
In late life, increasing risks of loss of resources may aggravate vulnerability to contextual conditions that challenge habitual life conduct. However, evidence of older adults’ capabilities to deal with adversity suggests that subjective accounts of enabling or challenging contexts and corresponding attitudes, rather than objective context per se, shape conditions for aging well. This symposium highlights recent findings from studies that examined the role of subjective attitudes in associations between contextual conditions and aging well in very old adults: Sabatini et al. analyze associations between changes in depressive symptoms, attitudes to aging, and indicators of aging well (life satisfaction, informant-rated disability) in an Australian sample, their findings suggest a crucial role of attitudes to aging in mediating effects of poor mental health on aging well. Slaug et al. show that effects of functional limitations on active aging were moderated by how older Swedes perceived their housing (i.e., meaning of home). Zimmermann & Demirer show that impacts of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation in Germany on functional health were mediated by social cohesion (i.e., trusting people in the neighborhood). Using multiple German very old samples, Kaspar et al. propose and test how a contextually enriched model of successful aging, comprising perceptions of contextually driven opportunity structures could better account for the realities of aging well with disability. Schilling will discuss these findings, focusing on needs to understand the interplay between subjective attitudes, contexts and aging well in late life.
ATTACHING MORE MEANING TO THE HOME SUPPORTS ACTIVE AGING DESPITE FUNCTIONAL DECLINE
Authors: Slaug Björn , Granbom Marianne , Björk Jonas , Rantanen Taina , Schmidt Steven , Iwarsson Susanne 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
When functional limitations increase with age, perceived qualities of the home may influence the level of activity among older adults. Active aging is the process through which people strive to maintain wellbeing when growing old. The aim of this study was to investigate whether perceived housing moderates the relationship between functional limitations and active aging. Cross-sectional data from a sub-sample (N=820; mean age=69.7; 54% women) of the Prospective RELOC-AGE was used. Functional limitations were captured by ten dichotomous questions. Active aging was assessed with the University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale (UJACAS; 17 items, self-rated for four perspectives). Perceived housing was self-rated with four usability questions and the meaning of home (MOH; 28 items) questionnaire. Associations and interactions were analysed using linear regression models, adjusting for gender and educational level. Each functional limitation decreased the active aging score by almost five points (p&lt;0.001). Usability did not moderate the relationship while MOH significantly attenuated the association between functional limitations and active aging (p=0.039). Those with high MOH had two points less decrease in active aging score compared to those with low MOH. Having a home with more personal meaning attached to it seems to provide more ability and opportunity for meaningful activities, thus supporting active aging despite functional limitations. This sheds new light on the known association between MOH and different aspects of wellbeing in old age and has relevance for further theory development.
PERCEIVED NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCES AND MEDIATING ROLE OF SOCIAL COHESION ON FUNCTIONAL HEALTH AMONG VERY OLD ADULTS
Authors: Zimmermann Jaroslava , Demirer Ibrahim 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Functional health is not only a key indicator of physical health in old age, but it also reflects the individual ability to self-care and participate independently in important areas of life. The evidence shows that older adults living in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods have higher likelihood to experience functional limitations. Nevertheless, little is known about the underlying mechanisms explaining this effect. Following the social disorganization theory, the aim of this contribution was to test the hypothesis that the link between neighborhood socioeconomic resources and functional health is mediated by social cohesion. Data from the German representative study “Old age in Germany” were used. The study sample included 10,578 persons aged ≥80 years. Functional health was measured by instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Neighborhood socioeconomic resources were operationalized by perceived walkability of neighborhood and building condition. Social cohesion referred to trusting people in neighborhood. Considering the complex sample design, path analysis based on structure equation modeling was conducted. Adjusting for individual and regional characteristics, the results showed that low walkability and poor building condition (independently of each other as well as in a combined form) were associated with decreased ability in IADL and lower social cohesion, while higher social cohesion increased IADL. The findings suggest that unfavorable socioeconomic conditions in neighborhoods negatively affect social cohesion and functional health. Moreover, social cohesion in neighborhoods have protective effect on functional health. Both, socioeconomic and social conditions should be targeted when planning interventions to promote or maintain functional health of the very old.
OLDER ADULTS’ PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD TECHNOLOGIES TO ADDRESS LONELINESS: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW
Authors: Cho Emma , Weiss Charlotte , Demiris George 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation, which can affect healthy aging and well-being. This study aimed to understand how older adults perceive technology interventions that address loneliness and social isolation. Databases (PubMed, CINAHL, APApsychInfo, and Abstracts in Social Gerontology) were searched for articles reporting on perceptions of technologies that address social isolation and loneliness in older adults (65 years of age or older). Thirteen studies with English language, and peer-reviewed articles in various countries met the quality review and inclusion criteria. The findings of the review were synthesized into themes and sub-themes. The emergent themes suggest that older adults may positively perceive technologies (e.g., video phones, avatar pets, social assistive robots) to facilitate increased social connectedness, emotional attachment, companionship, and comfort, and connection to resources in the wider community. Older adults may also experience negative perceptions regarding technology: dissatisfaction with digital social communication style or content (e.g., repetitive conversations with digital pet) and technical barriers (e.g., audio delay on videophone, multiple steps to follow to use telephone). Technologies can offer solutions to address social connectedness in older adults, by mitigating loneliness and social isolation. Yet opportunities exist to partner with older adults to understand the barriers to using technology and co-create acceptable and feasible digital strategies to improve their overall well-being by reducing perceived loneliness and providing opportunities for improving social connectedness.
SOCIAL DISCONNECTION CORRELATES OF A “WISH TO DIE” AMONG A LARGE COMMUNITY-DWELLING COHORT OF OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Ward Mark 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Social disconnection and deaths by suicide among older adults are both important public health concerns. In response to the “Epidemic of loneliness and isolation”, the Surgeon General’s Advisory has identified social connection as a cross-disciplinary research priority and developed a national strategy to advance greater social connection. A ‘Wish to Die’ (WTD) is predictive of future suicide attempt(s) and social disconnection has been identified as an important predictor of suicide-related thoughts and behavior. Data were from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), a sister cohort of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). TILDA is a large cohort of 8500 community-dwelling older adults aged 50+. Cross-sectional analyses of the association between numerous markers of social disconnection (loneliness, social isolation, living alone, marital status, social participation, volunteering, and attending religious service) and WTD were conducted. Four percent reported a WTD. Both functional and structural markers of social disconnection were associated with WTD. Among these, loneliness was the strongest risk factor while attendance of religious services was an important protective behavior. There is a strong association between social disconnection and a WTD among older adults. There is also a strong association between depression and a WTD, while attending religious services or similarly prosocial settings may protect older adults from experiencing negative thoughts about dying.
THE EFFECT OF GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME ON HOUSING ACCESS AND HEALTH AMONG OLDER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
Authors: Traver Anthony , Calhoun Katie 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
The confluence of population aging and rising housing costs across the United States has resulted in an unprecedented number of older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH). Worldwide, guaranteed basic income programs are being explored as strategies to prevent or end an episode of homelessness. The Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP), which began in 2022, provided a guaranteed income to adults experiencing homelessness in Denver, CO. DBIP used a randomized controlled design to compare the impact of two payment methods, monthly ($1,000 per month), and lump sum ($6,500 the first month, $500 per month after that), to an active control group ($50 per month). This study used a subsample of DBIP participants aged 50 and older at the time of enrollment (n=221) to analyze the 12-month impact of guaranteed income on housing access, overall health (measured by the SF-36), and emergency department visits among OPEH in Denver, CO. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the effect of intention to treat on outcomes of interest. The increase in the likelihood of obtaining housing was significantly larger for the monthly and lump sum groups than the control group. Group assignment was not associated with a difference in the likelihood of visiting an emergency department or a change in overall health. Results indicate that guaranteed income programs can support housing access among OPEH but may not alter health status over twelve months.
ADVANCING OLDER ADULTS’ QUALITY OF LIFE AND INDEPENDENCE WITH FITNESS: INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND STRATEGIES
Authors: Heyn Patricia , Dowd James , Dowd James 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
This symposium by the Fitness, Exercise, and Wellness (FEW) Interest Group showcases diverse approaches to enhancing well-being and quality of life for older adults through innovative exercise interventions and research methodologies. Dr. Sara Pappa’s work outlines the success of the Northern Virginia Falls Prevention Alliance in deploying community-based evidence-based fall prevention programs, highlighting the effectiveness of academic-community partnerships in implementing and scaling such initiatives. Dr. James Dowd delves into the motivations of older runners, revealing that while health benefits play a role, the habit and joy of running are fundamental factors in their persistence, shedding light on the fortitude of this demographic and the new insights that this research is contributing to the field. Dr. Julie Ries and colleagues address research redundancy in meta-analyses evaluating exercise interventions for older adults with cognitive impairments, advocating for more strategic and ethical research practices to optimize resources and knowledge accumulation. Finally, Dr. Patricia C. Heyn and colleagues present a case study of implementing the 4Ms framework in dementia care in Brazil, emphasizing personalized approaches and the role of technology in maintaining family engagement and improving caregiving quality and connectivity from afar. Together, these innovative presentations highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations, personalized care approaches, and technological innovations in promoting older adults’ functional well-being and autonomy, particularly in the realms of fall prevention, physical activity performance, cognitive health, and dementia care.
AGE-FRIENDLY PROGRESS WITH THE HEALTHYAGINGDATAREPORTS.ORG: NOTES FROM MA, RI, NH, CT, ME, MS, AND WY
Authors: Dugan Elizabeth 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
This symposium celebrates ten years of collaboration to translate data into high impact tools for stakeholders forming coalitions, identifying priorities, and working to make their state or community age-friendly. The session will review the tools included in the healthyagingdatareports.org website and highlight the exciting and replicable age-friendly work underway in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Wyoming. We have found that identifying health disparities by gender, race, or geography may be a key step in addressing health equity. The process involved in each state and how the reports were launched to generate awareness and enthusiasm for each state’s age-friendly priorities are described. Dugan (chair) will present an overview of the data reports (community-engagement, data sources, indicator calculation methods, hierarchical approach to reporting, data visualization tools, dissemination efforts, and on-going technical support). Then leaders from Massachusetts (Fuccione), New Hampshire (Rabalais), Mississippi (White), and Wyoming (Vincenti) will share an overview of their state’s efforts to create longevity-ready communities and to promote healthy aging. They will also describe how their coalitions or collaboratives were formed and supported, how to identify the key stakeholders and various outreach approaches. State leaders will describe how the data report tools support their advocacy and/or outreach. Reflections on how age-friendly efforts are sustained and grow will be discussed. Attendees and presenters will then have a question and answer time to discuss how others could join the movement.
LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW DECADE OF TRANSLATING DATA INTO TOOLS TO SUPPORT STATE LEADERS ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY
Authors: Dugan Elizabeth 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
This presentation will describe how the healthy aging data reports started and how the work has evolved. The importance of community-engagement, collaboration, and shared ownership has driven progress. The partnership of the Point32Health Foundation has been critical to our growth and success. Opening ways for other funders to support the work has allowed us to partner with other states to expand the reach and impact of the reports. How graduate gerontology students have contributed innovations and improvements to our process and products is highlighted.
TEACHING AND LEARNING IN TURBULENT TIMES
Authors: Holley Lyn 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Teachers now face circumstances in which everything, everywhere, seems to be changing all at once. The ongoing techno-communications revolution is continuous and relentless. Many agree that its impacts will equal those of the Industrial Revolution. With particular emphasis on Lifelong Learning and Intergenerational engagement, the recipient of the 2024 AGHE Distinguished Faculty Award will lead discussion of ongoing changes in traditional education, and then will describe some strategies for engaging existing resources and developing approaches to pedagogy and andragogy that are useful for coping with the continuous change of the current foundations of formal education. Finally, learning opportunities provided by GSA and AGHE annual conferences and by membership in GSA and AGHE will be discussed.
UTILIZING A LENS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, DECOLONIZATION, AND INTERSECTIONALITY IN GERONTOLOGY EDUCATION
Authors: Lee Yeonjung Jane 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Educational transformation can be catalyzed by engaging in critical self-reflection. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and deeply ingrained histories of racism and ageism, educators must reflect on their roles and encourage students to critically evaluate the impact of their identities on how they serve older adults. With the aging population becoming more diverse, it is imperative for students to be equipped to work with diverse older adults who come from various cultural backgrounds and life experiences. This session will delve into the presenter’s teaching philosophy and experiences gleaned from instructing and conducting research at a minority-serving institute. With the aim of nurturing high-quality education to support a diverse student body, this session seeks to inspire meaningful dialogue and impart valuable insights about gerontology education. The presentation will cover the discussion integrating diversity, equity, decolonization, and intersectionality perspectives into gerontology education.
LOCAL FUNDING FOR SOCIAL CARE FOR OLDER COMMUNITY MEMBERS: A BOTTOM-UP STRATEGY THAT IS ALSO GOOD POLITICS
Authors: Applebaum Robert , Brekke Bailee 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
The national response to providing home and community-based services for older people with disability relies almost exclusively on the Medicaid program. Because 90% of older community members are not eligible for Medicaid this means that until a crisis the vast majority of older individuals are not eligible for public support. In 15 states across the nation, communities have raised local funds to support social care services to assist in maintaining community independence. Raising more than $400 million, primarily through property tax levies, the more than 400 communities using this approach fund an array of social care services, such as personal care, home modification, meals, and transportation targeted toward a population above the Medicaid eligibility threshold. This strategy is particularly salient in Ohio, where 74 or the state’s 88 counties have levies totaling more than $200 million. This presentation will describe both the programs and politics associated with this funding approach. The presentation will highlight how funds are use and the target population served. Local funding has been successful at the polls, and a review of voting patterns found a more than 95% passage rate in the Ohio communities, with no differences in rates between red and blue counties of the state.
AGING IN LATIN AMERICA: HEALTH, DISPARITIES, AND OUTCOMES AMONG OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Osuna Margarita Maria , Samper-Ternent Rafael 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Older adults in Latin America are living in contexts of high levels of poverty, low education, poor health literacy and reduced healthcare access. This symposium is focused on heath-disparities among older adults living in Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. The symposium explores connections between aging and health such as longevity, cognition, disability, and wellbeing in the context of Latin America, aiming to shed light on health-related dimensions and disparities among older Latinos. Using data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging, Gomes examines the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Using the longitudinal Puerto Rican Elderly Health Conditions Project and the Puerto Rico Contextual Data Resource, García, examines how the relationships between racial identity, neighborhood-level racial density, and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status are related to the probability of experiencing all-cause mortality among island-dwelling Puerto Ricans. Using four nationally representative surveys of older adults in Latin America, Osuna studies how disability prevalence varies among older adults in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil. Lastly, Saenz studies evaluates how level of exposure to a major drought Mexico is related with health among older adults, for this study they use data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Results underline what populations in Latin American have increased risk of experiencing poorer health outcomes and disparities that may exist. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the conditions under which Latin American older adults are aging and the implications this can have in the future.