Dr. Douglas Crews, et. al., Professor of Anthropology at The Ohio State University, recently published Aging, Senescence and Human Variation in “Human Biology: An Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspective, Second Edition.”   In this chapter, Dr. Crews reviews the evolution of human lifespan within biological and cultural processes, senescence and aging research, and survival and longevity across populations, species, and sexes.  Did you know that humans are the longest – lived species within the order Primates?

So, what is the difference between aging and senescence? In his book chapter, Dr. Crews defines aging saying that all things age whether they are alive or not, and is simply existence through time. He goes on to say that senescence occurs only in living organisms, and is a progressive degeneration that leads to an increased probability of mortality. 

Explore Dr. Crews’ book chapter on aging and senescence further and find out why Dr. Crews believes that longer and more active life spans for the majority of the human population seem likely.

RFA-NR-13-001:  Addressing Needs of Informal Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease in the Context of Sociodemographic Factors (R01)

The National Institute of Nursing Research seeks researchers interested in addressing the needs of informal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias in the context of different sociodemographic factors. Research has demonstrated that sociodemographic factors (such as geography, socioeconomic status, education, culture, race, ethnicity, gender, and age) play a role in informal caregivers’ experiences in providing care for their loved one as well as in managing their own health and well-being. The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement is to 1) develop interventions that address the needs of these caregivers in the context of different sociodemographic factors, and 2) inform the search for such interventions by better understanding or describing the unique experiences, perceptions, knowledge, and caregiver outcomes based on different sociodemographic factors.

For more information, click here and/or contact Lois A. Tully, PhD at (301) 594-5968 or via e-mail at tullyla@mail.nih.gov directly if you would like to discuss this RFA in greater detail.

Please note that applications are due on or before September 14, 2012.

Dr. Douglas Scharre started his career at The Ohio State University Medical Center in 1993 when he joined the Department of Neurology.  He is a board certified neurologist, a clinical researcher and a master clinician regarding diagnosis and management of cognitive issues. His research focuses on early detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia using cognitive evaluation and functional neuroimaging.

During Dr. Scharre’s tenure with OSU, he developed the SAGE Test, the self-administered cognitive assessment tool and the 4-Turn Test for assessment of driving abilities. He has conducted over 100 dementia related multi-center and investigator initiated clinical trials in the last 17 years that have been funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), foundations, and industry. He has many active grants including clinical drug trials using cognitive enhancers and behavioral therapies, functional neuroimaging studies using SPECT and MRI, use of deep brain stimulation to improve symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease, and screening for mild cognitive impairment and early dementia diagnosis.

Dr. Scharre currently maintains repositories for brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid and serum (brain and biomarker banks) on dementia subjects that researchers can utilize.  He has also published multiple journal papers, book chapters, and abstracts on the topic of cognitive neurology.  In fact, his recent book on Long-Term Management of Dementia is a stand-alone resource for health care professionals who diagnose, treat, and manage patients suffering from dementia.

Learn more about Dr. Scharre.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2011), deaths caused by Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) have been rising dramatically and are expected to continue to increase as the baby boom generation ages.  The older population is also becoming more racially and ethnically diverse as the overall minority population increases and experiences greater longevity (Administration on Aging, 2011).   This trend suggests that more minorities will be diagnosed with AD, which means more minorities will become caregivers. 

In a recent grant proposal, Dr. Virginia Richardson and her colleagues will explore dementia caregiving among minority caregivers.  This study, “Perceptions of dementia caregivers among minority groups: Exploring similarities and differences using a mixed methods exploratory sequential design”, is funded by The Ohio State College of Social Work‘s Dean’s Fund.  Dr. Richardson and her team will interview dementia caregivers from African American, South Korean, and Hispanic backgrounds, as well as dementia caregivers from rural areas, and also caregivers who are gay men. 

The research team will analyze the identification of themes, including similarities as well as differences, within and across the minority dementia caregivers mentioned above.  They expect the results of this study to lead to further research on this topic.  They also plan to share the study findings with community agencies so that these agencies might create more targeted and culturally-sensitive services for their older minority caregivers.

For more information about this study, please contact Dr. Virginia Richardson.

We’ve all heard that there are benefits associated with working with animals for people who have a wide variety of physical and mental challenges, but did you know that this theory is being put to the test right here at The Ohio State University?  Dr. Holly Dabelko-Schoeny at the College of Social Work and Dr. Gwendolen Lorch at the School of Veterinary Medicine are currently collaborating on a research study of an equine Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) intervention program.  The pilot participants in this study are aging adults with early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias from the Heritage Adult Day Health Center.  The actual intervention takes place at the Field of Dreams Equine Education Center.  Through this pilot, the researchers examine the psychological and behavioral symptoms of older adults with dementia during their participation in the program.  They also collect measurements that they hope will demonstrate benefits, such as improvement in social, emotional, and even cognitive functioning, of an equine AAT intervention program for older adults with dementia. 

Learn more about this rearch.

Dr.’s Jeffrey Caterino, Amy Raubenolt, and Michael Cudnik of the OSU Department of Emergency Medicine recently published an article on the Modification of Glasgow Coma Scale Criteria for Injured Elders in Acad Emerg Med. 2011 Oct;18(10):1014-21­.  Their objective was to determine if an abnormal field Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of ≤ 14 is an appropriate cut-off value to initiate transport to a trauma center for injured elderly patients.  This study was prompted by a recent change in Ohio policy that decreases the GCS score for transport of injured elderly patients to trauma centers.  Their findings support that this change is associated with a higher mortality rate in elderly patients who have a GCS 14 as opposed to a GCS 13.

Researchers at The Ohio State University, University of Oklahoma, and Bryn Mawr College have recently discovered that older adult’s brains don’t always slow down due to normal aging.  In fact, their research indicates that healthier older adults often emphasize accuracy over reaction time in making decisions about simple tasks. 

Therefore slower response times are not always an indication of a decline in skills in healthier older adults.  Even better news is that simple task decision-making speed and accuracy can stay intact in older adults up to 85 to 90 years old.  This is good news for those of us who may be more advanced in our age, and all of us who are aging! 

Click here to learn more about this research.

OSU faculty members in the College of Social Work, Holly Dabelko-Schoeny, PhD and Keith Anderson, PhD, recently released the results of their work as co-principal investigators of The MetLife Study of Adult Day Services: Providing Support to Individuals and Their Family Caregivers.  The study indicates that the number of people with disabilities and family caregivers using adult day service centers has nearly doubled in the last eight years.

Among other important findings, the study found that centers have significantly increased the amount of medical and social services they provide, with 80% now having a professional nursing staff, 50% employing a social work professional, and 60% offering case management services.  Learn more.

Occupational therapy and health sciences students spent the summer and early autumn screening older farmers and those living in rural areas for arthritis.  The purpose of the project is to test and refine a new screening tool developed by Dr. Sharon Flinn and Dr. Meg Teaford of the Occupational Therapy Division.  Once the screening tool is finalized, OSU Extension staff will be trained to offer the screening during community health fairs and events, providing early education and tips for management of arthritis much like skin cancer screenings are being used.

The students visited five county fairs, the Ohio State Fair, and the OSU Farm Science Review. To-date, they have screened over 300 older adults.

The project is sponsored by an OSU Cares outreach grant and the Linda J. Cummins Fund.  If you would like more information about this project, please contact Dr. Meg Teaford at margaret.teaford@osumc.edu.