I am a population health scientist. Broadly, this means I research the interplay between human societies, health, and aging. Most of my work focuses specifically on explaining why certain groups of people live shorter and sicker lives than others. I also investigate how people cope with chronic stress using religion and other social support mechanisms.
Research Theme: Aging & Retirement
The Effects of COVID-19 on Long Term Care for High-Need Older Adults with and without Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Our objective is to assess the immediate and longer-term effect of the COVID 19 pandemic on the use of long-term services and supports by high-need older adults living in the US and to understand how these impacts differ for those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). We will draw on pre- and post-COVID-19… Continue reading The Effects of COVID-19 on Long Term Care for High-Need Older Adults with and without Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Leveraging social networks: a novel physical activity intervention for senior housing
While only 16% of people age 65+ engage in recommended physical activity levels, activating social resources may increase physical activity. We propose a social network-based approach that systematically identifies and involves influential agents of change in a community to facilitate physical activity-related information dissemination and behavior change. This project will leverage Go4Life – the National… Continue reading Leveraging social networks: a novel physical activity intervention for senior housing
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Risk: The Impact of Social Relations
Growing evidence suggests that certain racial/ethnic minority groups experience the highest incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) risk in the US. Longitudinal studies with diverse samples that collect social and behavioral measures in early and midlife hold exceptional promise for identifying modifiable protective factors for cognitive health and life course pathways of ADRD… Continue reading Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Risk: The Impact of Social Relations
Exploring the Use of Deep Learning Neural Networks to Improve Dementia Detection: Automating Coding of the Clock-Drawing Test
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), a leading cause of disability among older adults, has become a critical public health concern. The clock-drawing test, which measures multiple aspects of cognitive function including comprehension, visual spatial abilities, executive function and memory, has been widely used as a screening tool to detect dementia in clinical research, epidemiologic… Continue reading Exploring the Use of Deep Learning Neural Networks to Improve Dementia Detection: Automating Coding of the Clock-Drawing Test
Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP)
The aim of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Harmonized Cognitive Assessment (HCAP) project is to create a new HRS data resource to better assess the current and future trends in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in the United States. The first HRS sub study on dementia, the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS)… Continue reading Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP)
Examining the role of the neighborhood environment on muscle function in older adults
Poor muscle function is a pressing public health problem: half of all U.S. older adults meet criteria for muscle weakness. Poor muscle function, defined by low muscle strength and power, is a major risk factor for a host of negative health outcomes, including functional limitations, disability, and multimorbidity. Neighborhood characteristics predict functional limitations, disability, and… Continue reading Examining the role of the neighborhood environment on muscle function in older adults
Social Circumstances and Epigenomics Promoting Health in Three Countries
This project supports the analysis of existing social and epigenetic data for three countries and the development of longitudinal epigenetic data for three countries: the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdome (Northern Ireland, specifically). The project will answer basic questions about how life circumstances in both childhood and adulthood affect epigenetic change and how… Continue reading Social Circumstances and Epigenomics Promoting Health in Three Countries
Immunosenescence, socioeconomic disadvantage and dementia in the US aging population
While risk factors for cognitive decline and Alzheimer ’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) have been widely studied, there is still much unknown about the biological pathways that lead to ADRD. This project seeks to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of cognitive decline and ADRD by examining the role of peripheral immunosenescence in these… Continue reading Immunosenescence, socioeconomic disadvantage and dementia in the US aging population
Health and Well-being Over the Life Course and Across Multiple Generations
The Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) is a longitudinal survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. families. Begun in 1968, 40 waves of data have now been collected on PSID families and their descendants. Its long-term measures of economic and social wellbeing have spurred researchers and policy makers to attend to the dynamics… Continue reading Health and Well-being Over the Life Course and Across Multiple Generations