Physical performance in older age predicts independence, and social factors influence physical function, yet the biological mechanisms are not well understood. Mitochondrial function—a new “hallmark of aging”—may explain how social experiences impact health, as its dysfunction is linked to multiple age-related diseases and declining physical performance. However, no field studies have examined links between mitochondria,… Continue reading Examining the relationship between blood-based mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity in frozen samples, socioeconomic position, and physical functioning
Research Theme: SRC
Enhancing and Archiving Genomic Data of the PSID Child Development Supplement
This project will enhance basic genomic data from the 2014 wave of the Child Development Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics in a number of important ways. It will create new genomic measures, make them available to the research community free of charge, and promote their use through comprehensive documentation and outreach efforts.… Continue reading Enhancing and Archiving Genomic Data of the PSID Child Development Supplement
Mid-Life Health Inequalities in the Rural South: Risk and Resilience
This project proposes to study determinants of mid-life health in the areas most beset by such place-based health inequalities: rural communities in the South and Appalachia. The Survey Research Operations (SRO) will provide sample design services, manage the sample purchase, and provide consultation on sample monitoring and interviewer training. The SRO Director of Sampling Operations… Continue reading Mid-Life Health Inequalities in the Rural South: Risk and Resilience
Virtual Convoys: A Social VR Approach to Reducing ADRD risk among Older Adults Living Alone
Nearly one-third of older adults (age 65+) in the United States are aging alone. Those who experience social isolation are significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Virtual reality (VR) is gaining recognition as a means to promote cognitive health as well as a means to connect with our social network.… Continue reading Virtual Convoys: A Social VR Approach to Reducing ADRD risk among Older Adults Living Alone
A sensitivity analysis framework for generalizing randomized clinical trial results in the presence of unmeasured treatment effect modifier
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for assessing interventions for preventing and treating cancer, but their external validity is only guaranteed if the trial participants are a random sample from the target population. Unfortunately, most cancer-related RCTs use convenience samples, not probability samples, and differences between the trial sample and the target population… Continue reading A sensitivity analysis framework for generalizing randomized clinical trial results in the presence of unmeasured treatment effect modifier
Improving Inclusivity of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research for Asian Americans and Latinx through Nationally Representative Hybrid Sampling
Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), set as a public health priority by the World Health Organization, is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S.; however, a dearth of ADRD research data that consider dynamics across racial/ethnic groups beyond minimum standard racial/ethnic categories is detrimental to understanding a comprehensive picture of the… Continue reading Improving Inclusivity of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research for Asian Americans and Latinx through Nationally Representative Hybrid Sampling
Seasonal Allergy Blues: Is Mental Health Worse on High Pollen Days?
This project aims to evaluate the impact of local environmental conditions – seasonal pollen – on mental health and death by suicide in the United States and identify contributing factors which would be sensitive to policy intervention.
Genotyping the Understanding America Study to generate novel opportunities for research on cognitive functioning and dementia
This project seeks to gather genotype data from 12,000 participants in the Understanding America Study panel to develop polygenic scores. These scores will be utilized in social-science genetic studies to examine factors influencing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Researchers involved in the project will: Biological samples will be processed and stored at… Continue reading Genotyping the Understanding America Study to generate novel opportunities for research on cognitive functioning and dementia
Prevalence and developmental trajectories of solitary alcohol use in US young adults
Alcohol problems are prevalent in young adulthood, with one in ten young adults meeting criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD). It is therefore essential to identify and respond to risk factors for alcohol misuse during this developmental period. One underappreciated risk factor for the development of problematic drinking is the social context in which young… Continue reading Prevalence and developmental trajectories of solitary alcohol use in US young adults
A Next Generation Data Infrastructure to Understand Disparities across the Life Course
This project aims to further advance capabilities in the social sciences (broadly defined) to collect data on the daily lives of families and individuals. These data will be more accurate, more granular, and more complete than has been possible to obtain in traditional survey-based research until now. The context for this is the Understanding America… Continue reading A Next Generation Data Infrastructure to Understand Disparities across the Life Course