minority aging
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2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 260-260
Author(s):  
Lisa Barnes ◽  
Brittney Lange-Maia ◽  
Carlos Mendes de Leon

Abstract Psychosocial factors can provide crucial insight into lived experiences that influence healthy aging. Though psychosocial factors are often used to explain health disparities seen between different racial/ethnic groups, within-group investigations can be particularly powerful for identifying culturally specific psychosocial factors that impact heterogeneity in aging among minority populations. The Minority Aging Research Study (MARS) is an ongoing, longitudinal epidemiologic cohort of 797 older African Americans from the Chicago, IL metropolitan area. Participants are on average 73.4 (standard deviation [SD]=6.6) years of age, 78.2% are women, and mean years of education is 14.8 (SD=3.7). At baseline, 75.3% of participants were without cognitive impairment, 20.8% had mild cognitive impairment, and 3.9% had mild dementia. Participants were recruited starting in 2004 and complete annual visits including a clinical evaluation, cognitive and motor testing, and assessment of risk factors related to Alzheimer’s Disease risk, including those hypothesized to be associated with a higher burden of cognitive impairment among older African Americans. This symposium will discuss the longitudinal association between John Henryism and cognitive function and decline (McSorley), participation in social activities and risk of all-cause mortality (Lamar), and the predictive relationship between experiences of everyday discrimination and incident disability (Lange-Maia). Finally, we will examine multilevel correlates—including environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and biological factors—related to perceived stress (Glover). Mendes de Leon will critically consider what appear to be the most potent psychosocial factors for minority aging and possible implications of integrating these factors into interventions focused on promoting healthy aging among older African Americans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (S10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan D James ◽  
Melissa Lamar ◽  
Brittney S Lange‐Maia ◽  
Ana W Capuano ◽  
Lisa L Barnes

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 303-303
Author(s):  
Briana Mezuk ◽  
Robert Taylor ◽  
Roland Thorpe

Abstract Few scientists had the breadth and depth of scholarship, the keen interest in interdisciplinary scientific collaboration, and the commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists as Dr. James Jackson. His passing remains a tremendous loss for the field. This symposium, organized by members of the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR), which was founded by James over 20 years ago, reflects on the impact of transdisciplinary team science, of the importance of research networks and resource sharing, of the need to center research within practice and community, and of the scientific innovation that comes from integrating conceptual models, data sources, and methodological approaches from seemingly disparate fields. The session is co-chaired by Dr. Robert Taylor, longtime faculty member and current PI of MCUAAAR. The talk by session chair Dr. Briana Mezuk will discuss the ways in which the training approach of Analysis Core has inspired new training programs on integrative methods focused on minority health and disparities. The talk by Dr. Tam Perry will describe the innovations of the Community Liaison and Recruitment Core, including how COVID-19 impacted the activities of the Healthier Black Elder Center. The third talk by Dr. Rodlescia Sneed, a MCUAAAR early-career scientist, provides an example of how this Center supports interdisciplinary minority aging research through her project focused on older adults who have a history of incarceration. Finally, Discussant Dr. Roland Thorpe, a member of the MCUAAAR Advisory Board, will reflect on Dr. Jackson’s legacy of mentorship and collaboration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 98-98
Author(s):  
Heather Farmer ◽  
Amy Thierry ◽  
Keith Whitfield

Abstract Racial/ethnic disparities in health among older adults are well-documented. More research is needed to clarify the complex and multifactorial mechanisms underlying these associations. This symposium will feature research that employs innovative theoretical and methodological approaches to understand the biopsychosocial mechanisms that underlie racial/ethnic disparities in older adults’ health and determine sources of within-group heterogeneity in minority aging. Dr. Forrester will integrate stress biology and intersectionality to demonstrate the importance of stress and resilience (e.g., John Henryism) with biological aging within Black adults participating in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. Dr. Brown Hughes will present innovative research using data from the African American United Memory and Aging Project (AA-UMAP) on the importance of Alzheimer’s disease-specific knowledge and perceptions among Black older adults. Dr. Gamaldo will employ a within-race approach to understand how knowledge and perceptions of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) shape cognitive performance among Black older adults in the AA-UMAP study. Dr. Mitchell will use Health and Retirement Study data to explore the role of midlife stress exposure in accounting for racial disparities in trajectories of cognitive functioning. Drs. Thierry and Farmer will use HRS data to examine how psychosocial resilience (e.g., mastery) affects the relationship between perceived neighborhood conditions (e.g., disorder) and cognition among Black older adults. This work highlights the importance of applying an interdisciplinary lens to move the study of minority aging forward and ultimately, to reduce the unnecessary burden of morbidity and mortality among minoritized groups.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 304-304
Author(s):  
Monica Firestone ◽  
Wassim Tarraf ◽  
Briana Mezuk

Abstract Minority aging is an inherently interdisciplinary field. However, it can be difficult for early-career investigators to develop skills on how to integrate data sources, study designs, measurement approaches, and analytic tools from disparate fields into their research programs. This session will illustrate how the biopsychosocial framework has been used to structure the content and delivery of methods training related to minority health/aging research in two NIH-funded exemplar programs: the MCUAAAR Analysis Core, and the Michigan Integrative Well-Being and Inequality (MIWI) Training Program. This talk will illustrate how the 20-year history of MCUAAAR informed the development of MIWI, and how both initiatives approach early-career scientist training through: i) centering learning within a mentorship structure to model team science, ii) avoiding false dichotomizes and hierarchies in study designs and data sources, and iii) attending to the unique challenges faced by scientists working in minority health through knowledge sharing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 844-844
Author(s):  
Ronica Rooks ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg

Abstract Increasingly community-engaged research, characterized by collaborations between researchers and community partners, is recognized as an important part of translating research into improved health outcomes and reduced health disparities for community participants. Training community participants to engage in some or all aspects of this research, particularly focusing on racial and ethnic minority older adults, highlights the need to understand its opportunities and challenges. With this symposium we will discuss and reflect on community-engaged and community-based participatory research approaches to community-academic partnerships with minority older adults. The first presentation addresses recruitment, retention, and training of a community advisory board of older African Americans in Michigan. The second presentation addresses a health education outreach and engagement program to improve health outcomes among older African Americans in California. The third presentation combines community engagement with survey design methods for research with older Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults to improve data collection and health outcomes in this U.S. population. The final presentation examines partnerships between a hospital memory clinic, meal delivery service, research university, and low-income health clinic to improve caregiver and dementia patient outcomes for minority older adults. The symposium discussant will address opportunities, challenges, and implications of community-academic partnerships promoting minority aging.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 392-393
Author(s):  
Maggie Li ◽  
XinQi Dong ◽  
Dexia Kong

Abstract Depressive symptoms are prevalent in the aging population and can negatively impact the health and well-being of older adults. Personality traits may interact with depressive symptoms, but there is currently limited knowledge regarding this relationship in minority aging research. This study aims to explore the associations between two personality traits, neuroticism and conscientiousness, and depressive symptoms in 3,157 U.S. Chinese older adults. Data were obtained from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE) collected between 2011 and 2013. Neuroticism and conscientiousness were measured by the NEO Five-factor Inventory. Depressive symptoms were measured by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). 45.3% of the participants reported at least one depressive symptom. Controlling for potential confounders, logistic regression analyses showed that both traits were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. One unit increase in neuroticism was associated with 19% increased odds of having any depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR]=1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.17-1.22). One unit increase in conscientiousness was associated with 5% decreased odds of having any depressive symptoms (OR=0.95, 95% [CI]=0.94-0.96). Results validate the significant association between both traits and depressive symptoms among U.S. Chinese older adults, adding to the psychological and cultural profiles of those who have experienced mental distress. More in-depth examination using culturally-tailored measurements for personality traits is encouraged in minority aging studies. The NEO inventory was developed from Western populations and hence might not adequately represent personality traits valued by non-Western cultures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (8) ◽  
pp. 1392-1402
Author(s):  
Briana Mezuk ◽  
Wassim Tarraf ◽  
Vicki Johnson-Lawrence ◽  
Joan Ilardo ◽  
Peter A Lichtenberg ◽  
...  

Abstract Since 1997, the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research Program at the National Institute on Aging has been the model for training social and behavioral scientists in minority aging and health disparities research. The latest cycle of these Centers implemented a new structure for the analytic training of junior investigators and for advancing methodologic work relevant to improving the rigor of minority aging research. In this article, we describe the conceptual framework, logistical approaches, challenges, and lessons learned from our experience training junior investigators in methodology through the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research over the past 20 years, with the goal of informing future analytic training efforts for the next generation of scholars focused on minority aging issues.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S361-S361
Author(s):  
Maggie Syme

Abstract According to SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders), an estimated 3 million older adults currently identity as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT), which is expected to double in the next decade, making them one of the fastest growing minority aging groups. Yet, there is very little attention being paid to older LGBT individuals, a dearth of information on their experiences, and multiple stigmas that compound to make this a challenging space for education and research. This presentation will discuss several different strategies to integrate research and teaching in order to make LGBT elders a relevant and impactful topic in undergraduate education. These include students undertaking field research on dating ads, creating infographics for health challenges, and evaluating sexual wellness research to illustrate similarities and differences among LGBT older adults and their heterosexual counterparts. Specific considerations for approaching topics in undergraduate contexts will be discussed.


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