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Welcome Message
From Julie Zissimopoulos
| Looking back on 2023 provides the opportunity to reflect on the incredible work of the 275 scholars from 85 institutions who are CeASES ADRD. The Center has supported innovative research on dementia through pilot grant awards and interdisciplinary scientific meetings in our collective effort to unravel the complexities associated with dementia and identify opportunities to improve population health and economic well-being. Dementia risk and the well-being of persons living with dementia are not only driven by biology and genetics but also by the interaction of social, economic, environmental, behavioral, and institutional factors across the life course. Social scientists are experts in the study of these life course factors and in integrating data across multiple fields to generate new scientific knowledge. CeASES ADRD in 2024 will continue efforts to grow and diversify this pool of expertise, build resources to support scholarship, and explore and support new avenues of research and discovery. Thank you for being a part of CeASES ADRD. | |
A Summary of 2023 Activities | |
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International Conference on Aging in the Americas (ICAA)
Dr. Emma Aguila organized the 16th International Conference on Aging in the Americas (ICAA). The meeting, co-hosted by the USC Price School and the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology with funding support from CeASES ADRD and USC AD/ADRD Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, focused on the health and aging of Mexican populations in both the United States and Mexico. 120 attendees listened to research presentations on topics ranging from smoking habits and dementia to the health effects of climate change.
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The Coordinating Center for the Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging hosted a webinar featuring speakers from the HEADS Center and CeASES ADRD. USC Schaeffer Center fellow and CeASES ADRD affiliate, Mireille Jacobson, PhD, shared her research on health care utilization before and after a dementia diagnosis in Medicare Advantage (MA) vs Traditional Medicare (TM). Dr. Jacobson reported care utilization in the months leading up to and after ADRD diagnosis was systematically higher among persons in TM than those in MA.
| Second Annual Science of AD/ADRD for Social Scientists Program | | |
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In an effort to engage and inform social scientists on the biomedical and clinical foundations of ADRD, the second annual Science of AD/ADRD for Social Scientists workshop was held at USC. Twelve world-renowned biomedical and clinical experts presented the latest research on a range of topics, such as neuroscience, genetics, imaging, diagnostics, treatment and clinical care. Forty-two social scientists at all career stages representing 25 institutions attended the workshop. Participant fields included economics, sociology and gerontology, among others. | | |
CeASES ADRD Visiting Scholars Program
Our visiting scholars program offers opportunities for sharing research, networking and collaboration among CeASES ADRD faculty and affiliates. This year's visits included: Katherine Miller, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, Karen Fingerman, PhD, University of Texas at Austin, Soo Borson, PhD, University of Southern California, Maria Carrillo, PhD, Alzheimer's Association and Lorens Helmchen, PhD, George Washington University.
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2023/24 CeASES ADRD Pilots | |
Emma Aguila, PhD, University of Southern California
"Education, Occupation, and Cognition of Vulnerable Older Adults"
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Takashi Amano, PhD, MSW, Rutgers University Newark
"Racial/Ethnic disparities in advance care planning among people with dementia"
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Elham Mahmoudi, PhD, University of Michigan
"Efficiency and Equity in Health Care Use and Costs among Older People with ADRD: Medicare Advantage Versus Traditional Medicare"
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Ecological Momentary Assessments in Underrepresented Populations
On January 22, 2024 from 8 AM to 10 AM PST, CeASES ADRD, the Texas Aging and Longevity Consortium and the Center on Aging and Population Sciences (CAPS) will host a hybrid workshop on ecological momentary assessments in underrepresented populations. For additional information, please visit the website.
Challenges of Measuring and Assessing Cognitive Health in Diverse Populations Webinar
On January 26, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 1:15 PM PST, CeASES ADRD will host a webinar addressing the challenges of measuring and assessing cognitive health in diverse populations. For additional information, please click here.
Science of Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias for Social Scientists Program
On March 7-8, 2024, CeASES ADRD and USC AD/ADRD RCMAR are hosting its third annual two-day program at the University of Southern California. The goal of the program is to inform participants about the biomedical and clinical foundations of AD/ADRD to strengthen their social science research. Topics include: Alzheimer’s therapies, risk factors, biomarkers, genetics, among others. Additional support from the Network on Education, Biosocial Pathways, and Dementia in Diverse Populations and the USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health. Registration has closed for the 2024 program. For more information, please visit our website.
Contextual Data Resources for Understanding the Role of the Exposome in Aging
On March 11-12, 2024, the USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health is hosting a hybrid workshop at the University of Southern California. The workshop will build research capacity for using contextual data that can be linked to aging surveys (e.g., the Health and Retirement Study) to understand how the exposome is related to cognition and dementia (ADRD) as well as biological indicators of aging. For additional information, please visit the website.
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Funding Opportunities and Announcements | |
Apply to be a USC AD/ADRD RCMAR Scientist | |
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Our partner AD/ADRD research center, USC AD/ADRD RCMAR, invites applications from scholars in the early stages of their research careers, including postdoctoral fellows, tenure-track, and research-track faculty, from academic and research institutions. Applicants who are interested in conducting research on the health and economic wellbeing of minority populations, with a specific focus on cognition and/or Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease related dementias are welcome to apply. We particularly encourage applications from new investigators who are underrepresented in their respective fields.
The award includes $40,000 in total direct and indirect costs for the 2024/2025 academic year.
A letter of intent (LOI) and CV are due by COB Friday, February 16, 2024.
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Selected Publications from the CeASES ADRD Network | |
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Brown, C. J., Jeon, S., Ng, Y. T., Lee, S., Fingerman, K. L., & Charles, S. T. (2023). Switching it up: Activity diversity and cognitive functioning in later life. Psychology and Aging.
Yahirun, J. J., Vasireddy, S., & Hayward, M. D. (2023). Black–White Differences in Offspring Educational Attainment and Older Parents’ Dementia. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 00221465231168910.
Farina, M. P., Kim, J. K., & Crimmins, E. M. (2023). Racial/Ethnic Differences in Biological Aging and Their Life Course Socioeconomic Determinants: The 2016 Health and Retirement Study. Journal of Aging and Health, 35(3-4), 209-220.
Mawhorter, S. L., Wilkie, R. Z., & Ailshire, J. A. (2023). Inequality in housing transitions during cognitive decline. Plos one, 18(4), e0282329.
Zissimopoulos, J. M., Joyce, G. F., & Jacobson, M. (2023). Trends in Incident Dementia Diagnosis Before and After Medicare Risk Adjustment. JAMA Network Open, 6(12), e2347708-e2347708.
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Join our Network of over 250 social scientists from 85 institutions
Contact: Julie Zissimopoulos, PhD, Director, zissimop@usc.edu
Johanna Thunell, PhD, Program Administrator, jthunell@usc.edu
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Julie Zissimopoulos, PhD, PI, USC
Dana Goldman, PhD, PI, USC
Mark Hayward, PhD, PI, UT Austin
Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD PI, Stanford
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Eileen Crimmins, PhD, Core Director, USC
Jennifer Ailshire, PhD, Core Director, USC
Pinchas Cohen, MD, Advisory, USC
Jennifer Manly, PhD, Advisory, Columbia
Hector Gonzalez, PhD, Advisory, UCSD
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