Digital Commons Network^™

Financial Exploitation Of The Elderly: A Policy Review And Recommendations For Georgia, Melissa C. Haberlen

Public Health Theses

Eleven percent of Georgians and 13.3% of all Americans are currently over the age of 65. The segment of elderly adults in the United States is the fastest growing subpopulation, attributed to both average lifespan increases and a significant aging of "the baby boomer generation". Thus it is increasingly important that health and policy professionals give attention to issues of health and well-being faced by the aging population. One such issue, financial exploitation of the elderly, has received a large amount of media attention and public concern over the last several years, due to a large increase in the recorded …

Regulators And Effectors Of Acetyltransferase P300 During Oxidative Stress, Heart Disease And Aging, Sumit Jain

Open Access Dissertations

The nuclear acetyltransferase p300 is a chromatin-modifying enzyme that facilitates gene transcription by modifying histone-DNA interactions and promoting the transcriptional activation properties of numerous transcription factors. p300 and its paralogue, CBP (CREB-binding protein) are implicated in a wide range of essential biological processes, however, the extent to which p300 has independent tissue- or signal-specific functions has been a matter of dispute. Here, I used gene targeting, gain-of-function and knockdown models to show that the myocardial response to oxidative stress is obligatorily dependent on the cellular availability of p300, and that this availability is dynamically modulated as part of an acute …

Neuromuscular Function Following Lengthening Contractions, Geoffrey A. Power

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Unaccustomed lengthening contractions have been shown to impair muscle function - however little is known regarding this impairment on muscle power - specifically, the velocity component of power during voluntary contractions in humans. The four studies presented in my thesis investigated power-loss following lengthening contractions in healthy young and old women and young men.

The purpose of Study 1 was to determine reliability of velocity-dependent power of the dorsiflexors using the isotonic mode of the Biodex Dynamometer. I determined the isotonic mode is reliable and can be used to track changes in velocity and power following fatigue and lengthening contractions. …

The Neuropsychological Functioning Of Older Adults Pre- And Post-Cognitive Training With A Brain Plasticity-Based Computerized Training Program, Shannon M. Sorenson

Graduate Masters Theses

The present study evaluates the effectiveness of Posit Science Cortex™ with Insight Drive Sharp™ as a tool for improving neuropsychological functioning in a normal aging sample. The purpose of the DriveSharp™ training program is to help an individual improve his or her visual attention and useful field of view. Each exercise continually adapts to the individual’s performance so that the training is always at an appropriate level for that specific person. Thirty-two healthy older adult participants were randomly assigned to either the active intervention group (DriveSharp™) or a waitlist control group. Participants in the intervention group were required to engage …

Brain Structure In Older Adult Siblings, Nathaniel Lucena

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Considerable variability exists in patterns of brain aging within and across individuals. Quantifying familial contributions to brain structure in late life may help us understand this variability. We estimated heritability of gray and white matter volumes and cortical thickness in a sample of older adult full siblings: 2-4 individuals per pedigree; N = 75). Estimation of heritability was based on computation of intraclass correlations. Heritability estimates were higher for total cortical thickness compared to volumes. There was no evidence of overall laterality in heritability estimates, or differences between primary sensory and association regions. There was a tendency for lower estimates …

Trpm2 In The Central Nervous System: Physiological Role And Critical Regulatory Pathways, Jillian C. Belrose

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

TRPM2 is a non-selective cation channel which is permeable to calcium. Although expression is highest in the brain, the physiological role for TRPM2 in neurons was unknown. Furthermore, our understanding of the pathways regulating TRPM2 channel function required further investigation. In this thesis, we identified that TRPM2 is required for NMDAR-dependent long-term depression (LTD). No change in NMDAR expression or function was observed following genetic deletion of TRPM2. Instead, the loss of NMDAR-LTD in TRPM2 knockout mice results from diminished GSK-3β activation. We next examined whether age in vitro could facilitate TRPM2 currents. We demonstrate that diminished glutathione with age …

Neuroprotective Effects Of Long-Term Endurance Training On The Cortical Autonomic Network In The Aging Brain, Torri A. Luchyshyn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study tested whether long-term endurance training in older adults (ET; n = 15, 55 ± 4 years, relative VO₂max = 50 ± 8 ml/kg/min) would alter cardiovagal control and preserve the cortical autonomic network compared to age-matched controls (CON; n = 15, 56 ± 4 years, relative VO₂max = 37 ± 9 ml/kg/min). The hypothesis predicts 1) altered deactivation patterns of the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC) in response to isometric hand grip (IHG) and 2) greater indices of cardiovagal control; a) increased baroreflex sensitivity at rest, b) greater heart rate change (ΔHR) and c) …

Alzheimer's Disease And Intimacy: A Content Analysis Of Resources Avaliable Through The Alzheimer's Association And The National Institute On Aging, Danelle S. Hubbard

Gerontology Theses

An estimated 5.4 million individuals in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease, and the number is expected to rise exponentially over the next 50 years. Content analysis was used to examine the availability and content of online resources accessible through the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) that addressed emotional and physical intimacy for a marital unit. The analysis resulted in ten documents from the Alzheimer’s Association’s website, seven from the NIA’s website, and four additional documents produced from external links that met these criteria. Five major themes emerged from these documents regarding the subject of emotional …

Aging-Aware Routing Algorithms For Network-On-Chips, Kshitij Bhardwaj

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Network-on-chips (NoCs) are one of the most scalable mediums to interconnect different processors in a multi-processor system. The processors are connected to routers via network interfaces and the routers are connected to each other through links. A routing algorithm is implemented inside each router that decides the path that a packet must take to reach the destination processor from the source. If a path is heavily utilized, the links and routers comprising the path start to age, and therefore can become faulty with time. In order to avoid this situation, the routing logic must be able to distribute the packets …

Sensory And Cognitive Declines In Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study, Melanie Storm Bauer

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

In a recent cross-sectional study, as has been found in numerous previous studies, Sommers et al.: 2011) found that age-related declines in hearing, as assessed by pure-tone thresholds, begin around age 20 and continue across the lifespan. In another article published from the same cross-sectional dataset, Hale et al.: 2011) found that working memory ability also begins declining around age 20 and continues throughout life. The present study is a longitudinal follow-up of these two studies in which a sub-sample of older adults: ≥65 years old at the time of original testing approximately four years ago) were re-tested on sensory …

The Effect Of Increased Mitochondrial Biogenesis And Activation Of Ppar Pathways In A Mouse Model Of Aging, Lloye M. Dillon

Open Access Dissertations

Aging is the progressive decline in cellular, tissue and organ function. The mitochondrial theory of aging suggests that the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, loss of organ function and consequently a decrease in lifespan. This theory is appealing as there is a correlation between age-dependent alterations in mtDNA and an increased risk for developing cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders and myopathy. To further investigate the role of mtDNA mutations in aging, the mtDNA mutator mouse, a mouse model with a proof-reading deficient mtDNA polymerase γ (POLG) was created. These mice have a premature aging phenotype and …

The Becoming Of Age: How Discourses Of Aging And Old Age In Contemporary, Popular Film Both Reinforce And Reimagine The Narrative Of Aging As Decline, Pamela H. Gravagne

American Studies ETDs

This dissertation examines how to think critically about the ways in which aging and old age are understood, represented, and problematized in American popular film. Rather than subscribe to the narrative of decline that views growing older as a linear process of chronological and biological deterioration with no possibility of gain, this dissertation reveals the shared meanings, discourses, narratives, and philosophical positions that underlie constructions such as the narrative of decline, and that populate the screen in contemporary film, to be both historical and open to revision. Chapter 2, therefore, explores the ways in which film simultaneously relies on stereotypical …

Influence Of A Short-Term, Multicomponent Intervention On Balance And Strength Among The Elderly, Pamela C. Webert

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Few studies have combined strength and balance training to assess improvement of activities of daily living among subjects over the age of 65. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate how an eight-week balance and strength training program can lead to improvements in activities of daily living among elderly individuals.

Methods: The subjects consisted of 14 elderly women and 3 elderly men who were all residents of an independent living community. There were 10 subjects in the intervention group and 7 subjects in the control group. The intervention group participated in a supervised balance and strength …

Successful Again Through A Family Resilience Lens, A'Verria Sirkin Martin

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study examined successful aging through a family resilience lens by developing a psychometrically tested assessment that can be used to measure family and individual resilience in a population of older adults and by then applying these latent structures to predict successful aging across four domains; self-rated successful aging, psychosocial health, cognitive decline, and physical health. Data from 1,006 older adults were analyzed in three steps. The first identified the underlying latent structure through principle component (exploratory) factor analysis (EFA). The second included the use of confirmatory factor analysis to validate the structure from the first step. The third utilized …

Vantage Point And Visual Imagery: Effects On Recall In Younger And Older Adults, Allison J. Midden

Scripps Senior Theses

The current study explored the influence of priming vantage point at retrieval on the recall of younger and older adults, in addition to the effects of visualization ability on recall. Based on McIsaac and Eich’s (2002) findings of the effects on younger adults’ recall, it was hypothesized that recollections would be more likely to include certain features when retrieved through the field vantage point (FVP) than through the observer vantage point (OVP) and vice-versa. Additionally, it was expected that older adults would recall more detailed memories from the OVP than from the FVP. Finally, it was hypothesized that visualization ability …

Reductions In Muscle Quantity And Quality In Old And Very Old Men: New Insights Into The Progression Of Sarcopenia, William J. Booth

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Healthy adult aging is associated with sarcopenia; a loss of skeletal muscle mass known as. Major contributors to this process include functional and morphological changes in the contractile tissue and within the neuromuscular system. Currently, the relationship between muscle mass, normalized strength, structural integrity, and neuromuscular properties [such as motor unit number estimates (MUNE)], in the tibialis anterior (TA) with aging is largely unknown. Therefore, to examine this relationship we recruited twelve young (25 ± 3 years old), six old (68 ± 5 years old) and six very old (79 ± 3 years old) men. Magnetic resonance (MR) images were …

Existential Psychotherapy With Adults In Assisted Living, Christine A. Burbidge

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study explored aging individuals’ perceptions of existential poetry therapy. Six existential themes served as guides. They were: hope, gratitude, mindfulness, loss of mobility, forgiveness, and meaning in life. The data were analyzed via three sub-inquiries: (a) What thoughts and feelings do these six themes elicit; (b) What additional themes (existential or non) would the participants like to explore; and (c) What roadblocks hinder this population for accessing poetry therapy to its optimal extent. The research method involved two focus groups with a total of five participants, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The three most common themes …

Lower Extremities Muscle Strength Associated With Early Signs Of Mobility Dependence Among Older Adults Age 65 Years And Older, Moshe Marko

Exercise Science - Dissertations

Background: Loss of muscle strength is evident even in apparently healthy older adults. functionally limited due to an increasing discrepancy between their own physiological capabilities (i.e. physiological impairments) and the challenges set forth by the environment. Functional limitations lead to clinical mobility disability. Clinical mobility disability is associated with physical dependence, poor quality of life, and mortality. Treatment of age-related clinical mobility disability should focus on the prevention of the condition rather than its consequences. Identifying opportunities for early screening and prevention of clinical mobility disability requires a better understanding of the functional loss prior to this medical condition. …

Elder Abuse In The Nursing Home Setting: Social Workers' Perspectives Of Training And Education, Kelli M. Kinney

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perspectives that social workers in the nursing home setting have in regard to their training and education on prevalence and prevention of elder abuse. Qualitative interviews were conducted with six nursing home social workers and one aging advocate from the St. Paul area, using convenience and snowball sampling. A demographic survey was also administered to participants. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings from the nursing home social worker interviews suggest themes of: awareness of elder abuse, education on elder abuse (both in nursing homes and education settings) and …

Development Of Methods For Assessing The Effect Of Moisture And Aging On Sliceability Of Cheese, Jess Perrie

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Sliceability is a cheese’s ability to cut cleanly into thin slices, resist breakage or fracture at slices edges, and undergo a high level of bending before breaking. Intuitively, sliceability depends on the chemistry, microstructural, and rheological properties of the casein network. Currently there is no reported scientific research investigating evaluation methods of cheese slice quality, as well as properties that influence a cheese’s ability to slice.

In this study, a method for slice quality evaluation was developed on purchased cheese and performed on commercial cheeses and experimental cheeses manufactured at three different moisture contents (40.6%, 37.0%, and 33.9%). In addition, …

Nursing Home Social Worker Preparedness For Serving Bgl&T Residents, Rachel Bialostosky

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Current census data indicates that there are over 38 million Americans over the age of 65 at this time. (U.S. Census, 2010). It is estimated that as many as 3.8 million older adults in the United States identify as bisexual, gay, lesbian, or transgender. Though there is a growing body of literature on the needs and concerns of BGL&T older adults with regards to accessing health care services as they age, there is very little literature on how prepared providers feel to provide culturally competent care to BGL&T people. In an attempt to address this gap, this researcher conducted a …

A Perspective Of Aging From The Prose Of Age Specific Birthday Cards, Lori Halbur

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

With a growing number of older people in the United States, it is important for social workers to acknowledge that ageism exists in our society and continue to research, study and understand the influences that contribute to it. Media outlets are one source that has been found to have an influence on people’s perceptions about older adults. A qualitative study was carried out to determine if the messages in age specific greeting cards that are produced specifically for individuals age 60 and older portray more positive or negative perceptions about aging or older individuals. The non-probability, convenience sample for this …

Social Involvement, Existential Awareness, And Perceived Vulnerability In Older Adults, Maria Zarlengo

Dissertations

The current study explored perceptions of old-age vulnerability by seniors as well as separate and combined effects of social involvement and existential awareness on the level of perceived vulnerability to aging. Two hundred and forty four seniors participated in the study. The data were collected with the use of a 101-question survey based on three published measures plus demographic questions. The dependent (criterion) variable was the vulnerability to old age measured by the Perceived Vulnerability Scale (PVS). The explanatory (predictor) variables included the degree of social involvement measured by the Social Provisions Scale (SPS) and the level of existential awareness …

Effects Of Thymus Size And Involution On The Contribution Of Recent Thymic Emigrants To The Peripheral T Cell Pool, Michelle L. Bolner

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

The contribution of recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) to the peripheral naïve T cell population is necessary to maintain diversity of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and produce immune responses against newly encountered antigens.

The thymus involutes with age, after irradiation or chemotherapy, and due to severe viral infections. Thymus involution results in decreased thymopoiesis and RTE output leading to a reduced diversity of peripheral T cells. This increases susceptibility to disease and impairs immune responsiveness to vaccines. Therefore, studies aimed at maintaining or regenerating thymic function are integral for maintaining and restoring peripheral TCR diversity.

Mice that express a …

The Role Of Mitochondrial Dysfunction In Neurodegenerative Proteinopathies And Aging., Alejandro Ocampo

Open Access Dissertations

Age-related neurodegenerative proteinophaties, including polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases such as Huntington’s disease, are a group of disorders in which a single protein or a set of proteins misfold and aggregate resulting in a progressive and selective loss of anatomically or physiologically related neuronal systems. Despite evidence showing a clear relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction, aging and neurodegenerative proteinophaties, the extent of the mitochondrial respiratory chain deficits, the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction and the mechanisms responsible for these processes are largely unknown. Using yeast models of cellular aging and polyQ disorders we show that mitochondrial dysfunction is an important contributor to the process …

The Lived Experiences Of The Aging Of Hong Kong Chinese Baby Boomers Residing In The United States, Helena Ng

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rapid aging of the majority and minority populations is occurring in the United States. Diverse aspects of aging, concerns of the aging of the baby boomer generation, and the heterogeneities among aging persons from diverse races and ethnicities have been examined in detail; however, there is a void in the literature that offers information about the aging of Chinese baby boomers. This qualitative study used a hermeneutic-phenomenological method to investigate the aging experiences of Hong Kong Chinese baby boomers who are residing in the United States. The findings of this study will possibly enhance the literature about the cultural parameters …

Promoting Thymopoiesis With Age: Potential Role Of The Transcription Factor Foxn1, Erin Christine Zook

Dissertations

It is known that the elderly are more susceptible to illnesses and infections and respond poorly to immunization. A contributing factor to a decrease in the immune response in the elderly is the decline in the production of naïve T cell by the thymus. In the thymus, the notch receptor expressed on early T cell progenitors (ETP) binds to its ligand expressed on thymic epithelial cells (TEC), signaling ETP to develop through a series of developmental stages before maturing into naive T cells. Because ETP are non-self renewing, the thymus relies on the bone marrow (BM) for a continuous supply …

Aging, Stem Cells And The Cancer Stem Cell Hypothesis, Dave Comstock

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Predicting Vision Loss In Healthy Aging With Manganese-Enhanced Mri Of The Rat Eye, David Bissig

Wayne State University Dissertations

In healthy aging, visual function declines throughout adulthood. Age-related changes in neuronal ion homeostasis -- specifically, increased Ca2+ influx through L-type voltage gated calcium channels (L-VGCCs) -- are believed to contribute to certain functional declines, but this possibility has not yet been tested in the neural retina. In young, mid- and old adult Long-Evans rats, we compared visual function (optokinetic tracking), as well as retinal physiology and eye morphology (Mn2+-enhanced MRI (MEMRI), which uses neuronal Mn2+ uptake as a marker of Ca2+ influx). We documented significant age-related decreases in visual performance and increases in retinal ion influx. We confirmed that …

Preliminary Analysis Of The Geriatric Intelligence Test, Adam W. Fominaya

ETD Archive

The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence was not designed specifically for older adults. Many potential confounding factors occur with greater frequency in the elderly population and these may make the WASI a less appropriate measure of general cognitive functioning. This preliminary study aimed to develop the Geriatric Intelligence Test (GIT). Items were piloted on older adults (>80) who also completed two WASI Subtests. Preliminary results show that multiple GIT subtests are strong predictors of WASI subtest scores and showed good internal consistency. Results will be used to develop a more parsimonious version of the test