Digital Commons Network^™

Alzheimer's Disease Stage 1 And 2: Biology, Diagnostics, And Treatment, Suzanne E. Schindler, Sarah M. Hartz, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Kadar Transthyretin Plasma Pada Lanjut Usia Sarkopenia Dan Non-Sarkopenia, R. Ifan A. Fahrurozi, Rose D. Martini, Roza Mulyana, Arina W. Murni, Eva Decroli, Saptino Miro, Deka Viotra, Vesri Yoga

Jurnal Penyakit Dalam Indonesia

Introduction. Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome marked by an age-related decline in muscle mass, which is affected by protein intake. Transthyretin is a visceral protein used to evaluate nutritional status and acts as a positive regulator of muscle mass. This study aimed to assess the difference in plasma transthyretin levels between elderly groups with and without sarcopenia.

Methods. This was an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional approach. Subjects were elderly patients who visited the Internal Medicine Polyclinic of Dr. M. Djamil Hospital Padang and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from August to September 2024. Subjects were …

Harmonizing Self-Reported And Free Text Medication Data: A Reproducible Pipeline For Gerontological Research, Ramkrishna K Singh, Chen Chen, Semere Bekena, David C Brown, Kaylin Taylor, Matthew Blake, Yiqi Zhu, Kebede Beyene, David B Carr, Ganesh M Babulal

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Self-reported medication data collected as free text in gerontological and dementia research is often unstructured with inconsistent formatting. These circumstances pose a challenge for standardization and classification when preparing effective, reproducible analyses. Spelling variations, naming conventions, and reporting drug combinations can hinder mapping to standard pharmacologic vocabularies and compromise medication exposure assessments. We aimed to develop and implement a transparent, reproducible, and scalable data harmonization pipeline that ingests free-text medication records and classifies them according to American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) therapeutic categories. METHODS: A four-phase curation pipeline processed 30,062 Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) medication records collected over …

A Survey Of Student Opinions About A Haiku Writing Assignment, Manish Rami

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

This study examined the instructional value of a haiku writing assignment (HWA) from the graduate students’ perspective via a survey of their opinions. Fifty-eight students wrote and submitted haiku over the course of a semester. A 10-item survey instrument was used to elicit students’ opinions about the assignment. The probability of responses to each of the items on the survey was compared to chance occurrence. Chi-Square tests found that students enjoyed the assignment and the example haiku; they believed that the assignment helped them grasp concepts and be more engaged with the course content; and recommended the use of such …

Knowledge Of Cpr And Code Status Discussions In Traumatically Injured Older Adults: Does Health Literacy Matter, Mokunfayo O Fajemisin, Ashna S Karpe, Stephanie Martinez Ugarte, Gabrielle E Hatton, Krislynn Mueck, Lillian S Kao, Martin L Blakely, Gina H Khraish, Aanand Naik, Shreyans Sanghvi, Jessica L Lee, Thaddeus J Puzio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Code Status Discussions (CSDs), CPR understanding, and health literacy is understudied in traumatically injured older adults. We hypothesized that traumatically injured older adults and their families would have limited understanding of CPR and code status, and that lower health literacy would be associated with reduced advance care planning knowledge. We surveyed injured adults ≥65 or their surrogates to assess baseline code status, health literacy, and CPR discussions. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted. Among 201 respondents 55% had low health literacy. Only 38% had discussions about CPR, and 21% were asked about code status during admission. Surrogates similarly overestimated CPR …

Dual-Task Exercise Protects Healthy Older Adults Against In-Creased Risk For Dementia: A Controlled Trial, Helen Tatiane Santos Pontes, João Bento-Torres, Naina Yuki Vieira Jardim, Victor Oliveira Da Costa, Josilayne Patricia Ramos Carvalho, Cristovam Wanderley Picanço-Diniz, Natáli Valim Oliver Bento-Torres

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Functionality in aging is closely linked to the ability to divide attention during multitasking activities, which are essential for activities of daily life. However, coordination between motor and cognitive simultaneous tasks decreases with age, impairing functional ability and restricting older adults' participation and healthy aging. This study aimed to assess the effects of a multimodal dual-task exercise intervention on motor and cognitive dual-task costs and its potential to mitigate age-related declines in healthy older adults. Materials and Methods: A controlled trial was conducted with community-dwelling older adults assigned to either the Dual-Task Exercise group, which participated in a 24-session …

Subjective Memory Complaints Among Older Adults In Türkiye: Prevalence And Contributing Factors, Mustafa Çeti̇n, Zehra Sarikaya Demi̇rbaş, Mehmet İlki̇n Naharci

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Subjective memory complaints (SMCs), defined as self-perceived declines in memory performance, are common among older adults and may serve as early indicators of neurocognitive impairment. Despite their clinical relevance, no previous studies have examined the prevalence and associated factors of SMCs in Türkiye.

Materials and methods: A total of 500 community-dwelling older adults were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study; all underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment at a tertiary-level outpatient clinic. Participants with an mini-mental state examination score ≥27, independence in instrumental activities of daily living, and no diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment were assessed for SMCs. Sociodemographic …

From Fear To Familiar: Decreasing Technology Anxiety Among Older Adults In A Senior Community, Regina Rayz

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Older adults (defined by the WHO as those 65 and older in developed countries) are more susceptible to technophobia than younger adults (Song et al., 2025). The fear and anxiety occurs with use of smartphones, tablets, social media, and telehealth and is associated with higher rates of social isolation and reduced autonomy. Technology-use anxiety is a preventative obstacle that inhibits both technology acceptance as well as overall health (Kim et al., 2023). Aim: To reduce technology-related anxiety among older low-income adults living in a senior residential facility in Richmond, CA by at least 25% using a brief, individualized technology …

Charting The Course: Improving Psychotropic Medication Documentation Through Staff Education To Promote Patient Safety And Cms Compliance, Anne J. Bertram Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

The University of San Francisco master’s level nursing program culminates with a clinical nurse leader (CNL) quality improvement project. The objective of this project is to reinforce the program’s didactic CNL classes by allowing students the opportunity to design, implement, and analyze a quality improvement project in a microsystem. SETTING: Skilled nursing facilities often prescribe psychotropic medications to help manage residents’ behavioral and psychological symptoms. Due to the possibility of side effects and increased sedation, there are concerns for patient safety and quality of life. Inadequate management of these patients and symptoms compromises patient safety and breaches state and federal …

From Fear To Familiar: Reducing Technology-Induced Anxiety In Seniors, Justin Kyle V. Manalang

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

This quality improvement project focuses on reducing the average technology-induced anxiety score among senior community members through 1:1 mentorship sessions. Aim During an eight-week period from September 10, 2025, to November 5, 2025, this project will reduce the severity of technology-induced anxiety by 25% from the established baseline. Methods: A 5P Microsystem assessment was conducted alongside an initial questionnaire to gauge the residents’ interests and concerns regarding technology use. From the results, focused mentorship sessions were conducted once a week and pertained to the chief complaint the resident had for eight weeks. The mentorship sessions were one-to-one and individualised …

From Fear To Familiar: Alleviating Technology Anxiety In Older Adults Through A Community-Based Mentorship Program, Inyoung Jang

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project was implemented in a senior residential facility in Richmond, California, catering to older low-income adults who frequently experience elevated levels of technology anxiety. Aim This project aims to reduce the mean modified technology-anxiety score among residents aged 65 and older by at least 25% from baseline by November 5, 2025. Methods The Abbreviated Technology Anxiety Scale (MTAS) was modified to consider the cognitive, linguistic, and experiential differences among target population. The original 11-item instrument, which was validated primarily within college-aged populations, used terms and repeated items irrelevant to older people. The adapted tool included five simplified …

Implementation Factors For Wearable Fall Injury Mitigation Technology: A Framework For Technology Adoption, Richard G. Stefanacci, Rebecca J. Tarbert, Nicole Hemenover

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: To identify implementation factors influencing the adoption of wearable fall injury mitigation technology in long-term care (LTC) settings and develop a practical framework for technology implementation success.

DESIGN: Mixed-methods assessment of a multicenter evaluation examining organizational, staff, and resident factors affecting technology adoption.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Ten LTC facilities implementing the Tango Belt, a wearable airbag device for hip protection during falls. Analysis included 134 intervention participants (mean age 87.3 years, 76% female, 93% with fall history in past year) and comprehensive stakeholder feedback from staff, leadership, residents, and families.

METHODS: Quantitative measures included device adherence rates, training attendance, …

Faith Community Nursing: Home Care Delivery Model, Deborah J. Ziebarth

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Faith community nurses (FCNs) perform home visits as part of their scope of practice. The FCN does home visits based solely on the assessed needs of patients, regardless of insurance or prescriber orders. A historical review describes the practice gap leading to the development of the Faith Community Nursing: Home Care Delivery Model provided in the booklet: Visitation Guidelines for Faith Community Nurses. Through a review of literature, alignment, and diagram, key components are defined. A wholistic screening exemplary (Congestive Heart Failure) is shared. The model’s key components are screening/assessment for specific disease risk (pre-diagnosed and diagnosed), education (patient and …

Hospital Length Of Stay In Sepsis Patients Across Age, Comorbidity, And Invasive Device Use Categories, Heri Sutanto, Alif Nurul Izzati, Syifa Mustika

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated response of the body to infection. Sepsis is closely associated with high costs and prolonged length of hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between sepsis risk factors and length of hospitalization for sepsis patients at Dr. Saiful Anwar Malang General Hospital. This study used a retrospective cohort approach with a sample size of 56 medical records. The study used inclusion criteria for sample selection. The analysis results in a p-value of 0.976 and an r-value of 0.004; the findings demonstrated a correlation between patient age and …

The Impact Of Education And Awareness In Influencing Lifestyle Behaviors That Prevent And Treat Sarcopenia In Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Cross-Sectional Research Study, Alan Lynn Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods, cross-sectional study assessed the current level of knowledge and awareness among people aged 50 and older about sarcopenia, as well as their willingness to adopt lifestyle changes that could prevent or reverse the condition as they age. The study aimed to determine whether a lack of awareness and knowledge is linked to current lifestyle behaviors that contribute to or protect against the development of the disease. The population included men and women 50 and older, living independently in the community with no prior diagnosis of sarcopenia. The study used a custom-designed questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. A total of …

Quality Improvement Project: Development And Implementation Of A Structured Certification Support Program And The Impact On Nurses’ Confidence And Medical Surgical Certification Rates, Mary Tran

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Professional nursing certification is an important criterion of Magnet designation, and increased certification rates have been associated with positive patient outcomes. The literature supports peer support and group study as beneficial strategies to assist nurses in preparing for certification exams. A quality improvement project among medical-surgical (med-surg) nurses at a community hospital pursuing Magnet redesignation addressed the lack of formal processes and nursing perceived barriers to certification that may contribute to low certification rates. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a structured medical-surgical certification support program following the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle utilizing evidence-based strategies, including a …

The Artful Aging Project, Maria Carmelita Fernandez, Sah'neya Fryer, Kathleen Morris, Maya Price

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

As the older adult population in Sacramento County continues to expand, addressing age-related declines in fine motor function, cognition, and social well-being has become increasingly critical. Such declines can compromise activities of daily living, reduce independence, and exacerbate risks associated with social isolation. Evidence suggests that art-based interventions may mitigate these effects by enhancing motor coordination, promoting social engagement, and stimulating cognitive processes. The Artful Aging Project was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of structured art activities in improving fine motor skills and social wellness among older adults served by the Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center (SSNC). Grounded in community-based participatory …

Quality Of Life And Mental Health: A Qualitative Exploration Of Perceived Factors That Impact Older Adults, Chasiti Herring

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Enhancing quality of life and well-being is a universal phenomenon across the lifespan. As the population ages, older adults are in great need of supportive services to enhance quality of life and their ability to manage their mental health. The purpose of this study is to examine the quality of life (QoL) of older adults. This study aimed to provide valuable research in the area of QoL through the exploration of perceived factors that impact the older adult population. This exploratory qualitative research study consisted of 10 older adult participants between the ages of 65 and 95. Research recruitment prioritized …

Assessing Neurocognitive Functioning Among Adults Ageing With And Without Hiv At The Kenyan Coast: Measurement Issues And Correlates, Patrick Nzivo Mwangala, Carophine Nasambu, Ryan Wagner, Mihaela Duta, Gaia Scerif, Charles Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the most prevalent complications of HIV infection, with significant medical and functional impacts. However, valid, and reliable assessment tools are lacking for the newly emergent ageing population of people living with HIV (PLWH) in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Kenya. Without these tools, critical intervention opportunities, e.g., psychoeducation, treatment and additional support, are missed. To bridge this gap in Kenya, we adapted the Oxford Cognitive Screen Plus (OCSPlus), a tablet-based cognitive assessment tool designed for low-literacy settings, with adults ageing with HIV ≥ 50 years and their uninfected peers. This study examines …

Environmental Sanitation In Long-Term Care Facilities: A Focus On Regulations And Implementations, Ruwan Dissanayake Dissanayake Mudiyanselage

All Theses

Environmental sanitation is a fundamental component of infection prevention in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), where residents are at increased risk due to advanced age, underlying health conditions, and communal living arrangements. Despite its critical role, significant gaps remain in implementing environmental sanitation procedures and the regulatory frameworks that guide them.

This study combines two components: (1) an across-state regulatory review of environmental sanitation in LTCF regulations and (2) a cross-sectional survey assessing environmental sanitation characteristics of nursing homes (NHs) and assisted living facilities (ALFs) and Rural and Urban LTCF observation study in South Carolina (SC) . For the regulatory review …

Quality Improvement Project: Effect Of Multi-Level Student Collaboration On Clinical Judgment In High-Fidelity Simulation, Jillian Carroll

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

There is a gap in undergraduate nursing curriculum on incorporating collaboration and communication into patient care, leading to a lack of competence and confidence in novice practice. Using collaboration in high-fidelity simulation, students gain real-world exposure and opportunities to communicate and make independent decisions. Using Kotter’s eight-step change theory, this project addresses the limited exposure to collaboration by implementing purposeful interdisciplinary collaboration within high-fidelity simulation to improve undergraduate nursing students’ confidence and competence in nursing practice. This will build on Patricia Benner’s novice-to-expert theory and help advance Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students into a safe and effective novice year of …

Exercise As A Treatment For Depression And Anxiety Symptoms In College Students, Ashley J. Fountain

ATU Honors Projects

Anxiety and depression have become increasingly prevalent among college students, with rates rising to levels that demand urgent and accessible treatment alternatives. Traditional interventions such as psychotherapy and pharmacological treatments, while effective for many, present limitations including high cost, side effects, and barriers to access. This paper examines exercise as a holistic, evidence-based treatment modality for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in college students. Recent research demonstrates that aerobic exercise, resistance training, and yoga each produce meaningful physiological and psychological benefits through mechanisms involving neurotransmitter regulation, reduced cortisol levels, and enhanced self-esteem. Studies comparing exercise with antidepressant medications show …

Gender Differences In Psychological Strengths Among Rural Adolescents, Angela Preston, Jodi Bullard, Rachel Smith, Ashlyn Peppler

Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose: Rural adolescents often lack access to mental health care along with increased rates of depression and suicide completion. While psychological strengths have been associated with positive outcomes globally, little is known regarding the prevalence of these indicators (hope, self‐efficacy, resilience, optimism, and gratitude) among adolescents living in rural Texas. The purpose of this study was to describe how rural adolescents report their psychological strengths and examine the data for potential gender differences.

Design and Methods: A secondary analysis of cross‐sectional data was performed on the RStudio platform using tests of central tendency and inferential statistics. Results: There were 425 …

Living With Dementia In Kenya: Pathways To Care, Diagnosis And Management, Edna Bosire

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing a sharp rise in the size of theolder population; consequently, the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer’s DiseaseRelated Dementias (AD/ADRD) is also expected to rise. There is limited research onAD/ADRD lived experiences have been conducted in SSA including Kenya. Our projectaimed to explore patient’s and caregivers lived experiences with Alzheimer’s disease inKenya.

Methods: This ethnographic study was conducted at the Aga Khan University hospital(AKUH), involving in-depth interviews with 21 health care providers, 26 patientswith mild cognitive impairment and 36 caregivers. We also conducted 10 homevisits and observations. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.In what …

Community Perspectives On Factors Contributing To Resilience For Healthy Aging In Kenya, Linda Khakali, Everline Onchari, Maureen Ondire, Catherine Onyancha, Chinedu Momoh, Edna Bosire

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: The global elderly population is increasing and expected to double in thenext decade. Aging increases the likelihood of adversities, with resilience becomingan important aspect of healthy aging. Understanding how individuals conceptualizeresilience offers an opportunity to create contextually relevant interventions forpromoting healthy aging. This study aimed to explore adults’ perspectives on factorsinfluencing resilience in Kenya.

Method: Using qualitative methods, 36 adults aged 35 years and above werepurposively recruited from various communities in Nairobi County to participate ininterviews. We asked questions about their understanding of aging, adversity andresiliency. We also provided them with case scenarios of two individuals respondingdifferently to the …

Tricounty Vaccine Improvement Program (Tc-Vip): Enhancing Vaccine Confidence And Uptake In Rural Utah, Aaron Hunt, Yvette Rea, Annalyz Castro

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Utah State University Extension TriCounty Vaccine Improvement Program addressed low rural vaccination rates across a three-county area through bilingual social media campaigns, health fairs, training in motivational interviewing, and neuromarketing. Evaluation results showed improved skills, broad community reach, and positive participant feedback, demonstrating a replicable model to reduce vaccine hesitancy and strengthen rural health systems.

Cultural Adaptation Of An Innovative Reproductive Health Assessment Tool For Dementia Research In Africa: Insights From The Fember-Africa Study, Alice Moraa Ondieki, Anne Njogu, Cynthia I Sabel Smith, Edna Bosire, Karen Blackmon, Harrison Kaleli, Jasmit Shah, Rachel Maina, Sheila Waa, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Dementia research accounts for only 0.1% of all research in Africa,making it the lowest among all low- and middle-income country (LMIC) regions. Thedevelopment and adaptation of biological and psychosocial measures in ethnicallyand culturally diverse populations remain limited but are essential for culturallyinformed research. This is particularly critical for examining sex- and gender-basedvulnerabilities to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), including factorssuch as reproductive health and fertility.

Method: We conducted a thorough review of our clinical and health questionnaires forcultural relevance and sensitivity through a series (n = 3) of focus groups discussions.These focus groups included a diverse range of …

Vitality Tracking In Kenyan Adults Using Wearable Devices And Ecological Momentary Assessments, Karen Blackmon, Benard Alaka, Catherine Onyancha, Litha Musili, Raechel Kamau, Cyprian Mostert, Mansoor Saleh, Zul Merali, Chinedu Momoh, Thomas Thesen

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Vitality is essential to healthy aging but is elusive to define and measure.Dynamic capture of fluctuations in vitality can uncover abnormal trajectories thatcould be a harbinger of frailty in older adults. Yet, these fluctuations are missed bystatic and/or sparse sampling strategies. To address the need for dynamic and high-density capture of vitality in older adults, we developed a passive sensing and activeprobing digital platform using wearable devices and smartphones. We deployed thisparadigm in older Kenyan adults and evaluated its potential for use in research on thedynamics of accelerated aging.

Method: Cognitively unimpaired (CU) Kenyan adults ≥ 35 years of …

Predicting Accelerated And Delayed Aging In Global Settings: Biobehavioral Age Gaps And The Role Of Global Exposomes, Hernan Hernandez, Hernando Santamaria-Garcia, Sebastian Moguilne, Agustina Legaz, Pavel Prado, Jhosmary Cuadros, Liset Gonzalez, Cyprian Mostert, Chinedu Momoh, Zul Merali

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Global health challenges like aging and dementia are shaped bysocioeconomic disparities, environmental factors, and social determinants of health.We developed a behavioral age gap (BAG), measuring the difference between expectedbehavioral age and chronological age

Method: We utilized a cross-sectional sample (n = 161,981) comprising countriesfrom Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Behavioral age was estimated usinga Gradient Boosting Regressor with 10-fold cross-validation, incorporating multiplerisk factors (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, female sex, visual impairment andhearing impairment) and protective factors (cognition, functional ability, education)associated with healthy aging. BAG was calculated as the difference between predictedand chronological age, and adjusted gaps were derived …

Promoting Healthy Diet Adherence Using A Multisensory Approach For Post-Stroke Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Stacey Myers, Yuki Asakura Strempek, Sarah Kaster, Clare Hall

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Introduction: Evidence supports a healthy diet for secondary stroke prevention; however, programs to implement nutrition education remain inconsistent. This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of using a multisensory approach called the “Hands-on Training” program (HOT) to improve healthy diet adherence among patients rehabilitating after stroke.

Methods: This pilot randomized controlled study was conducted at an inpatient rehabilitation facility. Stroke patients were randomly assigned to either an experimental group who received HOT or a control group who received conventional education. The HOT group received real-time meal choice coaching, a healthy meal preparation experience, and additional written education. The Mediterranean Eating …