Digital Commons Network^™

Late-Life Exercise Mitigates Skeletal Muscle Epigenetic Aging, Kevin A. Murach, Andrea L. Dimet-Wiley, Yuan Wen, Camille R. Brightwell, Christine M. Latham, Cory M. Dungan, Christopher S. Fry, Stanley J. Watowich

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

There are functional benefits to exercise in muscle, even when performed late in life, but the contributions of epigenetic factors to late-life exercise adaptation are poorly defined. Using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS), ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial-specific examination of methylation, targeted high-resolution methylation analysis, and DNAge™ epigenetic aging clock analysis with a translatable model of voluntary murine endurance/resistance exercise training (progressive weighted wheel running, PoWeR), we provide evidence that exercise may mitigate epigenetic aging in skeletal muscle. Late-life PoWeR from 22–24 months of age modestly but significantly attenuates an age-associated shift toward promoter hypermethylation. The epigenetic age of muscle …

Overcoming The Covid-19 Pandemic For Dementia Research: Engaging Rural, Older, Racially And Ethnically Diverse Church Attendees In Remote Recruitment, Intervention And Assessment, Lisa Kirk Wiese, Ishan C. Williams, Nancy E. Schoenberg, James E. Galvin, Jennifer Lingler

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Background: Access to cognitive screening in rural underserved communities is limited and was further diminished during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined whether a telephone-based cognitive screening intervention would be effective in increasing ADRD knowledge, detecting the need for further cognitive evaluation, and making and tracking the results of referrals.

Method: Using a dependent t-test design, older, largely African American and Afro-Caribbean participants completed a brief educational intervention, pre/post AD knowledge measure, and cognitive screening.

Results: Sixty of 85 eligible individuals consented. Seventy-percent of the sample self-reported as African American, Haitian Creole, or Hispanic, and 75% were female, with an average …

Covid-19 Experiences, Behaviors, Beliefs, And Well-Being Among Students And Employees At A University In Rural Appalachia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Lauren Wisnieski, Kimberly A. Carney, Jenny L. Thornley

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: In response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, most universities experienced drastic operational changes with shifts to online learning, work-from-home policies, and social distancing measures. These changes have caused concern for social isolation and mental health.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study explores differences in COVID-19 experiences, behaviors, beliefs, and well-being among students and employees (faculty and staff) at a rural Appalachian university.

Methods: Data were collected with an online anonymous survey in September-October 2020 using convenience sampling. The survey measured multiple domains including COVID-19-related 1) beliefs, 2) symptoms and diagnoses, 3) exposure and preventive behavior, and 4) social, mental, and …

Hindlimb Suspension In Wistar Rats: Sex-Based Differences In Muscle Response, Marie Mortreux, Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell, Ian D. Stiehl, Dong-Min Sung, Nicholas T. Thomas, Christopher S. Fry, Seward B. Rutkove

Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition Faculty Publications

Ground-based animal models have been used extensively to understand the effects of microgravity on various physiological systems. Among them, hindlimb suspension (HLS), developed in 1979 in rats, remains the gold-standard and allows researchers to study the consequences of total unloading of the hind limbs while inducing a cephalic fluid shift. While this model has already brought valuable insights to space biology, few studies have directly compared functional decrements in the muscles of males and females during HLS. We exposed 28 adult Wistar rats (14 males and 14 females) to 14 days of HLS or normal loading (NL) to better assess …

The Mediating/Moderating Role Of Cultural Context Factors On Self-Care Practices Among Those Living With Diabetes In Rural Appalachia, Brittany L. Smalls, Adebola Adegboyega, Ellen Combs, Matthew Rutledge, Philip M. Westgate, Md. Tofial Azam, Felipe De La Barra, Lovoria B. Williams, Nancy E. Schoenberg

Family and Community Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

The aim of this study was to examine whether cultural factors, such as religiosity and social support, mediate/moderate the relationship between personal/psychosocial factors and T2DM self-care in a rural Appalachian community.

Methods

Regression models were utilized to assess for mediation and moderation. Multilevel linear mixed effects models and GEE-type logistic regression models were fit for continuous (social support, self-care) and binary (religiosity) outcomes, respectively.

Results

The results indicated that cultural context factors (religiosity and social support) can mediate/moderate the relationship between psychosocial factors and T2DM self-care. Specifically, after adjusting for demographic variables, the findings suggested that social support may …

Driving Habits, Cognition, And Health-Related Quality Of Life In Middle-Aged And Older Adults With Hiv, Josiah J. Robinson, Tess Walker, Cierra Hopkins, Brittany Bradley, Peggy Mckie, Jennifer S. Frank, Caitlin N. Pope, Pariya L. Fazeli, David E. Vance

Graduate Center for Gerontology Faculty Publications

Cognitive impairment is known to increase with aging in people living with HIV (PLWH). Impairment in cognitive domains required for safe driving may put PLWH at risk for poor driving outcomes, decreased mobility, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study described the driving behaviors of middle-aged and older PLWH and examined correlations between driving behaviors and cognitive functioning (Aim 1), and driving behaviors and HRQoL domains (Aim 2). A sample of 260 PLWH ages 40 and older completed a comprehensive assessment including a battery of cognitive tests, an HRQoL measure, and a measure of self-reported driving habits. Associations between …

Effects Of Sleep Duration On Falls In A West Virginia Population-Based Study, Brfss, 2018, R. Constance Wiener, Christopher Waters

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: West Virginia is a state in which most counties are rural, as well as a state with multiple health disparities among its population. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of sleep duration and falls for non-institutionalized West Virginia adults, aged 40 years and above, using the National Sleep Foundation’s definition of “may be appropriate” and “not recommended” sleep durations for specific ages.

Methods: Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2018 data concerning West Virginia residents were extracted for sleep duration and number of falls within the previous year. Data were analyzed with Chi square and …

Clinical Geography: A Proposal To Embrace Space, Place And Wellbeing Through Person-Centered Practice, Jessica M. Finlay, Graham D. Rowles

Graduate Center for Gerontology Faculty Publications

This essay envisions how geography can operationalize nuanced understandings of space and place to enrich the lives of individuals across the lifespan. We propose a focused integration of geography into person-centered practice: a clinical geography dedicated to working directly with people to promote optimal physical and mental health outcomes and wellbeing. Our proposal integrates spatial modifications to facilitate access and utility, behavioral interventions to maximize effectiveness in using space, and therapeutic engagement to nurture a deeper sense of ‘being in place’ that enhances wellbeing and quality of life. This focus is timely given societal instability and precariousness resulting from incongruous …

Gauging Working Memory Capacity From Differential Resting Brain Oscillations In Older Individuals With A Wearable Device, Soheil Borhani, Xiaopeng Zhao, Margaret R. Kelly, Karah E. Gottschalk, Fengpei Yuan, Gregory A. Jicha, Yang Jiang

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Working memory is a core cognitive function and its deficits is one of the most common cognitive impairments. Reduced working memory capacity manifests as reduced accuracy in memory recall and prolonged speed of memory retrieval in older adults. Currently, the relationship between healthy older individuals’ age-related changes in resting brain oscillations and their working memory capacity is not clear. Eyes-closed resting electroencephalogram (rEEG) is gaining momentum as a potential neuromarker of mild cognitive impairments. Wearable and wireless EEG headset measuring key electrophysiological brain signals during rest and a working memory task was utilized. This research’s central hypothesis is that rEEG …

The Association Of Circulating Amylin With Β-Amyloid In Familial Alzheimer's Disease, Han Gia Ly, Nirmal Verma, Savita Sharma, Deepak Kotiya, Sanda Despa, Erin L. Abner, Peter T. Nelson, Gregory A. Jicha, Donna M. Wilcock, Larry B. Goldstein, Rita Guerreiro, José Brás, Angela J. Hanson, Suzanne Craft, Andrew J. Murray, Geert Jan Biessels, Claire Troakes, Henrik Zetterberg, John Hardy, Tammaryn Lashley, Alzheimer’S Disease Exome Sequencing Group, Florin Despa

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction

This study assessed the hypothesis that circulating human amylin (amyloid‐forming) cross‐seeds with amyloid beta (Aβ) in early Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

Evidence of amylin‐AD pathology interaction was tested in brains of 31 familial AD mutation carriers and 20 cognitively unaffected individuals, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (98 diseased and 117 control samples) and in genetic databases. For functional testing, we genetically manipulated amylin secretion in APP/PS1 and non‐APP/PS1 rats.

Results

Amylin‐Aβ cross‐seeding was identified in AD brains. High CSF amylin levels were associated with decreased CSF Aβ42 concentrations. AD risk and amylin gene are not correlated. Suppressed amylin secretion protected …

Sex Differences And Psychological Stress: Responses To The Covid-19 Pandemic In China, Shiyan Yan, Rui Xu, Terry D. Stratton, Voyko Kavcic, Dan Luo, Fengsu Hou, Fengying Bi, Rong Jiao, Kangxing Song, Yang Jiang

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: About 83,000 COVID-19 patients were confirmed in China up to May 2020. Amid the well-documented threats to physical health, the effects of this public health crisis - and the varied efforts to contain its spread - have altered individuals' "normal" daily functioning. These impacts on social, psychological, and emotional well-being remain relatively unexplored - in particular, the ways in which Chinese men and women experience and respond to potential behavioral stressors. Our study investigated sex differences in psychological stress, emotional reactions, and behavioral responses to COVID-19 and related threats among Chinese residents.

METHODS: In late February (2020), an anonymous …

2020 Kentucky Nursing Workforce Report, Sydney P. Thompson

Center of Excellence in Rural Health Infographics

No abstract provided.

Why Won’T Grandma Cross The Road? Neighborhood Perceptions And Walking Behavior Among Older Adults In Lexington, Kentucky, Sadie Middleton

Theses and Dissertations--Urban and Environmental Design

Many urban places contain subtle details that can unintentionally deter pedestrian activity. These details can be assessed through six themes: safety, comfort, pedestrian infrastructure, aesthetics, proximity, and ease of navigation. Adults over age 65 may have more concerns about walking in urban settings than people in other age groups. This study identifies urban design elements that encourage and discourage walking among older adults and makes recommendations for design improvements. Study participants (n= 67) completed an online survey about walking behaviors, perceptions of health and community, and perceptions of seven unidentified scenes of pedestrian environments in Lexington, Kentucky. Findings suggest that …

Cognitive Abilities In Hearing Loss: Perceived And Performance Abilities Of Adults Related To Attention, Memory, And Social Cognition, Karah Gottschalk

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

Hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit noted in aging adults. It is commonly known to reduce an individual’s ability to detect, identify, and localize sounds and speech and to cause issues in communication. However, there are other less commonly discussed impacts that hearing loss has beyond the auditory system. Literature suggests a correlation between hearing loss and cognition in aging adults. Similar to hearing loss, the domains of cognition experience performance and functional changes across the life span. In an aging adult, changes related to cognition are also suggested to be associated with hearing loss. This study aimed …

Mobile Technology Use During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Yi Lin

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

The COVID-19 pandemic led to quarantines and mandatory spatial distancing; people of all ages were encouraged to use technologies instead of actual human contact for COVID-19 prevention and daily activities. The special circumstances of living plus innovation and promotion of mobile applications (apps) during the pandemic influenced mobile technology use behavior. In this study we explored age differences in mobile technology use, the factors that influenced use behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, and proposed a research model that aimed to predict behavioral intention and mobile technology use behavior. A pilot-tested survey was distributed through online survey software. Participants were 35 …

An Evaluation Of Injurious Falls And Fall-Risk-Increasing-Drug (Frid) Prescribing Behaviors In A Nationally Representative Sample & The Pharmacist’S Role In Fall Prevention, Taylor Elliott, Susan Westneat, Shama Karanth, Erin Abner, Anna Kucharska-Newton, Daniela C. Moga

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background: Falls are a major public health problem affecting millions of older adults each year. Little is known about FRID prescribing behaviors after injurious falls occur.

Objective(s): The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether an injurious fall impacts the odds of being prescribed a new FRID.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2016 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to investigate whether an injurious fall impacts the odds of being prescribed a new FRID. We included patients age >/= 65 years and classified visits based on presence of an injurious fall. The outcome of …

Dimension Reduction Techniques In Regression, Pei Wang

Theses and Dissertations--Statistics

Because of the advances of modern technology, the size of the collected data nowadays is larger and the structure is more complex. To deal with such kinds of data, sufficient dimension reduction (SDR) and reduced rank (RR) regression are two powerful tools. This dissertation focuses on these two tools and it is composed of three projects. In the first project, we introduce a new SDR method through a novel approach of feature filter to recover the central mean subspace exhaustively along with a method to determine the dimension, two variable selection methods, and extensions to multivariate response and large p …

Enhancing Evidence-Based Tobacco Treatment Services For Clients With Mental Illnesses, Janet Otachi

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Tobacco users with mental illnesses (MI) have continued to experience disparate rates of tobacco use, related illnesses and mortality. Despite higher rates of tobacco use among clients with MI, few providers in mental health settings deliver evidence based tobacco treatment. If tobacco use is not addressed, clients with MI will continue to experience disproportionate rates of tobacco use and related burden. Utilizing the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study examined factors associated with provider intentions to deliver tobacco treatment, and their tobacco treatment delivery practices. Based on the main constructs of the TPB, providers’ attitudes about tobacco treatment delivery, …

Muscle Mass And Immune Function In The Senior Horse, Alisa Christina Herbst

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Senior horses (≥ 15 years) represent up to one-third of the global equine population, and the proportion of old horses (≥ 20 years) in the U.S. has been steadily increasing. Aging is associated with a loss of skeletal muscle mass in horses, and while age-related muscle loss is comparingly well characterized in humans, little is currently known concerning underlying mechanisms, adverse outcomes, or the prevalence of low muscle mass in senior horses. One factor proposed to play a role in the development of age-related muscle atrophy in humans is inflamm-aging, a low-grade inflammation that affects elderly people and that has …

Cellphone Laws And Teens' Calling While Driving: Analysis Of Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveys In 2013, 2015, 2017, And 2019, Li Li, Caitlin N. Pope, Rebecca R. Andridge, Julie K. Bower, Guoqing Hu, Motao Zhu

Graduate Center for Gerontology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Distracted driving among teens is a public health and safety concern. Most states in the U.S. have sought to restrict cellphone use while driving by enacting laws. This study examines the difference in prevalence of self-reported calling while driving (CWD) between states with different cellphone bans.

METHODS: Demographics and CWD data were extracted from state Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) from 14 states in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. The state YRBS is conducted every 2 years with a representative sample of 9th through 12th grade students attending public school. States were grouped by type of cellphone law(s): no …

Sod2 Deficiency In Cardiomyocytes Defines Defective Mitochondrial Bioenergetics As A Cause Of Lethal Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Sudha Sharma, Susmita Bhattarai, Hosne Ara, Grace Sun, Daret K. St. Clair, Md Shenuarin Bhuiyan, Christopher Kevil, Megan N. Watts, Paari Dominic, Takahiko Shimizu, Kevin J. Mccarthy, Hong Sun, Manikandan Panchatcharam, Sumitra Miriyala

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

Electrophilic aldehyde (4-hydroxynonenal; 4-HNE), formed after lipid peroxidation, is a mediator of mitochondrial dysfunction and implicated in both the pathogenesis and the progression of cardiovascular disease. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a nuclear-encoded antioxidant enzyme, catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide radicals (O2^•-) in mitochondria. To study the role of MnSOD in the myocardium, we generated a cardiomyocyte-specific SOD2 (SOD2Δ) deficient mouse strain. Unlike global SOD2 knockout mice, SOD2Δ mice reached adolescence; however, they die at ~4 months of age due to heart failure. Ultrastructural analysis of SOD2Δ hearts revealed altered mitochondrial architecture, with prominent disruption of the …

Thiamine Deficiency Causes Long-Lasting Neurobehavioral Deficits In Mice, Hui Li, Hong Xu, Wen Wen, Liying Wu, Mei Xu, Jia Luo

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Thiamine deficiency (TD) has detrimental effects on brain health and neurobehavioral development, and it is associated with many aging-related neurological disorders. To facilitate TD-related neuropsychological studies, we generated a TD mouse model by feeding a thiamine-deficient diet for 30 days, followed by re-feeding the control diet for either one week or 16 weeks as recovery treatment. We then performed neurobehavioral tests in these two cohorts: cohort of one week post TD treatment (1 wk-PTDT) and 16 weeks post TD treatment (16 wks-PTDT). The TD mice showed no significant difference from control in any tests in the 1 wk-PTDT cohort at …

Assessing Diabetes Risk Factors In Rural Dwelling Grandparent Caregivers, Brittany L. Smalls, Adebola Olamide Adegboyega, Omar A. Contreras, Kelly Palmer, Jennifer Hatcher

Family and Community Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective:

The purpose of this study is to assess type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk factors in grandparent caregivers living in a rural environment.

Methods:

Clinical measures (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c], blood pressure, and lipids) and self-reported data on social environment factors were attained. Data were analyzed via Pearson’s correlation and regression models.

Results:

By clinical definition of diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%), 21% were prediabetic and 28% had undiagnosed T2DM. There was an association between the number of individuals in the home and triglycerides (r = −.25), high-density lipoproteins (HDL; r = .43), and body mass index (BMI; r = …

Rural Caregivers: Identification Of Informational Needs Through Telemedicine Questions, Shoshana H. Bardach, Allison Gibson, Kelly Parsons, April Stauffer, Gregory A. Jicha

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and associated disorders is increasing. Rural residents in the United States have less access to memory care specialists and educational and community resources than in other areas of the country. Over a decade ago, we initiated an interdisciplinary rural caregiving telemedicine program to reach Kentucky residents in areas of the state where resources for supporting individuals with dementia are limited. Telemedicine programs involve a short informational presentation followed by a question and answer session; programs are offered 4 times a year. The purpose of this study was to explore questions asked over 1 year …

Adolescents' Attitudes And Intentions To Use A Smartphone App To Promote Safe Driving, Caitlin N. Pope, Emre Sezgin, Simon Lin, Nichole L. Morris, Motao Zhu

Graduate Center for Gerontology Faculty Publications

Purpose

Designing effective driving safety interventions is imperative as traffic crashes are the leading cause of injury and death for adolescents. Using concepts from the Integrated Behavioral Model, we investigated adolescents' attitudes and intentions towards engaging in safe driving practices and using smartphone-based driving safety technology.

Methods

Two-hundred and seven adolescents aged 14–18 (M = 16.1, SD = 0.8) completed a safe driving survey. A path model testing the associations between individual scores of attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control with intentions controlling for demographic covariates was conducted.

Results

Greater intentions to drive safely was associated with greater …

Will "Social Distancing" Lead To Future "Research Distancing": A Reflection On Covid-19 Impacts On Alzheimer's Disease Research, Shoshana H. Bardach, Allison K. Gibson, Elizabeth K. Rhodus, Gregory A. Jicha

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has dramatically altered everyday life, including the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. This perspective article explores some of the ways in which COVID-19 has already impacted the field, anticipates some of the long-lasting effects, and explores strategies for addressing current and future needs. Areas of impact include study integrity, regulatory and industry issues, and participant engagement. Proposed strategies for addressing these challenges include analytic methods to deal with large degrees of missing data and development of patient-centered, user-friendly, remote data collection tools and assessments. We also highlight the importance of maintaining participant well-being as a …

I'D Be Better Off In A Pine Box: Analyzing Kentucky's Funeral Planning Declaration Act As A Model For Uniform Legislation, J. Conner Niceley

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Conversation Goals, Communication Satisfaction, And Relational Dynamics While Navigating Alzheimer’S Disease: A Pre- And Post-Diagnosis Dyadic Examination Of Family Communication, Elizabeth A. Spencer

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Currently there are more than 16 million unpaid Alzheimer’s disease and dementia caregivers in the United States. These caregivers are often family members of the person living with dementia, and as they navigate the process of giving care to the patient, they must also maintain relationships with each other. Families enter the dementia experience with a history of their relational experiences, and their relational experiences potentially change as they navigate family experiences after the dementia diagnosis. Much existing scholarship examining family communication in the context of progressive Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias has focused on the perspectives of one …

Communication Technology Intention To Use And Use By Cognitively Intact Long-Term Nursing Home Residents, Amy M. Schuster

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

The goal of this dissertation was to gain an in depth understanding of intention to use and use of communication technology (CT) by long-term cognitively intact nursing home residents. This study also explored the value of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) as a framework for investigating the CT use of long-term cognitively intact nursing home residents. A convergent mixed methods design was used to gather data through semi-structured interviews, a nursing home resident communication technology checklist, a modified UTAUT questionnaire, the UCLA loneliness scale 10 item version, and the self-rated health scale. Participants (n …

Analysis Of High Potency Anticholinergic Prescribing In Scottish Nursing Home Patients, Alexandra Nugent

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the use of two or more high-potency anticholinergic (HPA) medications between patients 65 years and older in nursing homes and in the greater community using prescribing data. Methods: This secondary data analysis of the NHS Scotland PIS databased used prescription data from a nationally representative patient-level database. Patients were included were ≥65 years old, received ≥2HPA prescriptions from 2011Q2-2012Q1(11/12), 2016Q1-2017Q2(16/17), 2018Q2-2017Q1(18/19). The principle endpoint of this study was to assess for a change in patient’s relative risk of receiving ≥2HPA prescriptions. Results: 29,301 patients were identified. From 11/12 to 16/17 all …