GSA Momentum Discussions

Researchers have identified several molecular pathways at a cellular level, including within the mitochondria, which appear to influence both aging and age-related chronic disease. These cellular changes associated with aging are cumulatively referred to as age-associated cellular decline, or AACD. Identifying AACD risk factors and intervening with cellular nutrients earlier in the aging process, before major mobility disabilities and disease driven limitations emerge, could help improve overall healthy aging.  A set of three podcast discussions from the panel of the What's Hot on Cellular Nutrition and Its Influence on Age-Associated Cellular Decline, explores various elements of AACD and the care of older adults. This episode explores how to apply what is currently known about AACD to the care of patients and older adults in clinical practice. Download the Transcript Guest: Nathan K. LeBrasseur, PT, PhD Professor and Co-Chair of Research, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic Scientific Director, Office of Translation to Practice, Mayo Clinic  Co-Director, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Mayo Clinic  Host: Roger A. Fielding, PhD Associate Director, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University Lead Scientist and Senior Scientist Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Team, Tufts University Professor of Nutrition Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center This podcast series was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  This program has received a grant from Nestle Health Science. 

Researchers have identified several molecular pathways at a cellular level, including within the mitochondria, which appear to influence both aging and age-related chronic disease. These cellular changes associated with aging are cumulatively referred to as age-associated cellular decline, or AACD. Identifying AACD risk factors and intervening with cellular nutrients earlier in the aging process, before major mobility disabilities and disease driven limitations emerge, could help improve overall healthy aging.  A set of three podcast discussions from the panel of the What's Hot on Cellular Nutrition and Its Influence on Age-Associated Cellular Decline, explores various elements of AACD and the care of older adults. This episode focuses specifically on what researchers are learning about the importance of mitochondrial function. Download the Transcript Guest: Anthony J. A. Molina, PhD Vice Chief of Research, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care, University of California San Diego School of Medicine  Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine  Host: Roger A. Fielding, PhD Associate Director, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University Lead Scientist and Senior Scientist Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Team, Tufts University Professor of Nutrition Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center This podcast series was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  This program has received a grant from Nestle Health Science. 

Researchers have identified several molecular pathways at a cellular level, including within the mitochondria, which appear to influence both aging and age-related chronic disease. These cellular changes associated with aging are cumulatively referred to as age-associated cellular decline, or AACD. Identifying AACD risk factors and intervening with cellular nutrients earlier in the aging process, before major mobility disabilities and disease driven limitations emerge, could help improve overall healthy aging.  A set of three podcast discussions from the panel of the What's Hot on Cellular Nutrition and Its Influence on Age-Associated Cellular Decline, explores various elements of AACD and the care of older adults. This episode focuses on the nutritional interventions that have the potential to extend human health span, as well as those that may slow age associated cellular decision and may impact longevity.  Download the Transcript Guest: Sai Krupa Das, PhD Scientist I, Energy Metabolism Team Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging Associate Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University Host: Roger A. Fielding, PhD Associate Director, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University Lead Scientist and Senior Scientist Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Team, Tufts University Professor of Nutrition Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center This podcast series was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  This program has received a grant from Nestle Health Science. 

This episode addresses the need for effective communication with older adults who have sleep disturbances.  As a condition that is underdiagnosed and undertreated, it is important to understand how to address this issue with older people to ensure that the right treatments are provided, and that health and well-being are attained. Guest:  Michael V. Vitiello, PhD Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle Host: Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP Professor, Chair of the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing; Past President of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) This podcast episode was designed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) along with our clinical partner, the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association. The program has received an educational grant from Eisai Pharmaceuticals.

The process of bringing a vaccine to market takes extensive research and safety monitoring. Dr. Gordon Douglas explains the steps from preclinical studies to vaccine licensure, and discusses his own experience developing vaccines at a major manufacturer for 30 years. He also shares lessons learned from clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the importance of participant diversity.    Guest: R. Gordon Douglas, Jr, MD  Professor Emeritus, Weill Cornell Medical College   Host: Jo-Ana Chase, PhD, APRN-BC  Associate Professor, Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri Health  This podcast episode is supported by Seqirus. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

Communicating the risks and benefits of immunization can be challenging, as the language of science may not always be well understood by the public. Dr. Aaron Scherer shares his research on risk communication and infectious disease, what we can learn from outbreak communication with older adults, and his thoughts on future opportunities in the field.   Guest: Aaron Scherer, MA, PhD Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine - General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa  Host: Cheryl Ann Monturo, PhD, MBE, ACNP-BC Senior Nurse Research Scientist Chester County Hospital/Penn Medicine; Professor of Nursing West Chester University  This podcast episode is supported by Seqirus. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

A routine immunization program in long-term care facilities can protect residents who are most at risk of poor outcomes if they contract a vaccine-preventable disease, however systemic challenges contribute to stagnant vaccination rates among residents and low vaccination rates among staff. In this episode, Dr. Barbara Resnick discusses her work in improving immunization rates in long-term care, using behavior motivation techniques to encourage staff and residents to get vaccinated, and what she sees as opportunities for future researchers and practitioners.   Guest: Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP   Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Nursing  Host: Justine Sefcik, PhD, RN  Assistant Professor, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions; Co-convener, GSA Interest Group on Nursing  This podcast episode is supported by Seqirus. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

Individuals with dementia-related psychosis experience worse outcomes than those who do not have psychosis, including but not being limited to accelerated time to being admitted to a long-term care facility and accelerated mortality. The manifestation of hallucinations and delusions in residents with dementia can also prove challenging for long-term care staff. Dr. Chad Worz discusses how appropriate documentation of a diagnosis of dementia-related psychosis and related care interventions are an important part of delivering individualized care for residents.  Guest: Chad Worz, PharmD, BCGP Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)  Host: Judit Illes, BCL/LLB, MS, CPHQ  Director, Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  For more information on dementia-related psychosis, see GSA's February 2021 White Paper, Dementia-Related Psychosis: Strategies to Address Barriers to Care Across Settings.  This podcast episode is supported by Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Primary care providers (PCPs) are ideally positioned to recognize, diagnose, and provide care planning for individuals with dementia who experience psychosis. Dr. Alexis Eastman discusses the important role of PCPs in team-based approaches to care and shares examples of innovative healthcare delivery models that can support PCPs in addressing dementia-related psychosis.  Guest: Alexis Eastman, MD  Medical Director of the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics; Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Member of GSA's Workgroup on Dementia-Related Psychosis.    Host: Judit Illes, BCL/LLB, MS, CPHQ Director, Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  For more information on dementia-related psychosis, see GSA's February 2021 White Paper, Dementia-Related Psychosis: Strategies to Address Barriers to Care Across Settings.  This podcast episode is supported by Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Dementia-related psychosis, defined as hallucinations and delusions in individuals with dementia, is a distinct neuropsychiatric symptom. Dementia-related psychosis differs from psychosis that originates from delirium or a pre-existing psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia). Dr. Gary Small explains the challenges to and approaches for detecting and diagnosing these symptoms.   Guest: Gary Small, MD Chair of Psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center and Physician in Chief for Behavioral Health; Chair of GSA's Workgroup on Dementia-Related Psychosis  Host: Judit Illes, BCL/LLB, MS, CPHQ Director, Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  For more information on dementia-related psychosis, see GSA's February 2021 White Paper, Dementia-Related Psychosis: Strategies to Address Barriers to Care Across Settings.  This podcast episode is supported by Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths in older adults each year. Those over 65, adults with chronic heart or lung disease, and adults with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Yet RSV remains underdiagnosed. This podcast was originally recorded as a webinar, where Drs. Robin Jump and Lindsay Kim answer questions about RSV and its impact on older adults; the challenges of distinguishing between RSV, influenza, and COVID-19; and ways to keep older adults healthy with so many respiratory viruses circulating, particularly in a long-term care facility. Guests: Robin Jump, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Lindsay Kim, MD, MPH Medical Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Host: Elizabeth Sobczyk, MSW, MPH Director, Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America For more information, visit GSA's National Adult Vaccination Program website. This podcast episode is supported by Johnson and Johnson Health Systems, Inc. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Advances in medicine mean the number of older adults living with HIV/AIDS is increasing, which also presents new challenges to both aging service providers and HIV/AIDS service providers. In Part 2 of this series on Understanding HIV in Older Adults, Drs. Meredith Greene and Molly Perkins discuss the intersection of geriatric medicine and HIV specialists, as well as HIV prevention in older adults, medical, and psychosocial challenges for those who are aging with HIV, and the experience of those living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest: Meredith Greene, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California San Francisco Host: Molly Perkins, PhD Associate Professor, School of Medicine and Graduate Faculty of Emory Sociology, Emory University This podcast episode is supported by ViiV Healthcare. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Advances in medicine mean the number of older adults living with HIV/AIDS is increasing, which also presents new challenges to both aging service providers and HIV/AIDS service providers. In Part 1 of this series on Understanding HIV in Older Adults, Drs. Mark Brennan-Ing and Molly Perkins discuss social networks, isolation, and social supports among older adults living with HIV; resilience as a way to address stigma; the diversity of those who are living with HIV; internalized ageism; and the use of crisis competence to learn from HIV survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest: Mark Brennan-Ing, PhD Senior Research Scientist, ‎Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College, CUNY Host: Molly Perkins, PhD Associate Professor, School of Medicine and Graduate Faculty of Emory Sociology, Emory University This podcast episode is supported by ViiV Healthcare. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Dr. Melissa Batchelor speaks with Dr. Barbara Yawn about her journey to becoming Chief Clinical Officer of the COPD Foundation. Dr. Yawn shares the misconceptions about COPD in older adults and challenges that lead to underdiagnosis. She discusses treatment options – both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic – and the importance of an interdisciplinary team in treating COPD. Guest: Barbara Yawn, MD Chief Clinical Officer, COPD Foundation Host: Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN-BC, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN Director of the Center for Aging and Health and Humanities and Associate Professor at George Washington University School of Nursing For a quick reference, download the fact sheet Understanding COPD in Older Adults.   For more information on COPD, see GSA's recent What's Hot publication: Recognizing and Treating COPD in Older Adults.  This podcast episode is supported by GlaxoSmithKline. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

The vexing problem of the increasing weight of Americans has grown to epidemic proportions in recent decades. As millions of people enter older adulthood, they bring with them added pounds and the challenges of excessive body fat. Now recognized as a chronic medical condition, obesity is associated with serious health problems that increase morbidity and mortality, stigmatization at work and in social settings, decreased physical function, lower health-related quality of life, and increased direct and indirect health care costs. When combined with common aging-related challenges, obesity can create complex clinical situations without easy solutions.  In this episode, Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford speaks with Dr. Tamara A. Baker, addressing the issue of obesity and specifically how the prevalence of obesity is different in communities of color versus majority communities in the United States. Dr. Stanford reviews the different factors that contribute to the high burden of obesity in racial and ethnic minority populations, why there appears to be worsened outcomes in patients who have obesity and COVID-19, and strategies that can be utilized to address excess weight in communities with high prevalence of obesity, especially in older adults.  The interview closes out with a review of barriers to receiving treatment and an overview of legislation has been proposed to help address the epidemic of obesity in our communities. Guest: Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FTOS Obesity Medicine Physician Scientist, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Host: Tamara A. Baker, PhD, FGSA Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).