Search

IntroductionThis study aimed to understand whether older adults' longitudinal completion of assessments in an online Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD)-related registry is influenced by self-reported medical conditions.MethodsBrain Health Registry (BHR) is an online cognitive aging and ADRD-related research registry that includes longitudinal health and cognitive assessments. Using logistic regressions, we examined associations between longitudinal registry completion outcomes and self-reported (1) number of medical conditions and (2) eight defined medical condition groups (cardiovascular, metabolic, immune system, ADRD, current psychiatric, substance use/abuse, acquired, other specified conditions) in adults aged 55+ (N = 23,888). Longitudinal registry completion outcomes were assessed by the completion of the BHR initial questionnaire (first questionnaire participants see at each visit) at least twice and completion of a cognitive assessment (Cogstate Brief Battery) at least twice. Models included ethnocultural identity, education, age, and subjective memory concern as covariates.ResultsWe found that the likelihood of longitudinally completing the initial questionnaire was negatively associated with reporting a diagnosis of ADRD and current psychiatric conditions but was positively associated with reporting substance use/abuse and acquired medical conditions. The likelihood of longitudinally completing the cognitive assessment task was negatively associated with number of reported medical conditions, as well as with reporting cardiovascular conditions, ADRD, and current psychiatric conditions. Previously identified associations between ethnocultural identity and longitudinal assessment completion in BHR remained after accounting for the presence of medical conditions.DiscussionThis post hoc analysis provides novel, initial evidence that older adults' completion of longitudinal assessments in an online registry is associated with the number and types of participant-reported medical conditions. Our findings can inform future efforts to make online studies with longitudinal health and cognitive assessments more usable for older adults with medical conditions. The results need to be interpreted with caution due to selection biases, and the under-inclusion of minoritized communities.

Aging is a fundamental biological process characterized by a progressive decline in physiological functions and an increased susceptibility to diseases. Understanding aging at the molecular level is crucial for developing interventions that could delay or reverse its effects. This review explores the integration of machine learning (ML) with multi-omics technologies—including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics—in studying the molecular hallmarks of aging to develop personalized medicine interventions. These hallmarks include genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, disabled macroautophagy, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, altered intercellular communication, chronic inflammation, and dysbiosis. Using ML to analyze big and complex datasets helps uncover detailed molecular interactions and pathways that play a role in aging. The advances of ML can facilitate the discovery of biomarkers and therapeutic targets, offering insights into personalized anti-aging strategies. With these developments, the future points toward a better understanding of the aging process, aiming ultimately to promote healthy aging and extend life expectancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Remote, internet-based methods for recruitment, screening, and longitudinally assessing older adults have the potential to facilitate Alzheimers disease (AD) clinical trials and observational studies. METHODS: The Brain Health Registry (BHR) is an online registry that includes longitudinal assessments including self- and study partner-report questionnaires and neuropsychological tests. New initiatives aim to increase inclusion and engagement of commonly underincluded communities using digital, community-engaged research strategies. New features include multilingual support and biofluid collection capabilities. RESULTS: BHR includes > 100,000 participants. BHR has made over 259,000 referrals resulting in 25,997 participants enrolled in 30 aging and AD studies. In addition, 28,278 participants are coenrolled in BHR and other studies with data linkage among studies. Data have been shared with 28 investigators. Recent efforts have facilitated the enrollment and engagement of underincluded ethnocultural communities. DISCUSSION: The major advantages of the BHR approach are scalability and accessibility. Challenges include compliance, retention, cohort diversity, and generalizability. HIGHLIGHTS: Brain Health Registry (BHR) is an online, longitudinal platform of > 100,000 members. BHR made > 259,000 referrals, which enrolled 25,997 participants in 32 studies. New efforts increased enrollment and engagement of underincluded communities in BHR. The major advantages of the BHR approach are scalability and accessibility. BHR provides a unique adjunct for clinical neuroscience research.

IntroductionUse of online registries to efficiently identify older adults with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an approach with growing evidence for feasibility and validity. Linked biomarker and registry data can facilitate AD clinical research.MethodsWe collected blood for plasma biomarker and genetic analysis from older adult Brain Health Registry (BHR) participants, evaluated feasibility, and estimated associations between demographic variables and study participation.ResultsOf 7150 participants invited to the study, 864 (12%) enrolled and 629 (73%) completed remote blood draws. Participants reported high study acceptability. Those from underrepresented ethnocultural and educational groups were less likely to participate.DiscussionThis study demonstrates the challenges of remote blood collection from a large representative sample of older adults. Remote blood collection from > 600 participants within a short timeframe demonstrates the feasibility of our approach, which can be expanded for efficient collection of plasma AD biomarker and genetic data.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was founded in 1974 to support and conduct research on aging and the health and well‐being of older adults. Fifty years ago, the concept of studying aging generated much skepticism. Early NIA‐funded research findings helped establish the great value of aging research and provided the foundation for significant science advances that have improved our understanding of the aging process, diseases and conditions associated with aging, and the effects of health inequities, as well as the need to promote healthy aging lifestyles. Today, we celebrate the many important contributions to aging research made possible by NIA, as well as opportunities to continue to make meaningful progress. NIA emphasizes that the broad aging research community must continue to increase and expand our collective efforts to recruit and train a diverse next generation of aging researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While existing research has identified diverse fall risk factors in adults aged 60 and older across various areas, comprehensively examining the interrelationships between all factors can enhance our knowledge of complex mechanisms and ultimately prevent falls. This study employs a novel approach—a mixed undirected graphical model (MUGM)—to unravel the interplay between sociodemographics, mental well-being, body composition, self-assessed and performance-based fall risk assessments, and physical activity patterns. Using a parameterized joint probability density, MUGMs specify the higher-order dependence structure and reveals the underlying graphical structure of heterogeneous variables. The MUGM consisting of mixed types of variables (continuous and categorical) has versatile applications that provide innovative and practical insights, as it is equipped to transcend the limitations of traditional correlation analysis and uncover sophisticated interactions within a high-dimensional data set. Our study included 120 elders from central Florida whose 37 fall risk factors were analyzed using an MUGM. Among the identified features, 34 exhibited pairwise relationships, while COVID-19-related factors and housing composition remained conditionally independent from all others. The results from our study serve as a foundational exploration, and future research investigating the longitudinal aspects of these features plays a pivotal role in enhancing our knowledge of the dynamics contributing to fall prevention in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: In Alzheimer's disease (AD) research, subjective reports of cognitive and functional decline from participant–study partner dyads is an efficient method of assessing cognitive impairment and clinical progression. METHODS: Demographics and subjective cognitive/functional decline (Everyday Cognition Scale [ECog]) scores from dyads enrolled in the Brain Health Registry (BHR) Study Partner Portal were analyzed. Associations between dyad characteristics and both ECog scores and study engagement were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 10,494 BHR participants (mean age = 66.9 ± 12.16 standard deviations, 67.4% female) have enrolled study partners (mean age = 64.3 ± 14.3 standard deviations, 49.3% female), including 8987 dyads with a participant 55 years of age or older. Older and more educated study partners were more likely to complete tasks and return for follow‐up. Twenty‐five percent to 27% of older adult participants had self and study partner‐report ECog scores indicating a possible cognitive impairment. DISCUSSION: The BHR Study Partner Portal is a unique digital tool for capturing dyadic data, with high impact applications in the clinical neuroscience and AD fields. Highlights: The Brain Health Registry (BHR) Study Partner Portal is a novel, digital platform of >10,000 dyads.Collection of dyadic online subjective cognitive and functional data is feasible.The portal has good usability as evidenced by positive study partner feedback.The portal is a potential scalable strategy for cognitive impairment screening in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionTo address the need for remote assessments of cognitive decline and dementia, we developed and administered electronic versions of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR®) and the Financial Capacity Instrument-Short Form (FCI-SF) (F-CAP®), called the eCDR and eFCI, respectively.MethodsThe CDR and FCI-SF were adapted for remote, unsupervised, online use based on item response analysis of the standard instruments. Participants completed the eCDR and eFCI first in clinic, and then at home within 2 weeks.ResultsOf the 243 enrolled participants, 179 (73%) cognitively unimpaired (CU), 50 (21%) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, and 14 (6%) with an unknown diagnosis, 84% and 85% of them successfully completed the eCDR and eFCI, respectively, at home.DiscussionThese results show initial feasibility in developing and administering online instruments to remotely assess and monitor cognitive decline along the CU to MCI/very mild dementia continuum. Validation is an important next step.

Abstract INTRODUCTION This study aimed to understand whether older adults’ longitudinal completion of assessments in an online Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD)–related registry is influenced by self‐reported medical conditions. METHODS Brain Health Registry (BHR) is an online cognitive aging and ADRD‐related research registry that includes longitudinal health and cognitive assessments. Using logistic regressions, we examined associations between longitudinal registry completion outcomes and self‐reported (1) number of medical conditions and (2) eight defined medical condition groups (cardiovascular, metabolic, immune system, ADRD, current psychiatric, substance use/abuse, acquired, other specified conditions) in adults aged 55+ (N = 23,888). Longitudinal registry completion outcomes were assessed by the completion of the BHR initial questionnaire (first questionnaire participants see at each visit) at least twice and completion of a cognitive assessment (Cogstate Brief Battery) at least twice. Models included ethnocultural identity, education, age, and subjective memory concern as covariates. RESULTS We found that the likelihood of longitudinally completing the initial questionnaire was negatively associated with reporting a diagnosis of ADRD and current psychiatric conditions but was positively associated with reporting substance use/abuse and acquired medical conditions. The likelihood of longitudinally completing the cognitive assessment task was negatively associated with number of reported medical conditions, as well as with reporting cardiovascular conditions, ADRD, and current psychiatric conditions. Previously identified associations between ethnocultural identity and longitudinal assessment completion in BHR remained after accounting for the presence of medical conditions. DISCUSSION This post hoc analysis provides novel, initial evidence that older adults’ completion of longitudinal assessments in an online registry is associated with the number and types of participant‐reported medical conditions. Our findings can inform future efforts to make online studies with longitudinal health and cognitive assessments more usable for older adults with medical conditions. The results need to be interpreted with caution due to selection biases, and the under‐inclusion of minoritized communities.

Fellows and junior faculty conducting aging research have encountered substantial new challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. They report that they have been uncertain how and whether to modify existing research studies, have faced difficulties with job searches, and have struggled to balance competing pressures including greater clinical obligations and increased responsibilities at home. Many have also wondered if they should shift gears and make COVID-19 the focus of their research. We asked a group of accomplished scientists and mentors to grapple with these concerns and to share their thoughts with readers of this journal.

IntroductionRemote data collection, including the establishment of online registries, is a novel approach to efficiently identify risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in older adults, with growing evidence for feasibility and validity. Addition of genetic data to online registries has the potential to facilitate identification of older adults at risk and to advance the understanding of genetic contributions to AD.Methods573 older adult participants with longitudinal online Brain Health Registry (BHR) data underwent apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping using remotely collected saliva samples and a novel, automated Biofluid Collection Management Portal. We evaluated acceptability of genetic sample collection and estimated associations between (1) sociodemographic variables and willingness to participate in genetics research and (2) APOE results and online cognitive and functional assessments. We also assessed acceptance of hypothetical genetics research participation by surveying a larger sample of 25,888 BHR participants.Results51% of invited participants enrolled in the BHR genetics study, BHR-GenePool Study (BHR-GPS); 27% of participants had at least one APOE ε4 allele. Older participants and those with higher educational attainment were more likely to participate. In the remotely administered Cogstate Brief Battery, APOE ε4/ε4 homozygotes (HM) had worse online learning scores, and greater decline in processing speed and attention, compared to ε3/ε4 heterozygotes (HT) and ε4 non-carriers (NC).DiscussionAPOE genotyping of more than 500 older adults enrolled in BHR supports the feasibility and validity of a novel, remote biofluids collection approach from a large cohort of older adults, with data linkage to longitudinal online cognitive data. This approach can be expanded for efficient collection of genetic data and other information from biofluids in the future.

With global increases in the population of older adults, there is a critical need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address the complexities of aging. Interdisciplinary research is well suited to facilitate trainee development; this venue provides opportunities for engagement in collaborative projects and networks, positioning trainees to become effective interdisciplinary researchers. This project examined the experiences of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows participating in an interdisciplinary trainee network for research on aging. The methods were informed by principles of reflexivity whereby participants reflected on their experiences of engaging in the network. Key findings included: the contribution of institutions and structures, transcendence of boundaries, and development at the level of the individual and community. Findings highlight the value of investing in trainee development in interdisciplinary collaboration, within and beyond aging research, and can inform the development of interdisciplinary trainee initiatives in other areas of research, policy, and practice.

IntroductionThis study aimed to identify the relationship of sociodemographic variables with older adults participation in an online registry for recruitment and longitudinal assessment in cognitive aging.MethodsUsing Brain Health Registry (BHR) data, associations between sociodemographic variables (sex, race, ethnicity, education) and registry participation outcomes (task completion, willingness to participate in future studies, referral/enrollment in other studies) were examined in adults aged 55+ (N = 35,919) using logistic regression. All models included sex, race, ethnicity, education, age, and subjective memory concern.ResultsNon-white race, being Latino, and lower educational attainment were associated with decreased task completion and enrollment in additional studies. Results for sex were mixed.DiscussionThe findings provide novel information about engagement in online aging-related registries, and highlight a need to develop improved engagement strategies targeting underrepresented sociodemographic groups. Increasing registry diversity will allow researchers to refer more representative populations to Alzheimer's and related dementias prevention and treatment trials.

Up until now, head-up displays (HUDs) have been installed in front of the driver's seat to provide drivers with auxiliary information. It may be used in various surroundings, ranging from very dark to very bright environments, such as daylight. A suitable text-background lightness combination can improve the driver's visual clarity and efficiency when identifying displayed information to raise driving safety. Although many kinds of HUDs are designed to improve visual clarity by adjusting brightness, few studies have investigated the influence of the text-background lightness combination of a HUD on visibility, especially as the lighting level of the driving condition changes dramatically. In the study, 60 observers, comprising 20 young, 20 middle-aged, and 20 older participants, evaluated the visual clarity of 20 text-background lightness combinations on a HUD using paired comparison methods under dark and daylight surroundings (i.e., 300, 1500, and 9000 lx conditions). As a result, the combination of white text on a black background and black text on a white background presented the most significant preference and the best visual clarity under dark and daylight surroundings, respectively, improving visual safety when driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To interpret the antecedents, attributes and consequences associated with the concept of old age by means of Walker & Avant's concept analysis method incorporating the integrative literature review. Method: study carried out using Walker and Avan's concept analysis. Search strategy in databases: ProQuest, Redalyc, SAGE, Science Direct, Scopus, Medline, Lilacs, Springer, Oxford and Semantic Scholar and keywords: Investigation of aging AND/OR elder AND concept and in Spanish: vejez. Results: the approach to the concept of old age should be integrated from the psychological, chronological, biological and social dimensions, since it generates positive and negative changes to assume the stage. Conclusions: Recognizing that old age does not imply only the time lived in years, the characteristics framed in the psychological dimensions imply the perception of old age, biological the natural process of the human being, social its participation in society, provides an integral vision of the concept for interventions according to individual needs at this stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describe health concerns of Black Americans as they age and what influences their participation in aging and clinical research. Fifty participants attended focus groups and completed questionnaires to identify barriers to research participation and attitudes toward dementia screening. Bivariate correlations explored associations between barriers to research participation and attitudes toward dementia screening. Cancer, hereditary conditions, vascular conditions, memory disorders, and psychological disorders were the greatest health concerns. Time demands, mistrust, lack of knowledge about potential research, and stigma were identified as barriers for research participation. Incentives, better understanding of how proposed research will benefit the community, lifestyle modification studies, active presence of principal researchers/clinicians, and community investment were identified as factors to improve participation. Questionnaires revealed mistrust and religious beliefs to be among the primary barriers. Attitudes toward dementia screening reflected perceived stigma, suffering, and subsequent loss of independence. Higher barriers to participation were associated with perceived stigma and loss of independence related to dementia screening. Successfully recruiting Black Americans for aging and clinical research remains a challenge. This study identifies barriers to participation and offers suggestions for planning and recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous country, sees a significant increase in its aging population each year. This demographic shift is reflected in the country’s public higher-education sector, where the number of older academics has been growing substantially in recent years. However, older people’s social participation is often limited due to certain forms of withdrawal, such as shyness, avoidance, and unsociability. This research report aims to explore the impact that these social-withdrawal characteristics among older people may have on data collection and policy-formulation processes in public universities in Indonesia. To gather data for this study, an online questionnaire was employed. The results of this study suggest that older people’s social-withdrawal characteristics can have two effects. First, older individuals are often reluctant to participate in research, particularly as online questionnaire respondents, which can result in a lower response rate. Second, our study found that most older academic staff were unwilling to request or demand specific services or facilities from university administration, making decision-makers unaware of the needs of their older staff and aging issues in general. As a consequence, university administration may not consider instituting an aging policy at their institution, as they believe that older workers do not require special attention. This lack of awareness can have serious implications for the well-being of older academic staff and the overall effectiveness of university policies.

Indonesia, the world's fourth-most populous country, sees a significant increase in its aging population each year. This demographic shift is reflected in the country's public higher-education sector, where the number of older academics has been growing substantially in recent years. However, older people's social participation is often limited due to certain forms of withdrawal, such as shyness, avoidance, and unsociability. This research report aims to explore the impact that these social-withdrawal characteristics among older people may have on data collection and policy-formulation processes in public universities in Indonesia. To gather data for this study, an online questionnaire was employed. The results of this study suggest that older people's social-withdrawal characteristics can have two effects. First, older individuals are often reluctant to participate in research, particularly as online questionnaire respondents, which can result in a lower response rate. Second, our study found that most older academic staff were unwilling to request or demand specific services or facilities from university administration, making decision-makers unaware of the needs of their older staff and aging issues in general. As a consequence, university administration may not consider instituting an aging policy at their institution, as they believe that older workers do not require special attention. This lack of awareness can have serious implications for the well-being of older academic staff and the overall effectiveness of university policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid advances in aging research and clinical translation come with numerous ethical and societal issues that the current regulatory framework may not be sufficient to address. To fill this gap, we propose a responsible and comprehensive governance framework to cope with these issues while maximizing the benefits of aging research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gerontology is viewed by many as a multidisciplinary field of inquiry, but which disciplines have had the greatest impact on research in the field? Combining data from a composite score incorporating multiple citation indicators with information on the highest degree, we examine the disciplinary origins of the 300 top-ranked scholars in gerontology. Despite efforts for gerontology to be distinct from geriatrics, more than 30 percent of the most influential scholars in gerontology during the past 6 decades hold a degree in medicine. Other fields of the leading contributors to gerontology include psychology, sociology, biology, biochemistry, and genetics. Although the disciplinary origins of gerontology will likely shift in the coming decades, we conclude that biomedical sciences are likely to remain core to the development of gerontology. To build on the scientific contributions of leading scholars in gerontology, future research should reflect conceptual precision and scientific innovation while prioritizing methodological rigor and transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five years ago, the National Institute of Health (NIH) introduced a mandate to revolutionize the way sex as a biological variable (SABV) is considered in NIH-funded preclinical research. Given the known effects of sex on aging physiology, pathology, treatment response, and the effectiveness of interventions it is particularly important that SABV be considered in basic biology of aging research. Five years after this mandate, a significant amount of published work funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is still not including mice of both sexes and/or not considering sex differences or comparisons in preclinical studies. Here we review a cross-section of recently published NIA-funded research to determine adherence to this mandate. We discuss the state of the preclinical aging field in terms of SABV and suggest strategies for improving adherence to the NIH mandate. It is imperative that we consider SABV and include males and females in all aspects of aging biology research to improve health outcomes for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older Americans, a growing segment of the population, have an increasing need for surgical services, and they experience a disproportionate burden of postoperative complications compared to their younger counterparts. A preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment (pCGA) is recommended to reduce risk and improve surgical care delivery for this population, which has been identified as vulnerable. The pCGA optimizes multiple chronic conditions and factors commonly overlooked in routine preoperative planning, including physical function, polypharmacy, nutrition, cognition, mental health, and social and environmental support. The pCGA has been shown to decrease postoperative morbidity, mortality, and length of stay in a variety of surgical specialties. Although national guidelines recommend the use of the pCGA, a paucity of strategic guidance for implementation limits its uptake to a few academic medical centers. By applying implementation science and human factors engineering methods, this study will provide the necessary evidence to optimize the implementation of the pCGA in a variety of health care settings., Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe the study protocol to design an adaptable, user-centered pCGA implementation package for use among older adults before major abdominal surgery., Methods: This protocol uses systems engineering methods to develop, tailor, and pilot-test a user-centered pCGA implementation package, which can be adapted to community-based hospitals in preparation for a multisite implementation trial. The protocol is based upon the National Institutes of Health Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development and aligns with the goal to develop behavioral interventions with an eye to real-world implementation. In phase 1, we will use observation and interviews to map the pCGA process and identify system-based barriers and facilitators to its use among older adults undergoing major abdominal surgery. In phase 2, we will apply user-centered design methods, engaging health care providers, patients, and caregivers to co-design a pCGA implementation package. This package will be applicable to a diverse population of older patients undergoing major abdominal surgery at a large academic hospital and an affiliate community site. In phase 3, we will pilot-test and refine the pCGA implementation package in preparation for a future randomized controlled implementation-effectiveness trial. We anticipate that this study will take approximately 60 months (April 2023-March 2028)., Results: This study protocol will generate (1) a detailed process map of the pCGA; (2) an adaptable, user-centered pCGA implementation package ready for feasibility testing in a pilot trial; and (3) preliminary pilot data on the implementation and effectiveness of the package. We anticipate that these data will serve as the basis for future multisite hybrid implementation-effectiveness clinical trials of the pCGA in older adults undergoing major abdominal surgery., Conclusions: The expected results of this study will contribute to improving perioperative care processes for older adults before major abdominal surgery., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/59428., (©Julia R Berian, Margaret L Schwarze, Nicole E Werner, Jane E Mahoney, Manish N Shah. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 09.09.2024.)

An academic career in aging research is filled with the incredible highs of important discoveries that improve the lives of older adults and repeated lows when papers and grants are rejected or studies are negative. To normalize the experience of setbacks and failures in aging research, we invited three senior investigators to share their journeys of persistence and resilience as they have navigated their research careers. This career development symposium was presented at the 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society, which was held virtually. We aimed to connect researchers in aging, especially trainees and junior investigators, through personal stories of persistence and shared strategies to build resilience and respond to setbacks with a growth mindset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Differences between men and women are common in published research on aging and Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). What do these differences mean? To answer this, rigorous measurement is needed. We investigated current methods for measuring sex/gender in aging and AD/ADRD cohort studies. Methods An online survey was sent to National Institute on Aging-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (n = 38) and investigator-initiated cohort studies (n = 38) to assess practices around enrollment of men and women and measurement of sex and gender. Results The response rate was 65.8% (n = 50). All enrolled men and all but two investigator-initiated studies enrolled women. Most cohorts (43/50) had no documented definitions for categories of "men" or "women." Over 85% of cohorts relied solely on self-report questions to capture sex/gender data (n = 43/50). Issues with administration were also identified (n = 7). Discussion Our findings identify gaps in current approaches used to measure sex and gender in aging and AD/ADRD research. We discuss opportunities to bridge these gaps and advance measurement of sex and gender in aging and AD/ADRD research. Changes are needed to ensure inclusion and representation of sociocultural diversity in research samples, and consistency in data collection in aging and AD/ADRD research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companion animals have recently been proposed as ideal translational models of human aging due to their shared susceptibility for certain diseases, similar environments, and sophisticated veterinary medicine diagnostics, all of which are not possible in rodent laboratory models. Here, we introduce and propose the study of companion animals in China as a largely untapped resource in academic and veterinary aging research. Pet ownership rates along with economic gains in the pet industry have skyrocketed over the last decade in China. Yet, the majority of research institutions still focus on agricultural animal research, not companion animals. In this perspective, we compare available pet ownership rates between the USA, the European Union, and China before focusing on the potential of companion animal aging research in China. In addition, we highlight some ethical considerations that must be addressed before large-scale companion animal aging research can be completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]