EPID677: Epidemiology of Aging Fall 2015 (2 credits) Day: Location:

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1 EPID677: Epidemiology of Aging Fall 2015 (2 credits) Day: Location: INSTRUCTOR: Carlos F. Mendes de Leon, PhD Office: SPH-1 # 2679 (cross-tower) Tel: cmendes@med.umich.edu Office Hours: by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will review and discuss our understanding of health changes in late life, covering a broad range of topics, including social and biological models of aging; disability, cognitive decline and dementia; quality of life; and health care issues. The course will be offered seminarstyle, with each class consisting of lecture presentation and class-discussion of selected readings from the gerontological literature. COURSE GOALS/OBJECTIVES: The goal of this course is to familiarize the student the major medical and public health challenges associated with the aging of the population. A second goal is to expose the student to a broad range of theoretical and empirical literatures on aging research, and to master the ability to report on and critique a summary of a relevant age-associated health topic in an oral presentation and written account. COURSE COMPETENCIES: After completing this class, students are expected to be able to attain the following Epidemiology Department PhD competencies: Critically evaluate and synthesize the scientific literature and develop new hypotheses to address gaps in our knowledge Demonstrate mastery in a substantive area of population health, and in this area integrate relevant biological, behavioral, and social mechanisms that operate at multiple levels of causation Demonstrate excellent skills in the writing of scientific papers and grant applications PREREQUISITE (Advisory): Basic epidemiology research methods (EPID 600 or an equivalent) and basic biostatistical methods (BIOSTAT 523 or its equivalent) COURSE MATERIALS: Suggested textbook: Public Health and Aging. Maximizing Function and Well-Being (2 nd Edition). Steven M. Albert, Vicky A. Freedman (eds). Springer Publishing Company, New York, NY, Other course materials will be made available via CANVAS. 1

2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING: Each student is expected to attend class and come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings. For 4 of the 12 weekly topics, students will be expected to write a one-page summary (3-4 paragraphs, single-spaced), based on the required readings, and answering the following questions: 1) Provide a succinct summary of the reading(s) 2) Provide a short critique, in terms of strengths and weaknesses, and potential intervention or policy relevance 3) How this research may improve quality of life for future generations of older adults These assignments are due at the beginning of the day (9 AM) of the relevant class. Students can select their own 4 topics for this assignment. Course grades will be based on class assignments (10% for each assignment, 40% total); final paper and presentation (40%); and attendance and in-class participation (20%). CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS/ETIQUETTE: No laptops or smart phones will be normally allowed in class without the instructors permission. University policy specifies that students are responsible for all official correspondences sent to their standard University address. Students should check this account frequently. Group work and didactic discussions are a key element of this class. Students will be expected to engage and participate fully. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: The faculty and staff of the School of Public Health believe that the conduct of a student registered or taking courses in the School should be consistent with that of a professional person. Courtesy, honesty, and respect should be shown by students toward faculty members, guest lecturers, administrative support staff, community partners, and fellow students. Similarly, students should expect faculty to treat them fairly, showing respect for their ideas and opinions and striving to help them achieve maximum benefits from their experience in the School. Student academic misconduct refers to behavior that may include plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, falsification of records or official documents, intentional misuse of equipment or materials (including library materials), and aiding and abetting the perpetration of such acts. Please visit for the full SPH Code of Academic Integrity and further definition of these terms. STUDENT WELL-BEING: SPH faculty and staff believe it is important to support the physical and emotional well-being of our students. If you have a physical or mental health issue that is affecting your performance or participation in any course, and/or if you need help connecting with University services, please contact the instructor or the Office of Academic Affairs. Please visit for more information. 2

3 STUDENT ACCOMMODATIONS: Students should speak with their instructors before or during the first week of classes regarding any special needs. Students can also visit the Office of Academic Affairs for assistance in coordinating communications around accommodations. Students seeking academic accommodations should register with Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). SSD arranges reasonable and appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities. Please visit for more information on student accommodations. Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or other assignments as a consequence of their religious observance shall be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent. Please visit for the complete University policy. 3

4 Course schedule Week 1 (date): Course overview, Introduction Key Concepts and Outcomes Public Health and Aging, Chapter 1: Introducing Public Health and Aging Week 2 (date): Demography of Aging Secular Trends in Life Expectancy Administration on Aging, A Profile of Older Americans: Christensen K, Doblhammer G, Rau R, Vaupel JW. Ageing populations: the challenges ahead. Lancet 2009;374(9696): Week 3 (date): Cognitive Aging, Cognitive Reserve Blazer DG, Yaffe K, Karlawish J. Cognitive Aging. A Report From the Institute of Medicine. JAMA 2015; 313: Kaffashian S, Dugravot A, Elbaz A, Shipley MJ, Sabia S, Kivimaki M, et al. Predicting cognitive decline: a dementia risk score vs. the Framingham vascular risk scores. Neurology 2013;80(14): Kaup AR, Nettiksimmons J, Harris TB, et al. Cognitive resilience to apolipoprotein e ε4: Contributing factors in black and white older adults. JAMA Neurology 2015;72(3): Week 4 (date): Dementia and Alzheimer s Disease Public Health and Aging, Chapter 6: Cognitive Function: Dementia Hurd MD, Martorell P, Delavande A, Mullen KJ, Langa KM. Monetary costs of dementia in the United States. N Engl J Med 2013;368(14): Week 5 (date): Disability and Participation Public Health and Aging, Chapter 5: Disability and Functioning Freedman VA, Spillman BC, Andreski PM, Cornman JC, Crimmins EM, Kramarow E, et al. Trends in late-life activity limitations in the United States: an update from five national surveys. Demography 2013;50(2): Freedman VA, Kasper JD, Cornman JC, Agree EM, Bandeen-Roche K, Mor V, et al. Validation of new measures of disability and functioning in the National Health and Aging Trends Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2011;66(9): Week 6 (date): Geriatric Syndromes and Co-morbidity Public Health and Aging, Chapter 4: Chronic Disease in Older Adults Kane RL, Shamliyan T, Talley K, Pacala J. The Association Between Geriatric Syndromes and Survival. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2012;60(5): Huisingh-Scheetz M, Kocherginsky M, Schumm PL, Engelman M, McClintock MK, Dale W, et al. Geriatric Syndromes and Functional Status in NSHAP: Rationale, Measurement, and 4

5 Preliminary Findings. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 2014;69(Suppl 2):S177-S190. Week 7 (date): Presentation/Discussion of term paper drafts no readings Week 8 (date): Health Disparities in Aging Barnes LL, Wilson RS, Hebert LE, Scherr PA, Evans DA, Mendes de Leon CF. Racial differences in the association of education with physical and cognitive function in older blacks and whites. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 2011;66(3): Haas SA, Krueger PM, Rohlfsen L. Race/ethnic and nativity disparities in later life physical performance: the role of health and socioeconomic status over the life course. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 2012;67(2): Taylor MG. Capturing transitions and trajectories: the role of socioeconomic status in later life disability. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 2010;65(6): Week 9 (date): Lifecourse Perspectives on Aging Montez JK, Hayward MD. Cumulative Childhood Adversity, Educational Attainment, and Active Life Expectancy Among U.S. Adults. Demography 2013:1-23. Hurst L, Stafford M, Cooper R, Hardy R, Richards M, Kuh D. Lifetime socioeconomic inequalities in physical and cognitive aging. Am J Public Health 2013;103(9): Ritchie K, Jaussent I, Stewart R, Dupuy AM, Courtet P, Malafosse A, et al. Adverse childhood environment and late-life cognitive functioning. International journal of geriatric psychiatry 2011;26(5): Johnson RC, Schoeni RF. Early-life origins of adult disease: national longitudinal populationbased study of the United States. American journal of public health 2011;101(12): Week 10 (date): Psychosocial Determinants of Aging Lee BK, Glass TA, James BD, Bandeen-Roche K, Schwartz BS. Neighborhood Psychosocial Environment, Apolipoprotein E Genotype, and Cognitive Function in Older Adults. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011;68(3): Schootman M, Andresen EM, Wolinsky FD, Malmstrom TK, Miller JP, Miller DK. Neighborhood conditions and risk of incident lower-body functional limitations among middle-aged African Americans. Am J Epidemiol 2006;163(5): Breeze E, Jones DA, Wilkinson P, Bulpitt CJ, Grundy C, Latif AM, et al. Area deprivation, social class, and quality of life among people aged 75 years and over in Britain. Int J Epidemiol 2005;34(2): Mendes de Leon CF, Rajan KB. Psychosocial influences in onset and progression of late life disability. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2014;69(2): Week 11 (date): Aging, Public Health, and Long Term Care 5

6 Public Health and Aging, Chapter 9: Aging, Public Health, and Long-Term Care Week 12 (date): End-of-Life Issues Public Health and Aging, Chapter 10: Mortality and End-of-Life Care Week 13 (date): Successful Aging A Critique Special Issue: Successful Aging. The Gerontologist, February 2015; 15(1). Three papers from this Special Issue will be selected for in-class discussion. Week 14 (date): Presentations Term Papers : no readings 6