Research

The Center has two priority research areas: 1) age-related changes in everyday context, and 2) demographic change, late-life well-being, and public policy.

Age-Related Changes in Everyday Context

This theme encompasses a broad range of topics that connect physiological, psychosocial, cognitive, and sensory changes associated with aging. Research explores internal age-related changes that take place at the level of organs, muscles or bodily functions, and individual capacities and choices and their observable external behavioral manisfestations.

Demographic Change, Late-Life Well-Being, and Public Policy

This theme looks at how individual choices and behaviors in a wide range of economic and demographic domains are influenced by public policy interventions. Research also explores how individual choices and behaviors have implications for public health and the design and effectiveness of public policies.

Pilot Projects

2009-2011 Projects

The daily lives of older adults: Developing measures of daily cognitive function and behaviors for population-based surveys.

Janet Wilmoth, Sociology Department, Syracuse University; Aging Studies Institute, and Martin Sliwinski, Penn State University

Age-related declines in cognitive function have profound consequences on the daily behavior of older adults. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about this relationship because the available measures do not adequately capture daily life as it is experienced by the individual. For instance, while population based surveys capture substantial cognitive impairment, they fail to capture the subtle cognitive changes that occur with age or in response to daily stress. In addition, the relatively wide time frame of reference for these measures relies heavily on accurate recollection, which may be impaired in older adults and is susceptible to reporting bias. This project will develop valid measures of daily cognitive functioning and behaviors that can be used in population-based surveys to accurately measure the relationship between cognitive functioning and the daily behavior of older adults.

2011-2012 Projects

Facilitation of an in-home exercise intervention for Alzheimer's disease patients.

Stefan Keslacy, School of Education, Syracuse University and SUNY Upstate Medical University.

A Baby Boomer fueled surge in the incidence of Alzheimer's disease is inevitable. Alzheimer's disease and related dementias create hardships for patients and caregivers and tax our healthcare systems. While there is no cure, research has shown that exercise has beneficial effects on cognition and quality of life and is potentially a cost effective treatment option. Unfortunately, intervention strategies specific to individuals with Alzheimer's disease have yet to be defined or tested. This study will investigate whether an in-home, professionally assisted exercise intervention is a practical and effective therapeutic model for treating Alzheimer's disease. 

Benefits of Amplification for Early Age-Related Hearing Loss.

Karen A. Doherty, Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders, Syracuse University, and William J. Hoyer, The Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University.

Hearing impairment affects more than 28 million Americans, and is the third most prevalent chronic disease affecting seniors. Hearing loss begins in the third decade of life and increases significantly after 50 years of age. Because of its gradual onset, hearing loss in its early stages is difficult to perceive. Even when people are aware that their hearing has deteriorated they are often reluctant to seek help. Untreated hearing loss can have a negative impact on a person's quality of life and long-term hearing loss can lead to neurophysiological deterioration. Relatively little is known about the extent to which hearing aids can serve to minimize the sensory, cognitive, and social consequences of early age-related hearing loss and auditory deprivation. This project will assess if wearing hearing aids during the early stages of age-related hearing loss can improve speech recognition and recognition memory in middle aged and younger older adults.

Grandparents at Work: Impact on Physical, Emotional, and Financial Health

Madonna Harrington Meyer, Department of Sociology, Center for Policy Research, Syracuse University.

We tend to think of balancing work and family as something only relatively young families deal with, yet many middle-aged grandparents are employed and provide routine childcare for their non-custodial grandchildren. While there is a wealth of information on balancing work and family in the younger stages of life, we know very little about the demographics of older adults who provide non-custodial care or how it relates to their well-being. This project will analyze grandparent involvement in caring for grandchildren and in the impact of that care on their physical, mental, and financial health.

Entrepreneur Homeowners and Older Households: Small Business Financing Through Home Equity and Mortgage Debt.

Stuart S. Rosenthal, Department of Economics and the Center for Policy Research, Syracuse University.

The 2007 financial crisis has focused attention on the impact of shifts in mortgage lending policies and house price volatility on our economy. One area that has received scant attention is the extent to which small business owners rely on home equity and mortgage debt to finance self-employment and how pronounced this tendency is among older adults. This project will analyze three key issues: the prevalence of older homeowners switching into and out of self-employment in response to house price increases and declines; whether highly levered entrepreneur homeowners might be forced to default on their mortgages in the event of a housing market downturn; and the degree to which business cycle conditions affect homeowner entrepreneur outcomes.