October 2024 Issue | Volume 18, Number 10

A publication of the Univ. of Utah Center on Aging
phone: 801.213.4156 | email: aging@utah.edu
Newsletter Archives

We welcome you to a new and improved Center on Aging newsletter which has been updated with a new format. We hope you will enjoy this version. Please send any comments or recommendations to enhance its content and appearance to Heather Podolan, Academic Program Manager for the Center on Aging. 

New Publication Alert - Clinics in Geriatric Medicine-Geriatric Hypertension.....High blood pressure (BP) is the leading contributor to preventable death worldwide. The increasing prevalence of elevated BP, the age-associated increase in BP, and the worldwide demographic increase in the aging population are converging to create a serious public health threat. There have been many important updates to the body of evidence available to inform clinicians and patients regarding hypertension in older adults since the last issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine devoted to Geriatric Hypertension was published in 2009.  University of Utah faculty, Drs. Eric Tuday (DOIM Division of Cardiovascular Medicine) and Mark Supiano (DOIM Geriatrics Division) co-edited the 2024 update, and each contributed one of its chapters.  

Sungjin Park, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurobiology at the University of Utah. His research focuses on understanding the structure and function of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Specifically, he investigates how the ECM is assembled outside of the producing cells and how it regulates neuronal functions. Dr. Park graduated from Seoul National University with a BS and MS in molecular biology. He obtained his PhD in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University. Following his postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins, he joined the Neurobiology and Anatomy Department at the University of Utah in 2015. Dr. Park was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to the U.S. in 2001. He enjoys camping, farming, and outdoor activities and has a small chicken farm in his backyard.

Dr. Park’s 2023 Center on Aging Pilot Grant Award is titled "Revealing the Structural Dynamics of the Extracellular Matrix in the Aged Brain." Aging is associated with cognitive decline, which results from structural and functional alterations of brain cells and their surrounding environment, yet understanding the underlying mechanisms remains limited. Recent studies suggest that the brain’s ECM plays a critical role in regulating neuronal plasticity and is implicated in age-related cognitive decline. Notably, loosening of the brain’s ECM has been shown to rejuvenate brain function and reverse age-related cognitive deficits. Using the longitudinal ECM monitoring tool and ECM birthdating assay developed by Dr. Park’s group, they will characterize the structural changes in ECM dynamics in aged brains using rodent models. Additionally, they will test whether these ECM changes can be reversed through exercise. This study aims to reveal structural changes in the neuronal niches during aging and will lay the foundation for understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline.

What is Age-Friendly Care? Check out this article in Pulse: Elevating Age-Friendly Health Care. Click here to read and view the article/video. 

Epic 4Ms Navigator release 
The Epic 4Ms Navigator was released in September as part of the latest Epic upgrade. Geriatrics Division faculty are encouraged to explore the 4Ms Navigator.  Any feedback on the 4Ms Navigator can be directed to Dr. Farrell and also to Andrea Harris.  An Epic tip sheet is available here:  Document Using The Age-Friendly 4Ms Activity.pdf (utah.edu)

CMS age-friendly quality measure
CMS recently announced in its final rule a new age-friendly quality measure that will take effect in 2025.  This measure includes both inpatient medical and surgical care settings (see CMS Passes New 2025 Age-Friendly Hospital Measure (johnahartford.org).  The University of Utah team participating in the IHI Age-Friendly System-Wide Spread Collaborative is working with health system leaders to prepare University of Utah Health to report on this new quality measure.

Family Caregiving Collaborative - Conversations with Caregiving Researchers

Catherine DesRoches, PhD

Harvard Medical School

"Engaging and Supporting Care Partners Through Health Information Technology"

October 30, 2024 

10-11am (MST)

Virtual

Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 921 6359 3660

Passcode: 54321

American Geriatrics Society 

May 8-10, 2025 

Chicago , IL

Call for Abstracts

The abstract submission deadline is December 2, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern time.

Please join the University of Utah, Division of Geriatrics and the Veteran Affairs Salt Lake City Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center for Geriatric Grand Rounds and Translational Grand Rounds on Tuesday mornings.

Digital Equity Grant

UCOA assisted in the completion and submission of a substantial grant with several partners as part of a competitive federal funding opportunity for state collaboratives to expand access to technology by providing devices and education on their use as well as navigation assistance to reach important services including telehealth. UCOA is an anchor partner in the design of the UDON (Utah Development Opportunity Network) and is the go to organization representing a priority target, older adults. We anticipate award announcements by mid-November. 

OAA Training - "Creating a Workforce that Values Aging”

Executive Director Ence participated in a training session with three other leaders from SL Co Aging, Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS/DHHS), and AARP. The training was for all the area agency teams across the state on annual Older Americans Act requirements with a focus in this session on workforce and economics of Utah’s older adults and how to address the impact of ageism in our society and businesses. 200+ attendees in person and streaming. 

UtahAging.org

New blogs posted and additional assets added to the lifelong learning section. Media asset additions to the linked YouTube channel on the recent fraud conference and UCOA quarterly meeting materials. The falls prevention resources were updated in harmony with falls prevention week recognized by proclamation from Gov. Cox.

Master Plan on Aging (MPA)

Representatives from Utah attending the national conference to ensure Utah’s family caregiver plan moves forward with state and national priorities that are to be reflected in the MPA. Executive Director Ence working with DAAS/DHHS leadership and Gov. Cox’ office as they shape a ten-year services plan for DAAS that will complement and sync within the MPA priorities. 

UCOA Business

The next quarterly meeting will be Thursday, November 7 at Noon via Zoom. New appointments will be announced from recent changes including the appointment as higher education representative, Tim Farrell, MD from the University of Utah Division of Geriatrics. Dr. Farrell's work on adult literacy and age friendly environments in health and education are embedded in UCOA’s MPA efforts. He replaces Dr. Mark Supiano who has been a champion and leader for UCOA since 2005. We appreciate his years of consistent support and counsel, and wish him the very best in his current career transition.

RFA-AG-25-014: Coordinating Center to Support Consortium for Neuroscience Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD) Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-AG-25-031: Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Researchers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) for Aging and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD) Research (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-AG-25-032: Consortium for Neuroscience AD/ADRD in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PAR-24-271: NIA Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Awards to Promote Diversity in Translational Research for AD/ADRD (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

As a mostly virtual Center, we depend on the accuracy and timeliness of our Web presence. Center members are urged to review and update their membership directory information. Please take the next few moments to review your information on the Center’s Web site. Send any updates or requests for changes and more importantly to be linked to the appropriate topic interest group(s) complete this survey and return to Heather at heather.podolan@hsc.utah.edu or aging.utah.edu.

For past issues, please visit our NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES PAGE.

The bristlecone pine tree (Pinus longaeva) - the earth’s oldest inhabitant with a life span of almost 5,000 years - is found only in Utah and five other western states. Its extraordinary longevity and ability to adapt and survive in extremely harsh environmental conditions above 10,000 feet embodies the investigative spirit and mission of the Utah Center on Aging.