Congratulations on completing the academic year!
In this issue, find out whether the reporting of dementia diagnoses to the DMV can have unintended consequences, discover why adolescents overindulging on junk food can cause long-term memory issues and meet a few outstanding members of USC Dornsife’s Class of 2024.
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1 Big Thing: Should Doctors Report Dementia to DMV? |
Some states require that physicians report a diagnosis of dementia to the DMV. A study from the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research suggests these mandates may backfire.
Why it matters: Policymakers face increasing safety concerns about elderly drivers, who are at greater risk of dementia, but no studies have examined the effects of state policies requiring clinicians to report dementia cases to the DMV — until now.
By the numbers: The number of elderly U.S. drivers is growing.
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- Since 2012, the number of U.S. drivers age 65 and older has increased 22%.
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About 7 million in this age group suffer from dementia.
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At issue: Are physicians who are mandated to report dementia diagnoses less likely to establish such a diagnosis?
Key finding: Physicians in states with mandatory reporting laws are 50% more likely to underdiagnose dementia, compared to those in states without such mandates.
What else? Knowing that their physicians must report a dementia diagnosis, patients might be more inclined to refuse further assessments.
Impact: If patients withhold symptoms, or physicians are reluctant to examine dementia symptoms, health outcomes could decline while costs increase.
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“In light of our findings, lawmakers need to weigh the potential downside of mandating that physicians report dementia diagnoses to the DMV,” said study co-author Soeren Mattke, director of CESR’s Brain Health Observatory.
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Does Junk Food Lead to Memory Issues? |
New research from scholars in USC Dornsife’s department of biological sciences suggest that a high-fat, sugary diet during adolescence could lead to long-lasting memory impairments.
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- The effect is linked to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
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Why it matters: The study found that memory impairments induced by poor diet during adolescence persist into adulthood, even after switching to a healthier diet.
How it works: Diets high in sugars and fats disrupt the levels of acetylcholine in the brain.
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- Acetylcholine is essential for learning, attention and forming memories of events.
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Developing brains are particularly vulnerable to changes in acetylcholine levels.
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Researchers tracked memory responses and acetylcholine levels in rats consuming a high-fat, sugary diet versus those on a healthier diet, using tasks designed to assess their recall of previously encountered objects.
In his words: “I don’t know how to say this without sounding like Cassandra and doom and gloom, but unfortunately, some things that may be more easily reversible during adulthood are less reversible when they are occurring during childhood,” says lead author Scott Kanoski, professor of biological sciences at USC Dornsife.
What to watch: Researchers discovered that drugs administered directly to the brain that induce the release of acetylcholine could reverse the memory impairments in rats, but more research is needed on this and to find other ways to reverse the memory problems.
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Renaissance Man Earns 4 Degrees |
Sibo “Carl” Zhou graduates from USC Dornsife with four bachelor’s degrees, a testament to his ambitious spirit and broad intellectual pursuits.
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- He also earned a prestigious USC Renaissance Scholar Prize.
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An international student from China, he pursued degrees in:
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- Applied mathematics because of his aptitude for math and the degree’s professional versatility.
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Religion due to his interest in exploring religions across eras and geographies.
- Global studies because the field’s qualitative research methods balance the quantitative principles of math.
- Economics and data science for the vital work of extracting insights from vast data sets.
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In his words: “I truly believe being well-rounded will help me adjust to whatever the future might hold,” says Zhou.
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Advocate for Housing Security |
Having been unhoused during high school, USC Dornsife political science major Sophia Perez has dedicated herself to advocating for housing security.
When her father lost his job at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Perez’s family was forced to move into a single room at a relative’s house.
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Homelessness takes many forms, including ‘sheltered’ homelessness, where individuals live out of another person’s home without owning or renting their own space, she says.
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When Perez’s father died from cancer during her sophomore year, her passion for aiding the underserved increased.
In her words: “I did a lot of work in government services in L.A., and I really valued not only interacting with my community, but also giving back in a way that I really didn’t think I’d be able to while in college,” said Perez.
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Following His Dreams at 43 |
Single parent and U.S. Army vet Jaime Gomez, 43, left a successful, 16-year sales career to pursue his passion for history and teaching, earning his undergraduate degree with honors from USC Dornsife.
As a first-generation college student, Gomez never received college guidance from his family but ultimately achieved his lifelong dream of attending USC.
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- Though his immigrant parents emphasized education, Gomez felt his only option out of high school was to join the Army.
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After six years of service, he spent 16 years at Frito-Lay Inc.
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But he never forgot his passion for history, and in 2019, he quit his job to enroll in community college, then transferred to USC Dornsife in 2022, majoring in history.
In his words: “Don’t let fear dictate your decisions. I encourage everyone to follow their academic dreams. There’s nothing like the experience I had at USC,” said Gomez.
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Sign-up to receive NewsRound, a weekly listing of news stories featuring USC Dornsife scholars.
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| “TV can be powerful. ... Especially for older people who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, television remains ‘the main source of news and it’s so propagandistic now.’”
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“I grew up steeped in television and in movies, mostly out of Hollywood. And so, my imagination is also rather visual, and as much as I criticize Hollywood, I still also think that it produces great works of art.”
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“Being able to research and contextualize a person who has a longer view of family history and community history, and ultimately, American history, that’s what it’s about — this collaboration.”
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The WorkWell Center organizes a variety of events aimed at promoting your overall well- being. These events include informative webinars, support group sessions, and engaging games and challenges.
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