Publications & Presentations

RCMAR Scientists' Achievements

A primary goal of our JHAD-RCMAR is to prepare the next generation of under-represented minority researchers in the conduct of Alzheimer-related research that is culturally relevant and has potential to bridge research from discovery to implementation in ADRD minority aging. It is expected that pilot studies funded by our Center will establish preliminary data and generate presentations and peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals that lead to substantive, long-term externally funded research grants.

The pilot studies are funded for one year. However, the Research Education Component of the JHAD-RCMAR has taken the approach of longitudinal mentoring of the RCMAR Scientists until they become highly productive and successful investigators. The criteria include:

• Achieving research and educational goals.

• Completing projects and producing products for both community and scientific audiences, including peer-reviewed manuscripts, newsletters, and posters.

• Displaying academic progress and productivity consistent with promotion to tenure rank.

• Developing the ability to write successful research grant applications.

• Evidence of growth as a scientific investigator.

Publications

2022:

•  Bruce MA, Beech BM, Kermah D, Bailey S, Phillips N, Jones HP, et al. (2022) Religious service attendance and mortality among older Black men. PLoS ONE 17(9): e0273806. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273806

• Amjad H, Samus QM, Huang J, Gundavarpu S, Bynum JPW, Wolff JL, Roth DL (2022). Acute care utilization risk among older adults living undiagnosed or unaware of dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc. 70(2):470-480. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17550. Epub 2021 Nov 13.

• Parker LJ, Fabius C, Rivers E, Taylor JL (2022).  Is Dementia-Specific Caregiving Compared With Non- Dementia Caregiving Associated With Physical Difficulty Among Caregivers for Community-Dwelling Adults? J Appl Gerontol. 1074-1080. doi: 10.1177/07334648211014352. Epub 2021 May 27.

• Nkimbeng M, Rosebush CE, Akosah KO, Yam H, Russell WN, Bustamante G, Albers EA, Shippee TP, Sasikumar AP, Gaugler JE (2022). The Immigrant Memory Collaborative: A Community-University Partnership to Assess African Immigrant Families' Experiences with Dementia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 9(7):4075. 

• Parker LJ, Fabius C, Rivers E, Taylor JL (2022). Is Dementia-Specific Caregiving Compared With Non- Dementia Caregiving Associated With Physical Difficulty Among Caregivers for Community-Dwelling Adults? J Appl Gerontol. 41(4):1074-1080.  PMID: 34041929; PMCID: PMC8664093.

• Reckrey JM, Watman D, Tsui EK, Franzosa E, Perez S, Fabius CD, Ornstein KA (2022). "I Am the Home Care Agency": The Dementia Family Caregiver Experience Managing Paid Care in the Home. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 19(3):1311. PMID: 35162335; PMCID: PMC8834786.

• Eneanya ND, Boulware LE, Tsai J, Bruce MA, Ford CL, Harris C, Morales LS, Ryan MJ, Reese PP, Thorpe RJ Jr, Morse M, Walker V, Arogundade FA, Lopes AA, Norris KC (2022). Health inequities and the inappropriate use of race in nephrology. Nat Rev Nephrol. (2):84-94. PMID: 34750551; PMCID: PMC8574929.

• Nguyen AW, Taylor HO, Lincoln KD, Qin W, Hamler T, Wang F, Mitchell UA (2022). Neighborhood Characteristics and Inflammation Among Older Black Americans: The Moderating Effects of Hopelessness and Pessimism. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci.77(2):315-322.  PMID: 33929517; PMCID: PMC8824607.

• Nkimbeng M, Turkson-Ocran RA, Thorpe RJ Jr, Szanton SL, Cudjoe J, Taylor JL, Commodore-Mensah Y (2022). Prevalence of functional limitations among foreign and US-born Black older adults: 2010-2016 National Health Interview Surveys. Ethn Health. 61-73. PMID: 31489830; PMCID: PMC7058511.

• Kim AS, Betz JF, Albert M, Deal JA, Faucette SP, Oh ES, Reed NS, Lin FR, Nieman CL (2022).  Accuracy of self- and proxy-rated hearing among older adults with and without cognitive impairment. J Am Geriatr Soc. 70(2):490-500. PMID: 34813080; PMCID: PMC8821325

2021:

• Rosebush CE, Stabler H, Nkimbeng M, Louwagie K, Fields NL, Jutkowitz E, Shippee TP, Gaugler JE (2021). The Porchlight Project: A Pilot Study to Adapt the Senior Companion Program to Enhance Memory Care Services and Supports. Gerontol Geriatr Med. 7:23337214211017651.  PMID: 34036120; PMCID: PMC8127785.

• Dobbs D, Sadeq NA, Peterson L, Sardina A, Tan SC, Brown-Hughes T, Andel R, Gamaldo (2021). A Middle-aged and older Black adults' experiences completing a traditional paper-and-pencil cognitive battery and two contemporary computerized cognitive batteries.  Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. Jul;28(4):600-615

• Fabius CD, Parker LJ, Thorpe RJ (2021). The Influence of Race and Gender on Receiving Assistance With Daily Activities Among Older Americans. Innov Aging. 6(2):  PMID: 35233471; PMCID: PMC8874838.

• Chan T, Wanigatunga AA, Terracciano A, Carlson MC, Bandeen-Roche K, Costa PT, Simonsick EM, Schrack JA (2021). Traits and treadmills: Association between personality and perceived fatigability in well-functioning community-dwelling older adults. Psychol Aging. 36(6):710-717. PMID: 34516174; PMCID: PMC8442749.

2020:

• Willink, A., Davis, K., Johnston, D.M., Black, B., Reuland, M., Stockwell, I., Amjad, H., Lyketsos, C.G., & Samus, Q.M. (2020). Cost-effective care coordination for people with dementia at home. Innovation in Aging, 4,(2), 1-9. PMCID: PMC6938464

• Schrack, J., Wanigatunga, A., Zipunnikov, V., Kuo, P., Simonsick, E., Ferrucci, L. (2020). Longitudinal Association Between Energy Regulation and Fatigability in Mid-to-Late Life. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A (Medical Sciences) PMID: 31942600

• Schrack, J., Wanigatunga, A., Juraschek, S. (2020) After the COVID-19 pandemic: The next wave of health challenges for older adults. The Journals of Gerontology Series A (Medical Sciences) PMCID: PMC7188185

• Dobbs, D., Sadeq, N. A., Peterson, L., Sardina, A., Tan, S. C., Brown-Hughes, T., Gamaldo, A. (2020). Middle-aged and older Black adults’ experiences completing a traditional paper-and-pencil cognitive battery and two contemporary computerized cognitive batteries. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 1-16. doi:10.1080/13825585.2020.1802403

2019:

• Amjad, H., Snyder, S., Wolff, J.L., Oh, E., & Samus, Q.M. (2019).  Before hospice:  Symptom burden, dementia, and social participation in the last year of life.  Journal of Palliative Medicine.  May 6 [Epub ahead of print].  doi: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0479

• Aufill, J., Amjad, H., Roter, D.L., & Wolff, J.L. (2019). Discussion of memory during primary care visits of older adults with cognitive impairment and accompanying family. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 34, 1605-1612. PMCID: PMC6954826.

• Black, B.S., Johnston, D., Leoutsakos, J., Reuland, M., Kelly, J., Amjad, H., Davis, K., Willink, A., Sloan, D., Lyketsos, C., & Samus, Q.M. (2019).  Unmet needs in community-living persons with dementia are common, often non-medical and related to patient and caregiver characteristics.  International Psychogeriatrics. February 4 [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1017/S1041610218002296 

• Burgdorf, J., Mulcahy, J., Amjad, H., Kasper, J.D., Covinsky, K., & Wolff, J.L. (2019). Family caregiver factors associated with emergency department utilization among community-living older adults with disabilities. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 10, 1-9. PMCID: PMC6764037.

• Li. G, Andrews, H., Sanford, C., Lang, B., Leu, C., Merle, D., Gordon, A., Mielenz, T., Strogatz, D., Eby, D., Betz, M., DiGuiseppi, C., Jones, V., Molnar, L., Hill, L., & The LongROAD Research Team (2019). Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in older drivers. BMC Geriatrics, 19, 1287-1288. PMCID: PMC6785868.

• Strogatz, D., Mielenz, T.J., Johnson, A.K., Baker, I.R., Robinson, M., Mebust, S.P., Andrews, H.F., Betz, M.E., Eby, D.W., Johnson, R.M., Jones, V.C., Leu, C.S., Molnar, L.J., Rebok, G.W., & Li, G. (2019).  Importance of driving and potential impact of driving cessation for rural and urban older adults.  Journal of Rural Health.  April 25 [Epub ahead of print].  doi: 10.1111/jrh.12369

Symposia/Presentations, by year

2021: 

• Brown-Hughes, Travonia. (2021, March). "The African American United Memory and Aging Project: Knowledge and Perceptions of Alzheimer’s Disease in a College-Educated Cohort of Middle-aged and Older African Americans."  Geriatric Medicine Grand Round Presentation

2020:

• Amjad, H. (2020, February). Hospitalization in persons with dementia receiving care coordination. Poster accepted for Presidential Poster Session at the meeting of the American Geriatrics Society (now cancelled).

• Nieman, C. (2020, September). Hearing & Cognition: What's the Connection? What Can We Do About It? Hearing Loss & Dementia: What's the connection? What can we do about it?" Panel Presentation AAOHNSF Annual Meeting (virtual)

• Neiman, C. (2020, November). “Advancing Alzheimer's Disease Care and Services Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities. Hearing Care Disparities in Dementia: Access & Usability in the Coming Era of OTC Hearing." Symposium Speaker. Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting. (virtual)

• Neiman, C. (2020, November). “Addressing Hearing Care Disparities for Individuals with Hearing Loss & Dementia.” Invited Speaker. Audiology & Public Health, Gerontology, and Aural Rehabilitation & Its Instrumentation. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

2019:

• Amjad, H., Mulcahy, J., Kasper, J.D., Burgdorf, J., Roth, D.L., Covinsky, K., & Wolff, J.L. (2019, November). Family caregiver factors and hospitalization in disabled older adults with and without dementia. Paper presented at the meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Austin, TX.

• Amjad, H., Roth, D.L., Huang, J., Wolff, J.L., & Samus, Q.M. (2019, November). Acute care utilization in older adults living undiagnosed or unaware of dementia. Paper presented at the meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Austin, TX.

• Brown-Hughes, T., Pettigrew, C., Rebok, G., & Thorpe, R. (2019, June). Redefining the use of digital communities in the research process: Alzheimer’s disease knowledge and recognition in an online educated cohort of midlife and older African Americans. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the RCMAR Directors, Los Angeles.

• Burgdorf, J., Mulcahy, J., Amjad, H., Kasper, J.D., Covinsky, K., & Wolff, J.L. (2019, November). Family caregiver factors and subsequent emergency department utilization among older adults with disability. Paper presented at the meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Austin, TX.

• Hughes, T., Pettigrew, C., Rebok, G., & Thorpe, R. (2019, June). Redefining the use of digital communities in the research process: Alzheimer’s disease knowledge and recognition in an online educated cohort of midlife and older African Americans. Poster presented at the RCMAR Annual Meeting. UCLA, Los Angeles, CA.

• Jones, V., Borkoski, C., Johnson, R.M., & Rebok, G. (2019, November).  Older minority and non-minority adults driver performance on cognitive-based tests and getting around town without driving.  In C.V. Hill (Chair), Cognitive impairment in communities of color:  Findings from NIA RCMAR Scientists. Symposium to be presented at the meeting of the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia.

• Jones, V., & Schieke, N. (2019, March). Workshop Discussion for Medically at Risk. Invited seminar presented at the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), Baltimore.  

• Jones, V., Johnson, R., Spira, A., Kaufmann, C., Pitts, S., & Rebok, G. (2019, January). Should we explore driving self-regulation behaviors among older adults as a situation-regulation or regulation-to-cessation pathway? Paper presented at the meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.  

2018:

• Jones, V., Roth, K., Johnson, R.M., Borkoski, C., Gielen, A., & Rebok, G. (2018, November).  Additional sources of transportation for older drivers increases their satisfaction for getting around town. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Public Health Association. San Diego.

Grants and Awards

• Amjad, H. (PI) (2019-2021). Health Services Use and Outcomes in Older Adults with Dementia Living Undiagnosed or Unaware of Dementia. (NIH R03 AG063237-01) $100,000 (This award was submitted under a special RFA, Small Research Grant Program for the Next Generation of Clinical Researchers in Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias Research).

• Amjad, H. (PI) (2019-2020). Improving dementia diagnosis and care in primary care. (JHU Clinician Scientist Award). ($40,000).

• Amjad, H. (PI). (2020-2025). Improving Post-Diagnosis Care for Dementia in Primary Care (K23 AG064036). ($855,685). Impact score: 14, award pending.

• Hughes, T. (PI) (2019). Hampton University School of Pharmacy & The Virginia Geriatric Education Center (VGEC) Second Annual Alzheimer’s Disease Conference, Virginia Center on Aging Geriatric Workforce Development HRSA Award. $6,000.

• Hughes, T. (Co-PI) (Submitted, May, 2020). Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) (U54). PI: Heyliger, S., Ricks-Santi, L. ($14 million).

• Jones, V. (Site PI) (2019-2022). Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) Part II. (AAA Foundation). $1,250,000.

• Jones, V. (Site PI)( Submitted, October, 2020). Precursors of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Older Drivers (NIA, multisite R01), PI: Li, G. ($553,000).