175554 Views about aging well among a diverse group of older Americans: Implications for promoting cognitive health

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 8:40 AM

Sarah B. Laditka, PhD , Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Health Services Policy and Management, Columbia, SC
Sara J. Corwin, MPH, PhD , Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
James N. Laditka, DA, PhD, MPA , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Rui Liu, MPA , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Winston Tseng, PhD , Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Bei Wu, PhD , West Virginia University, Center on Aging, Morgantown, WV
Renee L. Beard, PhD , Institute for Health Research and Policy, M/C 275, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Joseph R. Sharkey, PhD MPH RD , Program for Research in Nutrition and Health Disparities, School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Susan L. Ivey, MD, MHSA , Health Research for Action, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
  
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY. Scientific evidence suggests that physical activity, good nutrition, and social involvement may help to maintain brain health. The objectives of this study are to: (1) examine older individuals' attitudes about aging well in the context of brain health; and (2) explore perceptions about aging well in a variety of race/ethnic groups. DESIGN AND METHODS. Fifty focus groups with 436 participants were conducted in nine states. Groups represented: African American, American Indian, Chinese American, Hispanic/Latino, non-Hispanic white, and Vietnamese American adults ages 50 and older. Core questions from a standard facilitator's guide were used in all locations. In discussions that centered on brain health, participants were asked to describe someone they know who is aging well. Participants also completed a 9-item survey. Grounded theory generated major themes in the data. RESULTS. Mean age was 68.2; most participants (85%) were women; 57% had high school education or less. Participants thought that components of aging well included social activity, a strong spiritual life, not taking medications, and traveling. Among subgroups, African Americans said aging well meant being cognitively intact, free of serious mobility impairment or other health problems, and independent. Whites described aging well in terms of living a long time, staying physically active, maintaining a positive outlook, and having good genes. IMPLICATIONS. Public health messages should address the fact that African Americans did not associate physical activity with aging well, and that most participants did not associate nutrition with healthy aging.

Learning Objectives:
1. Articulate various ways that individuals in a variety of demographic groups view aging well in the context of cognitive health. 2. Assess the degree to which various population groups recognize associations between health behaviors and cognitive health. 3. Discuss content that should be included in useful public health messages intended to improve behaviors associated with cognitive health.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an Associate Professor, Adjunct, in the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. I study immigrant health status, particularly for Asian American groups, health care access, and ethnic and cultural differences in health status. I also conduct translational research employing community participatory methods and mixed methods designs to develop and evaluate interventions.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Promoting Cognitive Health: A Formative Research Collaboration of the Healthy Aging Research Network
See more of: Gerontological Health