Aging and Life Course (ALC) Lab

Dr. Kim is part of a team that has published, “Perceived age discrimination and cognitive function in older Korean adults: a cross-sectional study,” in Aging & Mental Health. This study examined the relationship between perceived age discrimination and cognitive function among older Koreans using a large national sample. Findings showed that 40.5% experienced age discrimination, which was significantly associated with poorer cognitive performance and higher odds of cognitive impairment. Even after adjusting for other factors, discrimination remained a significant predictor. The results highlight ageism as a modifiable psychosocial risk factor and emphasize the need for policies and interventions to protect cognitive health in aging populations.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2026.2639635

Dr. Montez is part of a team that has published, “US State Policy Contexts and Mental Health Among Working-Age Adults,” in The Milbank Quarterly. This study, led by Dr. Iliya Gutin, reveals that conservative state policy contexts are significant predictors of poorer mental health among working-age adults. Findings show that shifts toward conservatism correlate with increased mental distress and a higher probability of extreme distress, regardless of pandemic-specific policies. These negative impacts are most pronounced for individuals without a college degree, suggesting that state-level policy environments worsen educational health disparities.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0009.70077

Dr. Lee is part of a team that has published “Spousal Loss, Depressive Symptoms, and Religious Involvement: Immediate Impact and Trajectories in Late Life” in Research on Aging. Analyzing Health and Retirement Study data from 2006 to 2018, researchers found that religious involvement significantly buffers the immediate depressive symptoms following late-life spousal loss. While faith-based engagement provides a crucial initial emotional cushion, it does not impact long-term recovery trajectories or changes in mental health over time. Consequently, while religion mitigates the acute shock of bereavement, alternative coping resources are necessary to support sustained psychological well-being.

View Publication: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/01640275251350287

Dr. Kim and Dr. Teerawichitchainan are part of a team that published “Childlessness and health in middle age and older adulthood: Evidence from Singapore” in European Economic Review. This study investigates the causal impact of childlessness on the health of 1,500 Singaporeans aged 50 and older. By utilizing infertility and childless siblings as instrumental variables, the researchers address potential biases in previous data. Findings reveal that childlessness significantly increases the likelihood of poor self-reported health and mental distress. Furthermore, the analysis indicates that standard OLS models underestimate these negative effects.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2026.105279

Dr. Visaria and Dr. Malhotra, together with colleagues, contributed to a publication “Link between tooth loss and health expectancy: findings from a prospective Singaporean population-based cohort study of older adults” in Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. This study examined how the number of teeth affects health expectancy—years lived without limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) or physical function—among adults aged 60 years and older in Singapore. Older adults with more natural teeth generally experienced longer periods of independent living. Differences were greater among men and those with lower education. Results also suggested that removable dental prostheses may support healthier aging, highlighting the importance of both tooth retention and prosthetic rehabilitation.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2025-224814

Dr. Tareque and Dr. Chiu, together with colleagues, have published “Sixteen-year longitudinal associations between loneliness and depressive symptoms among older adults” on Aging & Mental Health. This study examines the long-term relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms among U.S. adults aged 60+ over a 16-year period using Health and Retirement Study data from 2006 to 2022. Two analyses tested whether loneliness predicts later depression and whether depression predicts later loneliness. Results showed lonely participants had nearly double the odds of future depressive symptoms. Baseline depression also increased later loneliness risk. Cognitive impairment predicted loneliness, while women and those with poorer self-rated health were more likely to develop.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2025.2606360

Dr. Teerawichitchainan and Dr. Kim are part of the team that has recently published “Childlessness and Advance Care Planning in Midlife and Late Adulthood: A Mixed-Methods Study in Singapore” in Social Science & Medicine. As the title suggests, this study examines multiple dimensions of advance care planning (ACP) by quantitative analyses and interviews with targeted respondents–childless adults aged 50+ in Singapore. While results indicate a different ACP level between childless men and women, it is further suggested that various barriers, including difficulty appointing proxies, misconceptions about costs, and competing caregiving demands, together contribute to the overall modest ACP level in Singapore.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119112

Dr. Minagawa and Dr. Luy, together with colleagues, have published “Why do women live longer than men, but spend more time in poor health? A decomposition analysis of the gender gap in unhealthy life years across Europe” in European Journal of Epidemiology. This study tested the “longevity hypothesis,” which suggests that women spend more years in poor health mainly because they live longer. The study examined gender differences in unhealthy life years at age 50 across several health indicators. Women consistently experienced more years in poor health than men. Results varied somewhat across health indicators and countries, but overall findings support the longevity hypothesis and highlight the importance of considering different dimensions of health when examining gender inequalities.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-025-01346-2

Dr. Malhotra is part of team that has published “Advance Care Planning and long-term bereavement in caregivers of patients with metastatic cancer” in Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. This study examines associations between ACP engagement and caregivers’ risk of complicated grief and anxiety six months after a patient's death, moderation by patient age and patient-caregiver relationship, and mediation by patient’s emotional distress and caregiver preparedness for patient’s death. The Brief Grief Questionnaire is used to assess caregivers’ risk of complicated grief, and anxiety with the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A higher ACP engagement, as the study’s result points out, may benefit diverse groups of bereaved caregivers of patients with cancer.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2026.02.011

Dr. Lusk is part of team that has published “Calcitonin Gene–Related Peptide Inhibitors and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Migraine” in Neurology. This retrospective cohort study used insurance claims data to evaluate whether initiating calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors for migraine is associated with cardiovascular risk. Among individual outcomes, only ischemic stroke showed a significant increase, while myocardial infarction, revascularization, retinal artery occlusion, and intracranial hemorrhage were not significantly associated. Overall, initiation of CGRP inhibitors was linked to a modest increase in cardiovascular risk in patients with migraine.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214479

Dr. Kingston is part of team that has published an article, “Intrinsic capacity and healthy ageing in the United Kingdom and Brazil: a coordinated analysis of two population-based cohort studies,” in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. This research inspects intrinsic capacity (IC) of the UK and Brazil, considering the two countries’ diverse cultural and socioeconomic factors. Using linear and logistic regressions to analyze data, this research examines IC and its associations with sociodemographic characteristics and health outcomes, revealing that older age, non-White race/ethnicity, less education, and lower wealth are crucially linked to lower IC scores.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glag033

Dr. Zajacova is part of a team that has published “Incidence rates of twelve chronic diseases/conditions in US adults: findings from a population-based study” in The Lancet Regional Health–Americas. This research simultaneously examines the incidence of multiple chronic diseases/conditions among US adults, estimating one-year incidence rates for 12 conditions with high public burden. Assessing documented variation in chronic disease/condition incidence, research findings provide essential evidence to prioritize and coordinate prevention initiatives across the chronic disease/condition spectrum.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2025.101342

Dr. Lee is part of team that has published an article, “Personal cancer worry and Systemic Cancer Concern: Pathways to health behaviors via social media and emotional well-being” in Computers in Human Behavior, investigating how personal worry and systemic cancer concern relate to digital health behaviors through distinct affective and trust-related pathways. Drawing on an integrated theoretical framework, this study analyzes nationally representative U.S. data using structural equation modeling. The findings inform psychologically responsive digital health design, such that emotion-sensitive features may support users with heightened vulnerability, whereas credibility cues may address institutional distrust.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2026.108918

Dr. Lin and colleagues published “Kinlessness, sole family survivorship, and the mental and physical health of U.S. older adults” in Social Science & Medicine. Limited family ties are increasingly common among U.S. older adults. This study assessed how kinless individuals and sole family survivors were associated with chronic conditions, (instrumental) activities of daily living (ADL/IADL) limitations, self-rated poor health, and depressive symptoms. Results demonstrate the utility of examining multiple forms of limited family ties which have distinct ramifications for older adult well-being.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.118996

Dr. Garcia is part of team that published “Cognitive difficulties among middle-aged and older Latino adults: within-group variation across U.S. states” in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B. This study examined state-level variation in cognitive difficulties among Latinos aged 45 and older in the United States using American Community Survey data (2008–2019). Results showed substantial differences across states and Latino subgroups. U.S.-born Latinos reported higher levels of cognitive difficulties than foreign-born individuals. Higher prevalence was observed among certain heritage groups, including Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Cubans. The findings suggest that nativity, heritage, and state-level context interact to shape cognitive risk patterns.

View Publication: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12794924/

Dr. Yu is part of team that has published “Respondent characteristics’ moderating effect on mixed-mode effects: an example of subjective well-being measurements” in International Journal of Social Research Methodology. This study examined whether survey mode affects socially desirable responses to subjective well-being questions. Using longitudinal survey data from Taiwan and applying propensity score matching to address selection bias, the study compared face-to-face and online responses. Results showed that face-to-face respondents were more likely to report higher satisfaction with family life and economic conditions than online respondents. Mode effects were particularly evident among younger participants and those with higher education.

View Publication: https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2025.2483771

Dr. Zajacova has published "Where does it hurt? A 4-S model of pain onset and recovery across body sites among older adults" in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. This study examines the bodily distribution of pain and its covariates and proposes a framework to systematize how pain sites remain stable, spread, switch, or subside over time. The 4-S model, proposed as a framework in this study, provides valuable insights into understanding the complex interplay of pain onset and recovery and offers ways to integrate this framework into ongoing investigations of late-life pain.

View publication: https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/80/7/gbaf061/8155623

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