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Early detection of dementia is vital, and it allows people living with dementia to receive comprehensive care to address symptoms, build a care team, participate in supportive services, access community supports, and potentially access disease-modifying treatments or enroll in clinical trials. With early detection of cognitive impairment and disclosure of the diagnosis to the patient, the individual with the condition and their care partners can set systems in place that allow them to achieve their highest practicable level of function and quality of life. In this episode, Dr. Joshua Chodosh shares strategies to kickstart the brain health conversation, describes how he has engaged the whole healthcare team in the conversation, and highlights approaches aimed at early detection of cognitive impairment in the primary care setting. Dr. Chodosh also underscores how providers can use tools in The GSA KAER Toolkit for Primary Care Teams to enhance their early detection efforts and help to improve outcomes for older adults with cognitive impairment and their care partners.  Download the Transcript Guest:  Joshua Chodosh, MD, MSHS Co-lead, BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence on Early Detection of Dementia Director, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Professor of Medicine and Population Health, New York University Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Eisai. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

A person living with dementia and their care partner often have needs for a variety of community supports that enables them to achieve their greatest potential function and quality of life. This podcast episode addresses the fourth step of the KAER Framework: Refer for Community Services. Our guests discuss how interdisciplinary care teams in primary care can use risk-based strategies to refer older adults with dementia and their care partners to appropriate community services, and they share strategies for success that they and their interdisciplinary colleagues use in the Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic – a nurse-led primary care practice for people living with dementia.  Download the Transcript Guests:  Carolyn K. Clevenger, DNP, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN Professor, The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University Clinical Director/Practicing Nurse Practitioner, The Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic Laura Medders, LCSW  Administrative Director, The Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Otsuka, Lilly, and Eisai. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

Appropriate reimbursement for detection, evaluation, and diagnosis of dementia as well as for care planning and ongoing care of individuals with cognitive impairment and dementia is possible. In fact, pathways to appropriate reimbursement well align with evidence-based guidelines for care and expectations around quality. To ensure well-coordinated quality dementia care, the primary provider and other members of the interdisciplinary care team spend a great deal of time outside the standard primary care visit, and reimbursement for this time is available. In this podcast, our guests share their insights into the documentation, infrastructure, and processes necessary to capture appropriate reimbursement for quality dementia care. They also discuss how using reimbursement as a pathway for quality dementia care supports high-functioning teams, incentivizes care teams to provide care that aligns with guidelines, and prevents the vital work of the entire interdisciplinary team from being invisible.   Handout: Podcast Discussion Points Download the Transcript Guests:  Carolyn K. Clevenger, DNP, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN Professor, The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University Clinical Director/Practicing Nurse Practitioner, The Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic Laura Medders, LCSW  Administrative Director, The Emory Integrated Memory Care Clinic Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Genentech, Lilly, Otsuka, and Eisai. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

It is vital that health care professionals supporting older adults on their weight loss journey recognize the importance of cultural differences as well as differences in risk based on age, race, or ethnicity. Cultural preferences and views about larger body sizes should also be respected. In this podcast episode, Dr. Rodolfo Galindo, an expert review panelist of the GSA KAER Toolkit on the Management of Obesity in Older Adults, highlights unique cultural beliefs and practices that are prevalent among individuals from the Hispanic community and discusses how providers must recognize and factor them into conversations about weight and obesity. He also notes how providers may provide culturally congruent care while using the GSA KAER Framework to kickstart the discussion of weight with older adults and their families; assess for the presence of altered body fat amount, distribution, and/ or function; evaluate treatment options; and refer patients to community resources.  Download the Transcript Guest: Rodolfo J. Galindo, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine Investigator, Center for Diabetes and Metabolism Research, Emory University Hospital Midtown Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

We all experience normal physiological and metabolic changes as we age, including loss of muscle mass, that can impact functioning and quality of life. When combined with obesity or overweight, these changes can be magnified, causing even greater functional losses and decreases in quality of life. An all-too-often approach of simply limiting caloric intake to lose weight may further heighten these risks. As such, older adults seeking to lose weight need a balanced diet that will support loss of excess adiposity while preserving muscle. As vital members of the patient care team, dietitians can support older adults seeking to lose weight to ensure that their nutrient needs are met while on their weight loss journey. Additionally, these professionals can support the older adult to address social, environmental, and economic risk factors that often go unrecognized yet play an enormous role in healthy dietary patterns. In this podcast episode, Dr. Kathryn N. Porter Starr, an expert review panelist of the GSA KAER Toolkit on the Management of Obesity in Older Adults, explores complex issues around dietary needs of older adults, including the importance of assessing for and addressing sarcopenia, and highlights how comprehensive nutritional care can support function, independence, and quality of life while enabling the older adult to reach and maintain their desired body weight.   Download the Transcript Guest: Kathryn N. Porter Starr, PhD, MS, RDN  Assistant Professor of Medicine–Geriatrics, Duke University School of Medicine  Research Health Scientist, Durham VA Health System, Durham, North Carolina  Host: Jennifer Pettis, MS, RN, CNE Director of Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Researchers have identified several molecular pathways at a cellular level, including within the mitochondria, which appear to influence both aging and age-related chronic disease. These cellular changes associated with aging are cumulatively referred to as age-associated cellular decline, or AACD. Identifying AACD risk factors and intervening with cellular nutrients earlier in the aging process, before major mobility disabilities and disease driven limitations emerge, could help improve overall healthy aging.  A set of three podcast discussions from the panel of the What’s Hot on Cellular Nutrition and Its Influence on Age-Associated Cellular Decline, explores various elements of AACD and the care of older adults. This episode explores how to apply what is currently known about AACD to the care of patients and older adults in clinical practice. Download the Transcript Guest: Nathan K. LeBrasseur, PT, PhD Professor and Co-Chair of Research, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic Scientific Director, Office of Translation to Practice, Mayo Clinic  Co-Director, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research, Mayo Clinic  Host: Roger A. Fielding, PhD Associate Director, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University Lead Scientist and Senior Scientist Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Team, Tufts University Professor of Nutrition Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center This podcast series was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  This program has received a grant from Nestle Health Science. 

Researchers have identified several molecular pathways at a cellular level, including within the mitochondria, which appear to influence both aging and age-related chronic disease. These cellular changes associated with aging are cumulatively referred to as age-associated cellular decline, or AACD. Identifying AACD risk factors and intervening with cellular nutrients earlier in the aging process, before major mobility disabilities and disease driven limitations emerge, could help improve overall healthy aging.  A set of three podcast discussions from the panel of the What’s Hot on Cellular Nutrition and Its Influence on Age-Associated Cellular Decline, explores various elements of AACD and the care of older adults. This episode focuses specifically on what researchers are learning about the importance of mitochondrial function. Download the Transcript Guest: Anthony J. A. Molina, PhD Vice Chief of Research, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care, University of California San Diego School of Medicine  Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine  Host: Roger A. Fielding, PhD Associate Director, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University Lead Scientist and Senior Scientist Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Team, Tufts University Professor of Nutrition Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center This podcast series was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  This program has received a grant from Nestle Health Science. 

Researchers have identified several molecular pathways at a cellular level, including within the mitochondria, which appear to influence both aging and age-related chronic disease. These cellular changes associated with aging are cumulatively referred to as age-associated cellular decline, or AACD. Identifying AACD risk factors and intervening with cellular nutrients earlier in the aging process, before major mobility disabilities and disease driven limitations emerge, could help improve overall healthy aging.  A set of three podcast discussions from the panel of the What’s Hot on Cellular Nutrition and Its Influence on Age-Associated Cellular Decline, explores various elements of AACD and the care of older adults. This episode focuses on the nutritional interventions that have the potential to extend human health span, as well as those that may slow age associated cellular decision and may impact longevity.  Download the Transcript Guest: Sai Krupa Das, PhD Scientist I, Energy Metabolism Team Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging Associate Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University Host: Roger A. Fielding, PhD Associate Director, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University Lead Scientist and Senior Scientist Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Team, Tufts University Professor of Nutrition Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center This podcast series was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  This program has received a grant from Nestle Health Science. 

This episode addresses the need for effective communication with older adults who have sleep disturbances.  As a condition that is underdiagnosed and undertreated, it is important to understand how to address this issue with older people to ensure that the right treatments are provided, and that health and well-being are attained. Guest:  Michael V. Vitiello, PhD Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle Host: Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP Professor, Chair of the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing; Past President of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) This podcast episode was designed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) along with our clinical partner, the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association. The program has received an educational grant from Eisai Pharmaceuticals.

The process of bringing a vaccine to market takes extensive research and safety monitoring. Dr. Gordon Douglas explains the steps from preclinical studies to vaccine licensure, and discusses his own experience developing vaccines at a major manufacturer for 30 years. He also shares lessons learned from clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the importance of participant diversity.    Guest: R. Gordon Douglas, Jr, MD  Professor Emeritus, Weill Cornell Medical College   Host: Jo-Ana Chase, PhD, APRN-BC  Associate Professor, Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri Health  This podcast episode is supported by Seqirus. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

Communicating the risks and benefits of immunization can be challenging, as the language of science may not always be well understood by the public. Dr. Aaron Scherer shares his research on risk communication and infectious disease, what we can learn from outbreak communication with older adults, and his thoughts on future opportunities in the field.   Guest: Aaron Scherer, MA, PhD Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine - General Internal Medicine, University of Iowa  Host: Cheryl Ann Monturo, PhD, MBE, ACNP-BC Senior Nurse Research Scientist Chester County Hospital/Penn Medicine; Professor of Nursing West Chester University  This podcast episode is supported by Seqirus. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

A routine immunization program in long-term care facilities can protect residents who are most at risk of poor outcomes if they contract a vaccine-preventable disease, however systemic challenges contribute to stagnant vaccination rates among residents and low vaccination rates among staff. In this episode, Dr. Barbara Resnick discusses her work in improving immunization rates in long-term care, using behavior motivation techniques to encourage staff and residents to get vaccinated, and what she sees as opportunities for future researchers and practitioners.   Guest: Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP   Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Nursing  Host: Justine Sefcik, PhD, RN  Assistant Professor, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions; Co-convener, GSA Interest Group on Nursing  This podcast episode is supported by Seqirus. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

Individuals with dementia-related psychosis experience worse outcomes than those who do not have psychosis, including but not being limited to accelerated time to being admitted to a long-term care facility and accelerated mortality. The manifestation of hallucinations and delusions in residents with dementia can also prove challenging for long-term care staff. Dr. Chad Worz discusses how appropriate documentation of a diagnosis of dementia-related psychosis and related care interventions are an important part of delivering individualized care for residents.  Guest: Chad Worz, PharmD, BCGP Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)  Host: Judit Illes, BCL/LLB, MS, CPHQ  Director, Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  For more information on dementia-related psychosis, see GSA’s February 2021 White Paper, Dementia-Related Psychosis: Strategies to Address Barriers to Care Across Settings.  This podcast episode is supported by Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Primary care providers (PCPs) are ideally positioned to recognize, diagnose, and provide care planning for individuals with dementia who experience psychosis. Dr. Alexis Eastman discusses the important role of PCPs in team-based approaches to care and shares examples of innovative healthcare delivery models that can support PCPs in addressing dementia-related psychosis.  Guest: Alexis Eastman, MD  Medical Director of the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics; Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Member of GSA’s Workgroup on Dementia-Related Psychosis.    Host: Judit Illes, BCL/LLB, MS, CPHQ Director, Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  For more information on dementia-related psychosis, see GSA’s February 2021 White Paper, Dementia-Related Psychosis: Strategies to Address Barriers to Care Across Settings.  This podcast episode is supported by Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Dementia-related psychosis, defined as hallucinations and delusions in individuals with dementia, is a distinct neuropsychiatric symptom. Dementia-related psychosis differs from psychosis that originates from delirium or a pre-existing psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia). Dr. Gary Small explains the challenges to and approaches for detecting and diagnosing these symptoms.   Guest: Gary Small, MD Chair of Psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center and Physician in Chief for Behavioral Health; Chair of GSA’s Workgroup on Dementia-Related Psychosis  Host: Judit Illes, BCL/LLB, MS, CPHQ Director, Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America  For more information on dementia-related psychosis, see GSA’s February 2021 White Paper, Dementia-Related Psychosis: Strategies to Address Barriers to Care Across Settings.  This podcast episode is supported by Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths in older adults each year. Those over 65, adults with chronic heart or lung disease, and adults with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Yet RSV remains underdiagnosed. This podcast was originally recorded as a webinar, where Drs. Robin Jump and Lindsay Kim answer questions about RSV and its impact on older adults; the challenges of distinguishing between RSV, influenza, and COVID-19; and ways to keep older adults healthy with so many respiratory viruses circulating, particularly in a long-term care facility. Guests: Robin Jump, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Lindsay Kim, MD, MPH Medical Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Host: Elizabeth Sobczyk, MSW, MPH Director, Strategic Alliances, The Gerontological Society of America For more information, visit GSA’s National Adult Vaccination Program website. This podcast episode is supported by Johnson and Johnson Health Systems, Inc. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Advances in medicine mean the number of older adults living with HIV/AIDS is increasing, which also presents new challenges to both aging service providers and HIV/AIDS service providers. In Part 2 of this series on Understanding HIV in Older Adults, Drs. Meredith Greene and Molly Perkins discuss the intersection of geriatric medicine and HIV specialists, as well as HIV prevention in older adults, medical, and psychosocial challenges for those who are aging with HIV, and the experience of those living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest: Meredith Greene, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California San Francisco Host: Molly Perkins, PhD Associate Professor, School of Medicine and Graduate Faculty of Emory Sociology, Emory University This podcast episode is supported by ViiV Healthcare. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Advances in medicine mean the number of older adults living with HIV/AIDS is increasing, which also presents new challenges to both aging service providers and HIV/AIDS service providers. In Part 1 of this series on Understanding HIV in Older Adults, Drs. Mark Brennan-Ing and Molly Perkins discuss social networks, isolation, and social supports among older adults living with HIV; resilience as a way to address stigma; the diversity of those who are living with HIV; internalized ageism; and the use of crisis competence to learn from HIV survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest: Mark Brennan-Ing, PhD Senior Research Scientist, ‎Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, Hunter College, CUNY Host: Molly Perkins, PhD Associate Professor, School of Medicine and Graduate Faculty of Emory Sociology, Emory University This podcast episode is supported by ViiV Healthcare. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Dr. Melissa Batchelor speaks with Dr. Barbara Yawn about her journey to becoming Chief Clinical Officer of the COPD Foundation. Dr. Yawn shares the misconceptions about COPD in older adults and challenges that lead to underdiagnosis. She discusses treatment options – both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic – and the importance of an interdisciplinary team in treating COPD. Guest: Barbara Yawn, MD Chief Clinical Officer, COPD Foundation Host: Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN-BC, FNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN Director of the Center for Aging and Health and Humanities and Associate Professor at George Washington University School of Nursing For a quick reference, download the fact sheet Understanding COPD in Older Adults.   For more information on COPD, see GSA’s recent What’s Hot publication: Recognizing and Treating COPD in Older Adults.  This podcast episode is supported by GlaxoSmithKline. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). 

The vexing problem of the increasing weight of Americans has grown to epidemic proportions in recent decades. As millions of people enter older adulthood, they bring with them added pounds and the challenges of excessive body fat. Now recognized as a chronic medical condition, obesity is associated with serious health problems that increase morbidity and mortality, stigmatization at work and in social settings, decreased physical function, lower health-related quality of life, and increased direct and indirect health care costs. When combined with common aging-related challenges, obesity can create complex clinical situations without easy solutions.  In this episode, Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford speaks with Dr. Tamara A. Baker, addressing the issue of obesity and specifically how the prevalence of obesity is different in communities of color versus majority communities in the United States. Dr. Stanford reviews the different factors that contribute to the high burden of obesity in racial and ethnic minority populations, why there appears to be worsened outcomes in patients who have obesity and COVID-19, and strategies that can be utilized to address excess weight in communities with high prevalence of obesity, especially in older adults.  The interview closes out with a review of barriers to receiving treatment and an overview of legislation has been proposed to help address the epidemic of obesity in our communities. Guest: Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FTOS Obesity Medicine Physician Scientist, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Host: Tamara A. Baker, PhD, FGSA Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill This podcast episode is supported by Novo Nordisk. Content was developed by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).