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Join us for an exciting discussion on
November 18 at 6pm at the
Civic Centre Resource Library for
Moving Forward: Health and Function in Later Life
as part of the Aging in the City Speakers Series hosted by the 91亚色 Centre for Aging Research & Education (YU-CARE).

You are invited to a public talk "Aging in the City: Moving Forward - Health and Function in Later Life" on November 18^th at Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library.

We are excited about this session's discussion by the School of Kinesiology and YU-CARE faculty members Dr. Joe Baker and Jaclyn Hurley, who will be speaking to their fascinating works about exercise as a key to health in later life. Specifically, speakers will be presenting on:

• Using research to guide the design of exercise for older adults with joint pain
• How studies of older athletes help us understand health and function in later life

Light refreshments and snacks will be served.

Space is limited. Please register soon on or by emailing the YU-CARE Coordinator at yu_care@yorku.ca to secure your spot.

Please share widely and invite colleagues and constituents of your organization to join our discussion.

Dr. Joe Baker:

Dr. Joe Baker is Professor and head of the Lifespan Health and Performance Laboratory in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, at 91亚色, Canada. He has also held visiting researcher/professor positions in the Carnegie Research Institute at Leeds Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, Victoria University and the Australian Institute of Sport in Australia, and the Institute of Sport Science at Westflische Wilhelms-Universit M眉nster in Germany. His research considers the varying influences on optimal human development, ranging from issues affecting athlete development and skill acquisition to barriers and facilitators of successful aging. Joe is the author/editor of 8 books and hundreds of peer reviewed articles and book chapters. More information on Joe's work can be found at yorku.ca/bakerj and @bakerjyorku on Twitter.

Dr. Jaclyn Hurley:

Dr. Jaclyn Hurley is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at 91亚色. Her area of expertise is musculoskeletal biomechanics where her research interests include investigating mechanisms of musculoskeletal injury and developing effective exercise rehabilitation strategies for chronic musculoskeletal conditions that commonly accompany age, including osteoarthritis and rotator cuff pathologies.

聽Event Details:

Event title: Moving Forward: Health and Function in Later Life (part of the YU-CARE Aging in the City Speakers Series)

Event date and time: November 18^th, 2019 from 6:00pm-8:30pm

Event location: Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library

Event address: 2191 Major MacKenzie Dr W, Vaughan, ON L6A 4W2

Please on Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/36ixDo7

The post SAVE THE DATE! Aging in the City Series Speakers Series - November 18th at Vaughan Civic Resource Library appeared first on 91亚色U Centre for Aging Research & Education (YU-CARE).

Dr. Gary Turner

In recent months, YU-CARE Steering Committee member from the Department of Psychology has significantly contributed to the study of the cognitive neuroscience of aging.

Dr. Turner's research uses MRI techniques to investigate how brain functioning is related to cognitive changes that occur in older adulthood. His recent studies expand beyond the commonly held assumption that cognitive aging is short-hand for cognitive decline. His research has shown that cognitive aging is also associated with cognitive gains in areas such as creative thinking as well as wisdom in solving real world problems. Dr. Turner and his students are also working to develop cognitive training programs to improve concentration and focus in later life.

Read the abstracts for Dr. Turners鈥� recent research on cognitive aging and neuroscience below and follow the journal links for the full articles.

Abstracts and Links

Turner, G.R., Novakovic-Agopian, T., Kornblith, E., Adnan, A., Madore, M., Chen, A.J.W., & D鈥橢sposito, M. (2019). Goal-Oriented Attention Self-Regulation (GOALS) training in older adults.

Abstract: Objectives: A common cognitive complaint of older adulthood is distractibility, or decline in ability to concentrate and maintain focus, yet few evidence-based interventions exist to address these deficits. We implemented s pilot trial of an evidence-based executive function training program, to investigate whether training in applied goal-directed attention regulation and problem solving would enhance executive control abilities in a sample of cognitively normal older adults with self-reported complaints of concentration problems.

Method: Consecutively recruited participants were placed into small groups and randomized to either Goal-Oriented Attentional Self-Regulation training (GOALS; N = 15) or a closely matched Brain Health Education program (BHE; N = 15).

Results: GOALS participants significantly improved on: neurocognitive measures of mental flexibility (p = 0.03, partial eta squared = 0.23); real-world setting functional performance measures of: task failures (p = 0.02, Cohen鈥檚 d = 0.88), task rule breaks (p = 0.02, Cohen鈥檚 d = 1.06), and execution (p = 0.04, Cohen鈥檚 d = 0.76); and in-lab functional assessment of goal-directed behaviour divergent thinking scale (p = 0.03, Cohen鈥檚 d = 0.95). All participants improved on a neurocognitive measure of planning (p = 0.01, partial eta squared = 0.031). BHE participants鈥� improvement over and above GOALS participants was limited to: rule adherence on the real world task (p = 0.04, Cohen鈥檚 d = 0.99), and evaluator rating (p = 0.03, Cohen鈥檚 d = 0.56), and average score (p = 0.02, Cohen鈥檚 d = 0.71) on the in-lab functional task.

Conclusion: Participation in GOALS training can enhance executive control, and lead to real-world functional improvements, for cognitively normal older adults with self-reported attention difficulties.

Spreng, R.N. & Turner, G.R. (2019). The shifting architecture of cognition and brain function in older adulthood.

Adnan, A., Beaty, R., Siliva, P., Spreng, R.N., & Turner, G.R. (2019). Creative aging: functional brain networks associated with divergent thinking in older and younger adults.

Abstract: Creative thinking is associated with connectivity between the default and executive control networks in the young brain. In aging, this pattern of functional coupling has been observed across multiple tasks. We have described this as the Default-Executive Coupling Hypothesis of Aging and suggest that this connectivity pattern may also be associated with creativity in older adulthood. However, age differences in brain networks implicated in creativity have yet to be investigated. The overarching goal of the present study was to examine age-related changes to functional brain networks associated with creativity. Specifically, we explored functional connectivity patterns among default and executive control brain regions associated with creative thoughts in older and younger adults. In a cross-sectional design, young (mean age = 21 y; n = 30) and older (mean age = 70 y; n = 25) participants completed a divergent thinking task during fMRI, which was examined using region of interest functional connectivity analyses. Consistent with predictions, analyses demonstrated that default and executive networks are more functionally coupled during creative thinking for older than younger adults. Critically, despite similar performance on an in-scanner creativity task, increased network efficiency was associated with creative ability for older adults only. These findings provide novel evidence of default-executive coupling as a putative mechanism associated with creative ability in later life.

For aging-related research updates and event invitations, !

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This year, YU-CARE Steering Committee member from the School of Kinesiology and Health Science has significantly contributed to studying the important relationships between leisure and community activities and healthy aging.

Meisner's studies, linked below, argue that the meaningful inclusion and involvement of older adults in leisure and community activities are undervalued and underused strategies to promote healthy aging, particularly in late life. His research identifies both motivators and constraints that inspire and inhibit older adult activity participation. It is important to recognize that many of these motivators and constraints are in fact beyond the control of older individuals; yet, these factors support or suppress health-related outcomes over time.

Critically, the investigation of this theme by Meisner and colleagues stimulates dialogue about age discrimination (ageism) experienced by older adults during leisure and community activities as a significant barrier, which, in turn, negatively affects healthy aging.

Read the abstracts of Meisner鈥檚 published research below or follow the journal links to access the complete articles.

Abstracts

Taking 鈥楽teps to Connect鈥� to later life: Exploring leisure program participation among older adults in rural communities (Meisner, B.A., Hutchinson, S.L., Gallant, K.A., Lauckner, H., & Stilwell, C.L., 2019), .

Abstract: 鈥�Steps to Connect is a leisure education program that facilitates participation in leisure activities to enable individuals to connect to themselves, to others around them, and to their communities. The authors鈥� previous program development efforts were focused on individuals with chronic conditions in rural settings, and now there is interest in adapting it for older adults. As such, the authors explored the perceptions and constraints associated with tailoring leisure activities and programs to older adults living in rural Nova Scotia, Canada. They conducted five focus groups in four rural communities, including 33 participants aged 60+聽years. Thematic analysis of focus group transcripts revealed participants鈥� awareness of how leisure programs promote physical and mental health, social participation, as well as meaningful personal and community experiences. Participants also identified several leisure constraint themes that warrant consideration when implementing leisure programs to promote active aging among older adults living in rural communities, such as Steps to Connect.鈥�

Perceptions of aging and experiences of ageism as constraining factors of moderate to vigorous leisure-time physical activity in later life (Massie, A.S., & Meisner, B.A., 2019), .

Abstract: 鈥淟ater-life leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is an identified way to promote active aging. Nevertheless, many active older adults experience LTPA constraints and thus may not experience the full comprehensive health benefits that result from participation. This study explored two potential LTPA constraints pertaining specifically to 鈥榓ge鈥�: beliefs that older adults have about aging (perceptions of aging) and experiences of being treated differently because of age (ageism). One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 older adults (60鈥�74聽years) who engaged in an average of 鈮�150聽minutes of moderate to vigorous LTPA per week. Data underwent thematic analysis that resulted in three themes pertaining to LTPA: (a) 鈥榓ge has nothing to do with it,鈥� (b) 鈥榖ut they do treat us different here,鈥� and (c) 鈥榳hy don鈥檛 we have an exercise class?鈥� Findings provide new perspectives on how aging perceptions and ageism 鈥� in both negative and positive forms 鈥� can affect LTPA engagement in later life.鈥�

What is and isn鈥檛 working: Factors involved in sustaining community-based health and participation initiatives for people ageing with intellectual and developmental disabilities (Spassiani, N.A., Meisner, B.A., Abou Chacra, M.S., Heller, T., & Hammel, J., 2019), .

Abstract: 鈥淎s people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) age, it is important that I/DD agencies are prepared to support healthy ageing in homes and in communities. This study explored supports and barriers to sustaining community鈥恇ased health and participation initiatives (CBHPI) for people ageing with I/DD living in group homes managed by agencies. The study utilized interviews and photovoice with 70 participants鈥�35 individuals with I/DD and 35 management/direct support agency staff. Data were analysed through content analysis and triangulation of data where five themes emerged: Agency values and policies related to healthy ageing; resources and staff competencies; communication between management and staff; community/university partnerships; and peer relations. Findings show that I/DD agencies and people with I/DD value CBHPI, but they find them difficult to sustain due to limited resources and lack of training specific to ageing with I/DD. Conducting system鈥恖evel research within I/DD agencies to include first鈥恜erson accounts of people with I/DD, staff and management provides insight on how to effectively support the needs of people with I/DD to improve their health and community participation as they age.鈥�

Mindful aging: The association between trait mindfulness and expectations regarding aging among middle-aged and older adults (Fiocco, A.J. & Meisner, B.A., 2019), .

Abstract: 鈥�Objectives: Positive Expectations Regarding Aging serve as a protective factor of healthy aging; however, negative stereotypes regarding aging continue to dominate popular aging discourse. It is proposed that trait mindfulness (TM) is associated with aging expectations through the cultivation of openness, curiosity, and non-judgment to one鈥檚 thoughts, emotions, and sensations, whether they are positive or negative.

Methods: Associations between the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the Expectations Regarding Aging Survey (ERA-38) were examined among 201 participants aged 55+ years.

Results: Analyses revealed that higher levels of TM was significantly associated with positive aging expectations, controlling for retirement and socioeconomic status (Rchange2= 14.0%, F(5,192) = 7.17, p < .001).

Conclusion: The development of TM, notably the facet of non-judgment, may be used to promote positive aging expectations to help support healthy aging.鈥�

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