UAB Study of Aging
(Mobility Among Older African Americans and Whites)
Sponsor:
National Institute on Aging (R01-AG15062)
Description:
The hypothesis underlying this research is that potentially modifiable factors predict
mobility (life-space) trajectories associated with aging among community-dwelling
African Americans (AAs) and whites. This is prospective, observational study of
a population-based sample of 1000 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries, stratified
by sex, race, and urban/rural residence. Participants were age 65 years and older
at baseline. Baseline in-home assessments were completed between December 1999 and
February 2001.
Specific aims included:
- Assess the predictors of life-space trajectories;
- Identify predictors of transitions to restricted life-space, homebound status, and
nursing home placement;
- Examine proximate causes of life-space transitions;
- Evaluate changes in hypothesized risk factors as predictors of life-space trajectories;
- Determine the relationship of nutritional status with subsequent life-space trajectories;
- Evaluate specific markers of inflammation as potential predictors of life-space.
Telephone follow-up interviews every 6 months were used to ascertain subsequent
life-space, nursing home placement, and vital status with outcomes known on N=921
at year 6 of follow-up. Repeat in-home assessments (N=624) 48-months after the baseline
assessment permitted documentation of changes in disease and geriatric syndrome
status, neuropsychological factors, nutritional status, health behaviors, and medication
use over four years. Fasting blood specimens (N=408) were scheduled and obtained
after the 48-month in-home assessment to assess nutrition-related lab tests, measures
of inflammation, and other lab tests reflecting disease severity or management.
Three 24-hour recall dietary intakes were also obtained within 3 weeks of the 48-month
in-home assessment. Year 8 interviews on surviving participants were completed in
April 2009.
Multivariable, hierarchical mixed model growth curve analyses and a generalized
estimating equation (GEE) approaches are being used for analyses to permit identification
of predictors of life-space trajectories and of specific life-space transitions.
The results of this research will lead to interventions that will foster independence
of older AAs and whites.
Papers (Published 2003-2012)
- Baker, P.S., Bodner, E.V., and Allman, R.M., 2003. Measuring life-space
mobility in community-dwelling older adults. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc.,
51:1610-1614. doi:10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51512.x
- Parker, M., Roff, L.L., Klemmack, D.L., Koenig, H.G., Baker, P.S., and Allman, R.M.,
2003. Religiosity and mental health in southern, community-dwelling older adults.
Aging Mental Hlth., 7(5), 390-397. DOI: 10.1080/1360786031000150667
- Crowther, M.R., Baker, P. S., Larimore, W.L., Koenig, H.G., Parker, M.W., 2003.
Spiritual and emotional well-being: emotional tasks associated with elder care.
J. Geriatr Care Management, 13(1): 15-21.
- Fuller, G.F., Baker, P.S., Larimore, W.L., Parker, M.W., Allman, R.M., and Martin,
J.A., 2003. Helping families establish a medical care plan for an elderly parent.
J. Geriatr Care Management, 13(1): 22-28.
- Roff, L.L, Klemmack, D.L, Parker, M.W., Koenig, C.G., Crowther, M., Baker, P., Allman,
R.M. 2004. Depression and religiosity in African American and White community-dwelling
older adults. J Human Behav. Soc. Environ. 10: 175-189.
- Allman, R.M., Sawyer Baker, P., Maisiak, R.M., Sims, R.V., and Roseman, J.M., 2004.
Racial similarities and differences in predictors of mobility change over eighteen
months. J Gen Intern Med. 19: 1118-1126. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2004.30239.x.
- Roff, L.L., Klemmack, D.L., Koenig, H.G., Parker, M., Sawyer Baker, P., and Allman,
R.M. 2005. Religiosity, smoking, exercise, and obesity among southern, community-dwelling
older adults. 2005. J Appl Gerontol. 24: 337-354.
- Locher, J.L., Ritchie, C.S., Roth, D.L., Sawyer Baker, P., Bodner, E.V., and Allman,
R.M., 2005. Social isolation, support, capital and nutritional risk in an older
sample: ethnic and gender differences. Soc Sci Med. 60: 747-761.
doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.06.023
- Goode, P.S., Burgio, K.L., Halli, A.D., Jones, R.W., Richter, H.E., Redden, D.T.,
Baker, P.S., Allman, R.M. 2005. Prevalence and correlates of fecal incontinence
in community-dwelling older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 53:629-635.
doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53211.x
- Peel, C., Sawyer Baker, P., Roth, D.L., Brown, C.J., Bodner, E.V., Allman, R.M.
2005. Assessing mobility in older adults: The UAB Study of Aging life-space
assessment. Physical Therapy 85(10): 1008–1019.
- Williams, B. R., Sawyer Baker, P., Allman, R.M. 2005. Nonspousal family
loss among community-dwelling older adults. Omega 51: 125-142.
- Allman, R.M., Sawyer, P., Roseman, J.M. 2006. The UAB Study of Aging: background
and prospects for insights into life-space mobility among older African-Americans
and Whites in rural and urban settings. Aging Health, 2(3): 417-428.
- Sawyer, P., Bodner, E.V., Ritchie, C.S., Allman, R.M. 2006. Pain and pain
medication use in community-dwelling older adults. Am J Geriatr Pharmacotherap
4:316-324. doi:10.1016/j.amjopharm.2006.12.005.
- Roff, L.L., Klemmack, D.L., Simon, C., Cho, G.W., Parker, M.W., Koenig, C.G., Sawyer
Baker, P., Allman, R.M. 2006. Functional limitations and religious service attendance
among African American and White elders. Hlth Soc Work 31:246-255.
- Makhija, S.K., Gilbert, G.H., Boykin, M.J., Litaker, M.S., Allman, R.M., Sawyer
Baker, P., Locher, J.L., Ritchie, C.S. 2006. The relationship between sociodemographic
factors and oral health-related quality of life in dentate and edentulous community-dwelling
older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 54:1701-1712. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2006.00923.x
See the following links for supplemental information about this paper:
- Martin, M.Y., Powell, M.P., Peel, C., Zhu, S., Allman, R.M., 2006. Leisure-time
physical activity and health-care utilization in older adults. J. of Aging
Physical Activity 14:392-410.
- Williams, B.R., Sawyer Baker, P., Allman, R.M., Roseman, J.M. 2006. The
feminization of bereavement among community-dwelling older adults. J. Women
Aging 18:3-18.
- Rahman, S., Sawyer Baker, P., Allman, R.M., Zamrini, E. 2007. Dietary factors
and cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults. J. Nutr. Hlth.
Aging 11: 49-54.
- Williams, B.R., Sawyer Baker, P., Allman, R.M., Roseman, J.M. 2007. Bereavement
among African American and White older adults. J. of Aging Hlth.
19: 313-333. doi: 10.1177/0898264307299301
- Klemmack, D.L., Roff, L.L., Parker, M.W., Koenig, H.G., Sawyer Baker, P., Allman,
R.M. 2007. A cluster analysis typology of religiousness/spirituality among older
adults. Res. on Aging 29:163-183. doi: 10.1177/0164027506296757
- Sims, R.V., Ahmed, A., Sawyer, P., Allman, R.M. 2007. Self-reported health
and driving cessation in community-dwelling older adults. J. Gerontol.
A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 62: 89-793.
- Sawyer, P., Lillis, J.P., Bodner, E.V., Allman, R.M. 2007. Substantial daily
pain among nursing home residents. J. Am. Med. Dir. Assoc. 8:158-165.
doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2006.12.030.
- Schillerstrom, J.E., Sawyer Baker, P., Allman, R.M., Rungruang, B., Zamrini, E.,
Royall, D.R. 2007. Clock drawing phenotypes in community-dwelling African Americans
and Caucasians: Results from the UAB Study of Aging. Neuroepidemiology
28:175-180. doi: 10.1159/000104095
- Makhija S.K., Gilbert G.H., Litaker M.S., Allman R.M., Sawyer P., Locher J.L., Ritchie
C.S. 2007. Association between aspects of oral health-related quality of life
and body mass index in community-dwelling older adults. J. Am. Geriatr.
Soc. 55:1808-1816. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01391.x
- Markland, A.D., Goode, P.S., Burgio, K.L. Redden, D.T., Richter, H.E., Sawyer, P.,
Allman, R.M. 2007. Correlates of urinary, fecal, and dual incontinence among
older, African- American and White men and women J. Am. Geriatr. Soc.
56 (2), 285–290 doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01509.x
- Crowe, M., Clay O.J., Sawyer P., Crowther M.R., Allman R.M., 2008. Education
and reading ability in relation to differences in cognitive screening between African
American and Caucasian older adults. Int. J. Geriatr. Psychiatr.
23:222-223. doi:10.1002/gps.1902.
- Locher, J.L. Roth, D.L., Ritichie, C.S. Cox, K., Bodner, E.V., Sawyer, P., Allman,
R.M. 2007. Body mass index, weight loss, and mortality in community-dwelling
older adults. J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 62:1389-1392.
- Ritchie, C.S., Locher, J.L., Roth, D.L., McVie, T., Sawyer, P., Allman, R.M. 2008.
Unintentional weight loss predicts decline in ADL function and life-space mobility
over four years among community-dwelling older adults J. Gerontol. A Biol.
Sci. Med. Sci. 63:67-75.
- Goode, P.S., Burgio K.L., Redden, D.T., Markland, A., Richter, H.E., Sawyer, P.,
Allman, R.M. 2008. Population-based study of incidence and predictors of urinary
incontinence in African and White Older Adults. J. Urol. 179:1449-1453.
doi:10.1016/j.juro.2007.11.069
- Crowe, M., Clay O.J., Sawyer P., Crowther M.R., Allman R.M., 2008. Education
and reading ability in relation to differences in cognitive screening between African
American and Caucasian older adults. Int. J. Geriatr. Psychiatr.
23:222-223. doi:10.1002/gps.1902.
- Park, N., Klemmack, D., Roff, L., Parker, M., Koenig, H., Baker, P., Allman, R.
2008. Religiousness and longitudinal trajectories in elders’ functional status.
Research on Aging 279-298. doi:10.1177/0164027507313001.
- Williams, B.R., Sawyer, P., Roseman, J.M., Allman, R.M. 2008 Marital status
and health:exploring pre-widowhood, Journal of Palliative Medicine.
11(6): 848-856. doi:10.1089/jpm.2007.0190.
- Crowe, M., Andel, R., Okonkwo, O.,Wadley, V., Sawyer, P., Allman, R.M. 2008.
Life-space and cognitive decline in a community-based sample of African American
and Caucasian older adults J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci.
63:1241-1245
- Brown, C.J., Roth, D.L., Allman, R.M., Sawyer, P., Ritchie, C.S. Roseman, J.M.
Trajectories of life-space mobility after hospitalization. 2009. Ann Intern
Med 150:372-378
- Makhija S.K., Gilbert G.H., Clay O.J., Matthews J.C., Sawyer P., Allman R.A.
Oral health-related quality of life and life-space mobility in community-dwelling
older adults 2010. J Am Geriatr Soc Accepted for publication
See the following links for supplemental information about this paper:
- Crowe, M., Sartori, A., Clay, O. J., Wadley, V. G., Andel, R., Wang, H. -X., Sawyer,
P., & Allman, R. (2010). Diabetes and cognitive decline: Investigating the potential
influence of factors related to health disparities. Journal of Aging and
Health, 22, 292-306.
- Crowe, M., Allman, R. M., Triebel, K., Sawyer, P., & Martin, R. (2010).
Normative performance on an executive clock drawing task (CLOX) in a community-dwelling
sample of older adults. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology,
25, 610-617.
- Clay O.J., Roth D.L., Safford M.M., Sawyer P.L., Allman R.M. Predictors
of Overnight Hospital Admission in Older African American and Caucasian Medicare
Beneficiaries 2011. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2011 August;66A(8):910–916.
doi:10.1093/gerona/glr082.
Opportunities for Faculty Involvement:
Data from this study are available for investigators to analyze for publications
and for use as preliminary data for new grant applications.
Procedures for Requesting Data Sets
Primary Contact Person:
Patricia Sawyer, Ph.D.
(tel) (205) 975-5372
(fax) (205) 934-7354
Leaders and Key Staff:
- Richard M. Allman, M.D. (PI)
- Patricia Sawyer, Ph.D. (Co-PI)
- Eric V. Bodner, BS
- Cynthia Brown, M.D.
- Julie Locher, Ph.D.
- Christine S. Ritchie, M.D.
- Jeffrey R. Roseman, M.D.
- David Roth, Ph.D.