Research Programs
The UAB Center for Aging is known for outstanding research related to optimizing
function of older adults, particularly in the area of mobility, cognition, and continence.
For example Dr. Richard Allman and Dr. Patricia Sawyer have provided leadership
for the development of an assessment for mobility, the UAB Study of Aging Life-Space
Assessment. This assessment can help identify changes in function at a time when
interventions may prevent more serious problems. Dr. Karlene Ball and Dr. Cynthia
Owsley have developed assessments and interventions for helping older persons process
information more quickly and thereby potentially slow memory loss and maintain day-to-day
function, including driving ability. Dr. Edward Taub has been a pioneer in the development
of new rehabilitation interventions to help older adults regain function after stroke,
while Dr. Marcas Bamman and Dr. Gary Hunter are defining specific exercise programs
needed to enable older adults to retain function. Drs. Kathryn Burgio, Patricia
Goode, and Holly Richter have defined optimal behavioral, drug, and surgical procedures
to enable older adults to maintain continence and independent functioning.
UAB currently has five extramurally funded center programs that support such aging-related
research:
- a VA-based Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC)
- the Hartford Foundation-funded Southeast Center of Excellence in Geriatric Medicine
- the NIA-funded Roybal Center for Research in Applied Gerontology
- the NIA-funded Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR)
- the NIA-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Other centers at UAB are pursuing aging-related research including the Arthritis
and Musculosketel Disease Center, Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics
for Musculoskeletel Disorders, Center for Metabolic Bone Disease, Center for Palliative
Care, Genito-Urinary and Genito-Rectal Disorders Centers.
Other aging-related research is accomplished through programs such as the Atherosclerosis
Research Unit (ARU) and other programs: Basic Biology of Aging; Alzheimer’s Disease
and Lipoprotein Research; Dementia Care Research; Exercise Research; Heart Failure;
Nutrition and Dietary Research; Public Policy and Aging; Social-Behavioral Science;
and Mobility Among Older African Americans and Whites (the UAB Study of Aging).
UAB centers and programs are supported by a variety of shared cores and resources
that support research initiatives. These include: the Cell Senescence Culture Facility;
Data Management and Analysis Core; the Driving Simulator; Exercise Test Laboratory;
Intramural Grants Programs; and the Mobility and Exercise Laboratory.
Principal Current Research Focus Areas
- Clinical Research mobility, muscle loss (sarcopenia), exercise,
genito-urinary disorders such as incontinence, end-of-life and advanced illness
care, Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders, stroke, vision, osteoporosis,
osteoarthritis, age-related cancers, nutrition, and heart failure.
- Social & Behavioral studies of interventions to prevent and
treat age-related disorders and caregiver stress.
- Basic biomedical studies of the molecular genetics and cellular
biology of aging and age-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s
disease, and osteoporosis.
- Public policy and health services delivery research on economics
of aging, health care quality, long-term care and transportation.
- Neuroscience Research on aging and memory.