Happy Holidays from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology! This holiday season we say thank you to all of our Gerontology Trojan Family members and friends and share 12 months of timely faculty wisdom for 2019.
January: Fast Times
“Clinical trials show that cycles of a five-day fasting-mimicking diet can reduce risk factors for many life-threatening diseases, and may activate the body’s repair and rejuvenation processes.”
Valter Longo, Edna M. Jones Professor of Gerontology and Professor of Biological Sciences
February: Time for Change
“Now that people are living longer we have the opportunity to reimagine the timing and duration of our lives, for instance by working well into late life or going back to school at older ages.”
Jennifer Ailshire, Assistant Professor of Gerontology
March: Air Time
“We now have evidence that air pollution, like tobacco, is dangerous to the aging brain.
Our lifetime exposure to both good and bad aspects of our environment and lifestyle are major influences on our health at later years.”Caleb Finch, University Professor and ARCO/William F. Kieschnick Professor of the Neurobiology of Aging
April: Spend Time
“The diagnosis of a chronic disease can have a significant impact on finances and time. As our population ages, understanding how families manage the financial burden of healthcare will be critical to reducing disparities in health and increasing the opportunities for us all to be healthier.”
Reginald Tucker-Seeley, Edward L. Schneider Assistant Professor of Gerontology
May: Mind Time
“For memory and reasoning, learn about something or learn a new skill that’s going to take effort and perseverance; for creativity, do things that give you joy on a regular basis.”
Elizabeth Zelinski, Rita and Edward Polusky Chair in Education and Aging
June: Meal Time
“Don’t be afraid to swap out old traditions with new flavors; a potluck cook-off is a great way to introduce new favorites at shared meals. Conversation about the new recipes—along with having healthful snacks before the meal, such as vegetables and nuts—can help make the meal a slower and more mindful experience.”
Cary Kreutzer, Associate Professor of Gerontology and Pediatrics and Director of the Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity Program
July: Ahead of Time
“When an individual decides and communicates what they want done in advance of becoming incapacitated, it can help family members avoid the added stress of weighing care decisions while worrying about their loved one.”
Susan Enguidanos, Associate Professor of Gerontology
August: Time Flies
“We have found that when we ask people to imagine their time left in life is very limited, they notice and remember positive information more – this is the “positivity effect” seen among many older adults.”
Mara Mather, Professor of Gerontology and Psychology
September: School Time
“Education appears to provide lifelong cognitive benefits. On average, people with more education enjoy more years free of cognitive health problems.”
Eileen Crimmins, University Professor and AARP Professor of Gerontology
October: Screen Time
“Social media allows us to watch our friends and families, and even ourselves, grow up and grow old in real time. How fortunate we are to be able to use social media platforms to highlight diverse, authentic people, aging across the lifespan.”
Caroline Cicero, Instructional Associate Professor of Gerontology and Director of the USC Age Friendly University Initiative
November: Face Time
“The holiday season is the perfect time to include people who may be feeling alone as well as those caught up in the day-to-day rat race.”
Kate Wilber, Mary Pickford Foundation Professor of Gerontology
December: Down Time
“The most important gift to give a family caregiver is time to relax and recharge. Arranging respite care gives caregivers the peace of mind they need to fully take a break without guilt or worry.”
Donna Benton, Research Associate Professor of Gerontology and Director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center
A look back at some the school’s biggest news in 2018
- TIME names Valter Longo one of the 50 Most Influential People in Health Care of 2018
- New research reveals a mitochondrial gene that protects against dementia and other diseases of aging
- Faculty experts share perspectives on eating for longevity and delaying brain aging
- Student volunteers serve dementia patients and give caregivers a break
- A historic gift from Board of Councilors member Mei-Lee Ney establishes the Ney Center for Healthspan Science
- Mighty mitochondria flex their DNA power to help nucleus run the cell
- From General Hospital to teaching gerontology: Soap star finds meaning as professor
- Student designers make everyday items and spaces safer and easier to use for all
