Mario D. Garrett
Professor of Gerontology
2016
Address: PO Box 331, La Mesa, CA. 91944
Phone: 619-992 5317
Email: drmariusgarrett@gmail.com
Work: San Diego State University, School of Social Work, 5500 Campanile Drive,
San Diego, CA 92182-1872
Phone: 619-594 6765
Email: mgarrett@mail.sdsu.edu
________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION
1988 Ph.D.
Psychology Department
University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
Thesis: Loneliness: The Experience, Interpretation and Communication.
1980 B.Sc.(Honors) 1st class/summa cum laude
Psychology Department
University of East London, Stratford, Water Lane. London. E15 4LZ
Major: Psychology, Physiology
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2004- Present Professor, School of Social Work, San Diego State University, San
Diego, CA.
2004-2010 Chairman, Department of Gerontology and Director of the University
Center on Aging, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
1996-1997 Senior Researcher Scientist III, Center on Aging, University of North
Texas, TX.
1995-Present Founder and Director of Data Analysis Service, Albuquerque, NM
1994-1995 Project Director, Center on Aging, University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, NM.
1993-1994 Director, International Sexagenarian Research, Malta.
1990-1994 Team Leader, United Nations Population Fund-UN International
Institute on Aging, Malta, People’s Republic of China.
1989-1993 Program Manager/ Deputy Director, United Nations - International
Institute on Aging, Malta.
1988-1989 Project Leader, International Centre for Child Studies, Bristol
University, UK.
1987-1988 Research Fellow, Department of Economics, Surrey
University/London School of Economics, London, UK
1986-1987 Research Officer, School of Management, University of Bath, U.K.
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HONORS
Outstanding Faculty, School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services, San
Diego State University (2015 -2016).
Outstanding Faculty, School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services, San
Diego State University (2010 -2011).
Outstanding Faculty, Department of Gerontology, College of Health and Human Services,
San Diego State University (2007 -2008).
Outstanding Faculty, Department of Gerontology, College of Health and Human Services,
San Diego State University (2006 -2007).
Outstanding Faculty, Department of Gerontology, College of Health and Human Services,
San Diego State University (2005- 2006).
Winner of the first Science Technology 1979 National Science Essay University Competition
(U.K.)
Recipient of the Dean’s Prize for best academic achievement, University of East London,
U.K. (1979)
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SELECTED PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Garrett MD & Poulain M. (under second review 2016) Geography of Aging: The Story of
Belonging. The Journal of Cross Cultural Gerontology.
Garrett MD (under review, 2016) Computer Cognitive Training Intervention. SAGE
Methodology Series.
Garrett MD & Valle R (2016) A Century of Confusion in Researching Alzheimer’s Disease.
Dementia: The International Journal of Healthcare 2(2), 13-22.
Garrett MD & Valle R (2015) A New Public Health Paradigm for Alzheimer ’s Disease
Research. SOJ Neurol 2(1), 1-9.
Garrett MD & Valle RJ (2016) A Methodological Critique of The National Institute of
Aging and Alzheimer’s Association Guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia and
Mild Cognitive Impairment. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and
Practice,15(2) 239–254.
Garrett MD. (2013) Geography and the Elderly. In Oxford Bibliographies in Geography.
Ed. Barney Warf. New York: Oxford University Press.
Valle R & Garrett MD (2013) Developing Dementia Prevalence rates Among Latinos:
Locally Attuned, Data-Based, Service Planning Tool. Journal of Population Ageing
Online first, April, 2013)
Garrett MD, Baldridge D & Williams E (2012) American Indians and Alaska Natives in
Nursing Home: Initial results from the 2008 Minimum Data Set. Pimatisiwin. Volume
10 Number 1.
Antoninetti M & Garrett MD (2012) Body Capital and the Geography of Aging. Royal
Geographical Society. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4762.2012.01089.x
Sugita JA, & Garrett MD (2012). Elder Abuse and Oral Healthcare Providers: An
Intervention to Increase Knowledge and Self Perceived Likelihood to Report. Journal of
Elder Abuse & Neglect. 24(1):50-64.
Reid JL, Morton DJ, Wingard DL, Garrett MD, von Muhlen D, Slymen D & Field M
(2010) Obesity and Other Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and their Association
with Osteoarthritis in Southern California American Indians, 2002–2006. Ethnicity and
Disease;20(4):416-422.
Reid JL, Morton DJ, Wingard DL, Garrett MD, von Muhlen D, Slymen D, & Field M.
(2010) Sex and Age Differences in the Association of Obesity and Smoking with
Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes in Southern California American Indians, 2002–2006.
Ethnicity and Disease ;20(3):231–238.
Garrett MD, Baldridge D, Muus K, Baker-Demaray T, Benson WF, & McGuire, LC. (2010).
Native Migration: In Search of the Missing Cohorts, American Indian and Alaska Native
Migration and the Loss of Caregivers in Native Communities. Pimatisiwin: A Journal of
Aboriginal and Indigenous Community Health, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 1-18.
Garrett MD & McGuire LC (2008) Family Caregivers Declining for American Indians,
Alaska Natives. Aging Today Nov-Dec:11.
Garrett MD, Baldridge D, Benson WF, McGuire LC. (2008) Missing Cohorts of Caregivers
Among American Indian and Alaska Native Communities. The IHS Primary Care
Provider. Volume 33(4), April:105-111.
Morton DJ, Garrett MD, Reid J, & Wingard DJ. (2006) Current Smoking and Type 2
Diabetes In Selected Indian Health Service Clinics, 1998-2003. Am J Public Health. 2008
Mar;98(3):560.
Garrett, MD. (2006) Filial Piety and Capital Transfer as Determinants in the Changing
Patterns of Responsibility of the Elderly: Southeast and Eastern Asia as an Accelerated
Microcosm. Global Impact: Concerns for an Aging Population. San Diego, CA.
Garrett MD, Morton DJ, & Black KF. (2006) Healthy Aging: Lessons from Isleta Pueblo
Elders. Journal of Native Aging and Health. June.
John R, Hennessy CH, Dyeson TB & Garrett MD. (2001) Toward the conceptualization
and measurement of caregiver burden among Pueblo Indian family caregivers. The
Gerontologist. 2001 41: 210-219.
Garrett MD. (1995) Filial Piety or a Filial Pie: Capital Transfer from the Elderly to their
Offspring within Southeast and Eastern Asia in Ingman, SR, Pei X, Ekstrom, CD,
Friedsam, HJ & Bartlett, KR (eds) , An Aging Population, An Aging Planet, and a
Sustainable Future: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally. Series in Social Policy,
Community and Regional Development. University of North Texas, Denton, 1995.
Garrett MD. (1995) Inequalities in the Utilization of Gerontological Services in Malta: A
Micro State Study. The Southwest Journal on Aging, Vol 11, 1.
Garrett MD. (1994) Indigenous Elderly: Our Invisible Heritage. Aging International.
Volume 21, Number 4. December, 1994:43-46
Garrett MD & Scerri M. (1994) Community Services for the Elderly in Malta; In J. Kosberg
(ed) International Handbook of Community Services for the Elderly. Greenwood
Publications. New York.
Kinnie N & Garrett MD (1993) Managerial Strategies for Flexible Employment: An analysis
using cross-sectional data. Management Research News, Vol. 12(3), pp.14 – 15.
DOI:10.1108/eb028018
Blanchflower DG, Oswald AJ & Garrett MD. (1990) Insider Power in Wage Determination:
1980 and 1984. Economica, 57, 143-70.
Blanchflower DG, Oswald AJ, Garrett MD & Deeks AJ. (1987) Entrepreneurship and SelfEmployment
in Britain. UK Department of Employment Working Paper. London, U.K.
Garrett MD. (1982) Electro Convulsive Therapy and its non-Efficacy. Journal of Science
and Technology, UK. Nov.
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BOOKS
Mario D. Garrett Ph.D. 4 out of 21 2016
Garrett MD (2015) Politics of Anguish: How Alzheimer’s Disease became the malady of the
21st Century. Createspace.
Garrett MD (2014) Reclaiming Senile. Createspace.
Garrett MD (2012) New Insights in Aging. Createspace.
Baldridge D, Garrett MD, & Menke K. (2003) Monograph Series. National Indian Council
on Aging, September.
Wozniak D, Yuen L, Garrett MD & Shuman TS. (Editors) (1999) International Symposium
on Herbal Medicine: A Holistic Approach. International Institute for Human Resources
Development, San Diego State University.
Wozniak D, Shuman TS, Roet A, Garrett MD (Editors) (1996) Human Settlements Habitat:
Proceedings and Recommendations of the International Symposium on Human
Settlements. San Diego State University.
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SELECTED OTHER PUBLICATIONS (Non-Refereed)
Garrett MD. (2009). The Sustainability of Dying? Journal of Sustainability. Issue 2(2),
February: online:
Garrett MD (2008). Is Our Population Sustainable? Journal of Sustainability. Issue 1(4),
Sept.
Garrett MD (2008). Editorial: Is Our Population Sustainable? San Diego Union Tribune.
August 15.
Garrett MD. (2003). Asthma Among American Indians. NICOA’s Monograph Series,
Vol. 6, No. 1. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Garrett MD, Baldridge D, Menke KA. (2003). Health Disparities Among Americans.
NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 10, No. 1. Sponsored by the Papa Ola Kahali and
Out of Many One.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 18:
Southern California. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 17.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 17:
American Samoa, Guam, Mariana Islands, Hawaii & Northern California. NICOA’s
Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 16.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 16:
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon & Washington. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5,
No. 15.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 15:
Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah & Wyoming. NICOA’s Monograph
Series, Vol. 5, No. 14.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 14:
Texas. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 13.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 13:
Arkansas, Louisiana & Oklahoma. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 12.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 12:
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri & Nebraska. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 11.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 11:
Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota & Wisconsin. NICOA’s
Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 10.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 9/10:
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky & Ohio. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 9.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 8:
Alabama, Mississippi & Tennessee. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 8.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 7:
Florida. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 7.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 6:
Georgia, North Carolina & South Carolina. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No.
6.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 5:
Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland & District of Columbia. NICOA’s Monograph
Series, Vol. 5, No. 5.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 4:
Delaware & Pennsylvania. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 4.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 3:
New Jersey, Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 3.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 2;
New York. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 2.
Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 1:
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island & Vermont.
NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No.1.
Garrett MD. (2003). USRDS Users Guide. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 6, No. 1.
Garrett MD & Menke KA. (2002). The Continued Disappearance of Indians in Medicaid.
NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol 3, No. 4.
Garrett MD, Menke KA, Baldridge D & Inglis M. (2002). American Indians and Alaska
Natives in the 2000 U.S. Census Part 1. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol 3, No. 3.
Garrett MD, Menke KA, Inglis M, & Baldridge D. (2002). Where and How Indians Die:
Context of American Indian and Alaska Native Deaths. NICOA’s Monograph Series,
Vol 3, No. 2.
Garrett MD & Menke KA. (2002). Indian No More: Inconsistent Classification of
American Indians and Alaska Natives in Medicare. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol 2,
No. 2.
Garrett MD (2000). The Mapping of Gerontological Data. BOLD. Vol 10, No. 2. UNINIA,
Malta.
Garrett MD. (1997). New Mexico American Indian Elders: A Demographic and Services
Profile. New Mexico Office for Indian Affairs/Indian Area Agency on Aging, February
1997.
Baldridge D, Baros S , Campos B, Garrett MD, Henriksen L & Inglis M. (1996). Mapping
Indian Elders...An initiative of the National Indian Council on Aging. National Indian
Council on Aging, July 1996.
Garrett MD. (1994). Indigenous Elderly People: First Global Estimates. BOLD. Vol 4,
No. 4. UN-INIA, Malta.
Garrett MD. (1994). Ageing in East and Southeast Asia: Is family support a viable policy?
BOLD. Vol 4, No. 3. UN-INIA, Malta.
Cuscheri A, Delia L, Garrett MD & Troisi J (1993). Evaluation of Existing Services for
the Elderly and their Implications in Planning for Future Services in the light of
Economic Realities and Demographic Trends. White Paper, Government of Malta,
Parliamentary Secretary for the Care of the Elderly.
Garrett MD. (1993). Emerging Trends and Needs: A scenario for change. New Series of
Papers in Gerontology, University of Liverpool, UK.
Garrett MD. (1993). Emerging Needs in Developing Countries: Two scenarios. BOLD.
Vol.4 No.1. UN-INIA, Malta.
Garrett MD. (1992). Changing Patterns of Responsibility: East and Southeast Asia as an
accelerated microcosm. In United Nations Population Division. Proceedings of the
Expert Group Meeting on Population and Demographic Structure, UNFPA, New
York.
Garrett MD. (1991). Life Expectancy: A Global Analysis and Critique. BOLD, Vol.1
No.2. UN-INIA, Malta.
Garrett MD & Allerton M. (1989). Methodology and Initial Statistics of the
YOUTHSCAN Longitudinal Survey - Part I. International Centre for Child Studies.
Bristol, U.K.
Blanchflower DG, Oswald AJ, Garrett MD & Deeks AJ. (1987). Entrepreneurship and
Self-Employment in Britain. UK Department of Employment Working Paper. London,
U.K.
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MASTER OF SCIENCE THESIS CHAIRPERSON
2013 Luck, Control and the Holocaust. Katrine Teplitsky
2011 An exposition of irregularities in Residential Care Facilities For The Elderly (RCFE)
in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Christine M. Murphy
2009 Elder abuse and oral healthcare providers: an intervention to increase knowledge and
self-perceived likelihood to report. Julie Ann Sugita
2009 Job satisfaction and the Shared Care Model as compared with the Traditional Model
of hospice care. Carolyn Mae Stevenson
2008 An evaluation of the local needs assessment process and its ability to represent
minority elders in San Diego County. Annette S. Quinata
2008 Maximizing Medicaid's continuum of care: an analysis of assisted living facilities and
nursing home residents. Christina LeBlanc Selder
2007 The effects of structured educational programming of RCFE residing elderly with
cognitive impairments: an evaluation of program participation, quality of life and
behavior management. Lindsey Beth Cornwell
2006 How San Diego religious leaders support their congregant members at end of life.
Stacy L. Sampson
2006 A survey of caregiving characteristics. Iris Diaz Canapi
2005 Comparison of activity of daily living (ADL) impairments between urban and rural
elderly nursing home residents in San Diego and Imperial County. Debbie A.
Petrocco
2005 Cultural competency in geriatric case management: promoting the use of primary
care. Sonia L. Castro Negron
2005 Existing and potential health promotion services in San Diego: a survey of religious
institutions. Lisa Randall
2005 The exploratory analysis of mental health services in San Diego County's long term
care continuum. Gisella Stonier
2005 Perceptions of elder abuse and help-seeking patterns among different ethnic and age
groups. Scott William Code
2005 The usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for treatment of
hypertension among Chinese and Taiwanese elderly in Southern California. Shih-Fan
Lin
2005 With friends like these who needs enemies: a study of financial abuse of older adults
by caregivers and family members. Kandi Kayne Lee
2004 Building a dementia care network: a community-based service delivery system for
Latino families in San Diego County. Roberto E. Velasquez
2004 HIV/AIDS epidemiologic trends of the over age 50 population in San Diego
County. Norman Douglas Jackson
2004 Predictors of unsubsidized employment for older workers in a senior community
service employment program. Cynthia Lee Hansen
2004 What are the real-life issues regarding conservatorships in California today?
Jacqueline Santangelo-Herman
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
2012-Present Director, Coming of Age film festival on Aging. Annual festival of films at
the San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts.
2012-Present Board Member, The Glenner Memory Care Centers, Medical and Scientific
Board.
2007-Present Secretary, Board of Directors, Center for Social Advocacy San Diego
County.
2009-2016 Board Member, Alzheimer’s Association San Diego and Imperial County
Chapters, Medical and Scientific Board (2009- present)
2007-2015 Consultant, Tierrasanta Village, a Naturally Occurring Retirement
Community initiative.
2006-2012 Chair, Commission on Aging, La Mesa City Council, Mayoral Nominee.
2005-2007 Chair, Council on Minority Aging.
2001-2004 Citizen Action, Founding Member, Albuquerque, NM
1999-2001 Board Member, Albuquerque City Air Quality Board, NM
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GRANTS & CONTRACTS
PI: M. Garrett 2009-2010
Agency: Southern Caregiver Resource Center
Title: REACH-Caregiver evaluation
PI: M. Garrett 2009-2011
Agency: National Institutes of Health: National Institute of General Medicine
Title: Caregiver Resilience Among American Indians
PI: James Crouch, Co-PI M. Garrett 2009-2010
Agency: National Institutes of Health
Title: NARCH: California Native American Research Center on Health
Mario D. Garrett Ph.D. 8 out of 21 2016
PI: M. Garrett 2004-2006
Agency: Aging and Independence Service, County of San Diego
Title: Review of Caregiver Services
PI: M. Garrett 2005-2006
Agency: Riverside/San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc.
Title: Developing Diabetes Models
PI: D. Baldridge, Co-PI M Garrett 2005-2013
Agency: Centers for Disease Prevention and Control/Healthy Aging Program.
Title: GIS data repository and Monograph Series on AIAN
PI: D. Baldridge, Co-PI Mario Garrett 2006-2009
Agency: US-DHHS-Indian Health Service. Co-Principal Investigator.
Title: Developing a GIS Atlas of American Indian Health.
PI: H. Kerschner, Chief Researcher M. Garrett 2004-2005
Agency: US-Administration on Aging. Primary researcher.
Title: American Indian Aging in Pueblos, University of New Mexico, USA
PI: UN-INIA, Team Leader M Garrett 1989-2004
Agency: United Nations-UNFPA
Title: Support Systems in Aging in the People’s Republic of China.
PI: N. Kinnie, Chief Researcher M. Garrett 1986-1987
School of Management, University of Bath.
Agency: Economic and Social Research Council
Title: Workplace and Industrial Relations (WIRS) data analyses.
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Postgraduate
2016 Programs for the Aging
2012-Present Psychology of Aging
2014-Present Research Methods and Concepts
2012-Present Statistics for Gerontology and Social Work
2004-2008 Theories in Gerontology
Undergraduate
2016 Images of Aging
2014-Present Introduction to Gerontology
2013-Present Research Methodology
2013-Present Diversity and Aging
2012-Present Research Methods
2012-Present Statistics for Social Sciences
2010-Present Aging and Policy
1996 American Indian Aging
Teaching Assistant
1980 Psychology of Emotions
1987 Statistical Programs in Economics
1987 Macro Economics
1989 Economics of Labor
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INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL SHORT UNIVERSITY COURSES:
2004 International Demography, University of Malta.
1995-96 Implemented five two-week aging educational courses for the University of
New Mexico Center on Aging across all of the nineteen Pueblos in New
Mexico.
1994 Interpretation of Results. China Research Center on Aging, Beijing, People’s
Republic of China.
1993 Survey Logical Checks. China Research Center on Aging, Beijing, People’s
Republic of China.
1992 Statistical Analysis of Survey Data. China Research Center on Aging, Beijing,
People’s Republic of China.
1991 Computer Graphics and Presentation of Data. China Research Center on
Aging, Beijing, People’s Republic of China.
1990 Support Ratio and Employment. Civil Service Update. Kuala Lumper,
Malaysia.
1989 International Demography and Aging, INSEA, Rabat Morocco.
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PSYCHOLOGY TODAY BLOGS (online):
Fallacy of Fluid/Crystalized Intelligence in Older Adults
Fluid and Crystalized intelligence are a remnant of an old eugenicist legacy that have
no practical or clinical use today. Is it time to discard them?
Suicide: Not All in the Head
The reason why suicide is going up is because we are ignoring its social component. A
hundred years of research and we need to revisit Durkheim’s suicide theory.
Witness My Life
How witnessing--the act of affirming one's presence and passage in time--can be the
love we seek.
If Alzheimer’s Disease Was Treated Like Cancer
Translating The Blue Ribbon Panel of expert advisers basic steps in research applied
for dementia. A real set of guidelines for the malady of the 21st century.
The Death of Biological Determinism
A new study shows that genetics are not the sole factors that determine disease.
How Mild Is "Mild Cognitive Impairment"?
Is memory loss the slippery slope to Alzheimer's disease?
Reversible Alzheimer's Disease
Normal-pressure hydrocephalus mimics Alzheimer's disease and is likely to be
diagnosed as such. But this syndrome can be reversed in most cases.
Early Emotional Trauma and Alzheimer’s Disease
Trauma in childhood, including emotional trauma are prime candidates for epi-genetic
changes that seem to contribute to Alzheimer's disease.
Wrong on So Many Fronts: The Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis
Intellectual honesty is knowing that we do not know. Only then can we let go of longheld
beliefs and explore alternatives.
Complexity Theory and Alzheimer’s disease: A Call to Action
Another way out of the research cul de sac
Piaget’s Missing Cognitive Stage
Why did Jean Piaget stop at 11 years when he was developing his theory of cognitive
development. Did ageism determine that he saw aging as simply a decline?
Are We Ready to Throw Out Epidemiological Transition?
Our knowledge of infectious diseases is changing how we view emerging pandemics
and how we deal with diseases of old age.
A New Paradigm for Alzheimer's disease Research
The zeal to find some biological marker for Alzheimer's disease has been unfounded.
Emerging studies are now focusing more on the public health context of the disease.
Too Many Bad Drugs for Older Adults
What type of medications are dangerous for older adults?
Death of Happiness is Greatly Exaggerated
Is happiness really not important are we just itching for some dramatic results?
The Preservation of Human Energy Through Aging
What does aging teach us about how the body preserves energy?
Is Research Entering Into a New Eugenics Period?
The illusion that Alzheimer's disease is a purely neurological disease has given birth to
a new wave of biological determinism promoted by RDoC classification of mental
disease
The Politics of Anguish
Celebrating a century of research in Alzheimer's disease we still find the disease a
conundrum. A new book argues that this has been brought about because of politics.
We Are Becoming Gods
While we are behaving more like gods, we are learning that we are less human.
Older Adults Care More
Two main thoughts in modern history: Freud's psychoanalytic theory and Heidegger's
philosophy of being both hinge on the concept of death. why is death necessary to
explain living?
God, Mathematics and Psychology
This discussion focuses on mathematics as a creation of psychology. Sophisticated,
complex and ever evolving, but nevertheless psychology.
Lost With Dementia
What is the best strategy for finding people with dementia who get lost?
Legal Consequences of Dementia
In addition to the personal changes that come with being diagnosed with dementia
there are other broader consequences including medical, legal and financial
considerations. A diagnosis is a crude awakening that changes your life.
The Psychology of Physics
Perhaps Classical Mechanics was more a Treatise on Psychology rather than Physics
Ontological Questions
Why is Dasein--being in the present-- so important for Heidegger? Being a contrary,
why not live in "they-selves" if the "our-selves" is so painful? If I was designing a new
way of existing, would I elect to be aware of "being" and why?
Geography of Aging and the Illusion of Self
My body is a fusion of the outside world and an internal reality. The distinction
between me and them is purely a creation of my mind.
Ménage à Trois: Sex, Dementia and the Law
The law will need to re-evaluate the legal standing of someone with dementia. Crude
laws cannot deal with the fragile nature of relationships, and sexual relationship,
among patients diagnosed with dementia.
Lifespan
Why do people confuse lifespan, with life expectancy, with average years of life and
years expected to live?
Genetics of Longevity
There is a schism between lifespan and theoretical lifespan…human behavior.
Life Expectancy
Check a dictionary and the entry for Life Expectancy is wrong...no wonder so many
people misunderstand the concept.
Reclaiming Senile
A collection of my Psychology Today Blogs.
Is Gut Bacteria Designed to Kill Older Adults?
There are 10 times more bacterial cells in your body than human cells. We have an
ostensibly symbiotic relationship with bacteria. But is this relationship the same when
we get older, or is bacteria trying to kill us?
How You Accept Other's stereotypes.
The word senile has become associated with dementia, although its earlier meaning
was "pertaining to old age." Such stereotypes pervade our social life and we need to
start eroding this negativity.
Social Security: Supreme Court Denies Fifth Amendment
The US Constitution protects citizens from seizure of property. Our Social Security
contributions are an investment for our retirement. Protected under the Fifth
Amendment such property cannot be denied. Or can it?
Robin Williams's Autopsy Report
Why do we find it so comforting to identify a biological disease as the cause of a
trauma? Is this science or are we finding psychological excuses to not face the reality of
an individual's pain and anguish?
Is Cancer the Cure for Alzheimer's disease?
The finding that cancer is inversely associated with Alzheimer's disease has the
biochemists in a frenzy to understand this relationship. The search for single
biomarkers is yet again exposed as a holy grail.
Having Children Beneficial to Living Longer?
Are we to take a new study seriously that having children increases our life expectancy,
or is there a more simple explanation for the results of this new study from Denmark?
Are Humans Heading for Extinction?
A perfect storm is brewing, with women having fewer children, sperm count declining
and the obesity rate increasing making it harder for women to conceive. All point
towards the extinction of the human race. Were we so wrong in the 60s? Can we make
it right?
Is Castration the Answer to Living Longer?
Is castration one way to cheat the body to stay around longer, or are there better ways
to do that? Centenarians can show us a more pragmatic way to live longer.
Grieve Alone, Your Way
How come grief therapists got it so wrong with older adults? There are no stages.
Are We Meant to Live Longer?
Our bodies are built to last longer than we are currently living to. Our cells can
replicate for more than a few lifetimes, while stem cells can replace dying cells. So why
are we using them up so quickly?
How Old Are You?
If our body is in a constant frenzy of renewal how come we look so old?
Heart to Heart Talk
Heart transplant recipients report that they acquire characteristics and desires of their
heart donors. Sometimes specific memories as well. Perhaps our heart does hold the
secrets of love after all.
Oldest Boldest Strongest
Older adults are exceptional human beings...some are exceptional athletes at older age.
There is a lot of variance in older adults' capacity and we need to start appreciating this
diversity.
Our Own Virtual Reality Box: The Brain
If our brain is designed to make a model of reality, can we use this to explain older
adults' behavior?
Financial Elder Abuse by Banks, Casinos and Lawyers
Why are we going for the low hanging fruits in financial elder abuse? We need to go
for perpetrators that are quietly doing more financial harm to older adults: Banks,
Lawyers and Casinos. This level of institutional abuse we can prevent.
No Pissing Joke
Why does urinating become more problematic the older you get?
Is Dementia Caused by Aluminum Through Fluoridation?
In some states where fluoridation is mandated like Kentucky, 41 percent of older
adults have lost their teeth, why are these people drinking fluoridated water?
Collecting Problems
Why do older adults hoard?
Fluoridation and Dementia
If the beta-amyloid deposits are truly the cause of dementia then why do we allow
fluoride in our water that causes them?
Sleep Is the Best Medicine for Older Adults
Why older adults have difficulty sleeping and why this could accelerate negative
outcomes.
Traveling With Dementia
There is increasing friction caused by passengers with dementia (even early stage) when
they have to maneuver the labyrinth of air travel.
Death By Numbers
How many years will you gain at 87 if you eliminated all the main killers such as
Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, Influenza and Pneumonia, and
chronic obstructive lung disease? Is 5.7 years enough? So why are we so fixated on a
cure and not in finding better CARE.
Dating at Older Age
Although ostensibly looking for different qualities on online dating sites, men and
women share one common need--not to become caregivers (again).
Our Subconscious Internal Reality
Our complex brain develops a very detailed reality simulation. We live in this simulated
world more than we are conscious of. Until we face a trauma. Then the simulation is
shown for what it is, an illusion.
Kafkaesque Government Guidelines on Dementia
If the government guidelines on dementia are designed to stimulate research why did
they leave out psychology? Why are the guidelines geared up exclusively for organic
diseases? Is the pharmaceutical industry running the science of dementia?
Down Syndrome and Aging
As people with intellectual and developmental disabilities age, they experience ill-health
earlier and faster. They are also predisposed to get early onset dementia. Since most of
their caregivers are aging parents, we are witnessing the disconnect between policy and
needs of older adults.
Following Your Spouse to Death
Overall male survivors were more likely to die than females. For both male and female,
the risk of death was the highest when their spouse died of dementia compared to
other causes (20 and 16 percent higher mortality for males and female respectively).
Complexity of Our Brain
How can we map the brain's 125,000 trillion switches?
Dementia and Gambling
If gambling disorder is a pathology as defined by the DSM-V, why is it that sick people
are not protected?
Casinos Preying on Older Adults
Casinos target older adults and their specified intention is to forge alliances that allow
them to extend their reach into that community. Financial Elder Abuse laws might be
their downfall.
Cholesterol and Our Aging Brain
The brain is obese, more than 60 percent fat, hardly moves, and thrives on a diet of
cholesterol which it produces itself. You will be surprised why the brain produces so
much cholesterol and why reducing cholesterol might not benefit all.
Leaving Behind the Victim of Dementia
Although our focus always goes to the victim of dementia, in our peripheral vision we
forget to notice the detrimental effect dementia has on the caregiver.
Fascination with Obituaries
Why do older adults like to read the obituaries? Is it a morbid fascination or is this a
strategy for surviving?
If I Were to Be Young Again
What lessons would you pass to yourself in the past?
Death Experience
How we experience death is in contradiction to our fear of it.
Children are Already Demented
If dementia is due to neuropathology, to some disease, then all of us should get
dementia because most of us have some disease, some scaring in our brain. Even
young adults have been found with such disease. The new guidelines from the
National Institute on Aging makes everyone with such brain injuries demented. Is this
a new biological determinism ignoring psychology?
Cougar Sex
There are diverse articles written about older women having sex with younger men.
Blame the biology which continues conspiring to match the sexual needs of older
women with those of younger men.
Children Killing their Parents
Why is there an increase in the number of children killing their parents? Fathers are
twice as likely to be killed rather than mothers--by their 18 year old sons. Younger
children use guns, while older ones use knives and other instruments.
Dying to be Born
Dying cells are necessary for the development of specific organs, they are like the
scouts in a new territory. So what does it say about cancer cells that never die?
Aging Plastic Surgery
How will cosmetic surgery look on you when you become much older?
Intergenerational Conflict: An American Artifact
When we spend so much on children and older adults why are our outcomes so poor
compared to other OECD countries? Is the intergenerational conflict a product of
political incompetence?
Radical Wisdom of Older Adults
A radical thinker has pertinent meaning about the role older adults need to adopt to
become wise.
Epigenetics and Dementia: The Role of the Environment
Our predisposition to dementia, on the basis of family history, is only 10-5% of cases
of dementia. This variance in dementia might be mediated or moderated by a
mechanism controlled through epigenetic.
Faith Leaders and End-Of-Life
Faith leaders become subservient to health care providers in the end-of-life debate. We
need faith leaders to become better informed so that they can contribute intelligently
to the debate.
Diversity in Elder Abuse
There is no culture that allows for the derogation of our elders. And there is an
urgency to elder abuse cases. The victims have a high--natural in most cases--mortality.
Dementia and Sex in Nursing Homes
The variability of how we deal with sexual activity in a nursing home is indicative of
the ambivalence we have about both sex and people with dementia. What is consent
among people with diminished capacity?
Happiness and Living Longer
The ultimate secret to living to extremely older age is how you communicate with your
body. Being happy tells your body that you are still part of life and want to be here.
Happiness is how we communicate that we accept where we are and grateful for it.
Fibs, Puffery, Lies and Immortality
We die not because we are doing something wrong. Exercise, diet and self-awareness
through meditation is an excellent way to improve the quality of our life. But it will not
reverse or stop aging. Telomerase activity is not the fountain of youth it is a promoter
of cancer.
Crying For Humanity
Sometimes, when I am teaching young students, about the value of older age I am lost
for words. We know, intuitively for ourselves how we have become wiser, but what "Is
it all about?" This is what it is all about.
Longevity and Religion/Spirituality
Religion is not the same as spirituality, but what do they contribute to living longer.
Studies show that older people are more likely to be religious or spiritual. What causes
what and how does it affect how older adults are treated.
Depression without Sadness
How can we detect depression among older adults if they do not express sadness? This
is why depression is the silent killer among older adults and the problem is not just the
patient.
Painful Death
Why do Americans still die in pain? When there should be outrage that older adults are
subjected to inhumane treatment, what we see instead is posturing. How will you
guarantee that you will not die in pain?
Hospice and Religion at the End of Life
Most faith leaders are ill-equipped to deal with end of life issues. Religious leaders
often receive little formal training in dealing with end-of-life issues; devote very little
time to dying congregational members; and most surprisingly, are not comfortable
talking about death.
Minority Older Adults
U.S. residents are less healthy than their European counterparts. Despite being the
most lavish health care spender, the United States is falling farther behind other
industrialized countries. Minority older adults fare much worse.
Last Will and Testament
Is it better to leave our children money or values?
Ageless Animals
Ageless animals have thought us that there are two ways to live longer: increasing the
lifespan and slowing down the aging process. Individually all we can do for now is to
try to not accelerate aging by excessive negative behaviors.
Conceptual Solution to Elder Abuse
With a growing older adult population it is predictable that elder abuse will increase.
What is needed is a program of prevention but very little effort is directed at this.
Homeless Older Adults
The sad part of our economic depression is seeing older adults that have lost
everything and become homeless. It's not that poverty is more difficult for some
people than it is for others, but older adults often have less resilience to change their
plight.
The Old Age of Psychology
Death from Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise. Today is the age of "old age" and
psychology is the science of gerontology.
Older Tourists
Boomers are the wealthiest generation in history, and even though only 9 percent are
truly affluent—defined as having pre-tax incomes of $150,000 or more if working, or
$100,000 or more if retired—they will transform travel as we know it.
Aging and Pandemics
Although we have entered a tranquil and stable stage in our population--with an aging
population where we are mainly dealing with long-term diseases--we do have the threat
of pandemics that will dramatically affect this equilibrium.
We Are All Becoming Demented
The new NIA Alzheimer's disease guidelines miss out on the full picture of other
mediating and moderating factors that control the expression of Alzheimer's disease.
Why are the guidelines so skewed?
Body Symphony: My personal experience of aging
Ill health is more than an inconvenience, it creates an imbalance.
Body Music: My Personal Experience of Aging
Kepler believed that music is the language of cosmology, but I believe music is also
how our body communicates with us and our constant internal narrative.
Aristotle and Cool Old Age
In the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, men with a core body temperature
below the average (median) lived significantly longer than men with body temperature
above the average.
Taoist Orgasms Among Older Adults
With women surviving longer than men, Taoist teachings ignored females in order to
make their assertions about longevity hold true.
Pet Therapy For Older Adults
Training your pet for Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a long term commitment for
both you and your pet. Becoming part of the therapy for frail older adults.
Aging Teeth
Oral health is not just about good hygiene but also about good healthy habits. The
mouth tells us a lot about the overall health of an individual. Maintaining good gum
health reduces speed of aging.
Caregiving: What Harm Can It Do?
Caring for someone you love is, or will be, one of the most stressful events in your life.
By recognizing this and managing your obligations so that you give yourself respite,
you will go some way to not becoming ill or harming yourself.
Anti-Aging : A New Windmill for Don Quixote
In 2009, the American Medical Association (AMA) assessed the risks and benefits of
growth hormone, testosterone, estrogen, and DHEA for anti-aging. The AMA
concluded that the risks outweigh the potential benefits.
The Big Lie
Why is it that economists, psychologists and gerontologists cannot get this message out
to the public? The big lie involves social security and how USA government
expropriated an insurance program out of $2.7 trillion
Plastic Surgery: Vanity in Older Age
Why are more and more older adults reverting to surgery to make them look younger?
Loving Your Brain
There is more to Empathy—the human ability to feel the pain that others experience.
It also predisposes understanding, attachment, bonding and love
How Physicians Die
Physicians know their prognosis more than the general public. So when they know that
they are dying how do they deal with it. The answer might surprise you.
Aging Prisoners
The USA has 2,304,115 people incarcerated, which is more than the population of 83
countries in the world. As prisoners age, who is responsible for them? The parallel is
with our own aging. Are we taking responsibility for our aging? This article exposes
how aging is a taboo.
Gerontocracy, Plutocracy, Oligarchy and the Aging Revolution
The aging revolution has some unintended consequences in politics...is it time to have
a health check for our politicians?
Are Older Adults Lonelier?
A general assumption exists that older people are lonelier then other age groups, but
this is not the case. The issue with loneliness among older adults is that it might reflect
other more serious changes.
Fear of Dementia
After cancer, dementia is looming its ugly head as a fearsome monster. How an
modern man and women conquer the fear?
Sex, Romance, and Relationships of Older Adults
Sex and romance are important for all adults, including older adults. Does sex change
with age and is it due to medication?
Ageism and Modern Variants
What are the different ways that we treat older adults differently?
Older Adults' Guns Killing Our Children
Although older adults might be the owners of guns, and tend to have guns in their
household, the victims are children—theirs and others'.
Crying Older Adults
Does crying serve a function? And who benefits most?
Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll
What are the issues surrounding recreational drug use among older adults?
Aging Tattoos
More than a third of 18-25 year olds in the USA have a tattoo. What happens when
their tattoo starts aging?
America's Obligated Deficit
What no one wants to touch, Medicare and Social Security in the USA is known as the
third rail, an electrified rail. This post touches on some of those electrifying issues.
Happiness and Dementia
Why are older adults happier and can people suffering dementia experience happiness
as well?
Sense of Smell and Dementia
Is there a way to predict the early stages of dementia? Perhaps your sense of smell
provides a clue.
LGBT Frail Older Adults
How is aging a different experience for most LGBT frail older adults?
Preparing for Death
Similar to the Victorians, we shy away from talking about death, our eventual demise.
But communicating our wishes is the only way to ensure that our wishes might be
honored.
Assisted Living
The emerging cottage industry of providing assisted living for frail older adults is
fraught with problems that politicians do not want to address because they see it as an
alternative to nursing homes.
Dementia
The demographic facts of dementia are worrisome.
Aging in Place
What are NORCs? Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities. See how they
impact aging in place in San Diego.
Elder Abuse
Often called the quiet violence elder abuse is on the increase.
Sex in Older Age
Sex has been shown to promote longevity, but what are the issues?
The Cost of Dying
Pricing death out of health insurance. Is this the solution to how we manage the end of
life?
Live Long and Prosper
What ever happened to all those people preaching immortality?
Dying to Live Longer (2)
Science has many strange beginnings and the final frontier in humanity is the question
of immortality.
Dying to Live Longer (1)
These stories might seem strange but they created the science of endocrinology.
Brain Plasticity in Older Adults
Ever wonder what it takes to learn, even in older age?
Dying for Real
It is estimated that 100 billion people have died since humans emerged on earth, but
do we know when someone is dead?
Cemeteries as Toxic Landfills
Our final legacy to the world is how we are buried or cremated, but what is a greener
way of burial?
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NEWSPAPER ARTICLES (online):
Times of Malta
Older but happier
Can elderly care standards be enforced?
Dementia caregivers need to de-stress
How burying the dead is polluting the living
Fooled by Alzheimer's cures
Protect yourself from elder abuse
Fearing memory lapses
Expiry date stamped on our genes
When the Lord wants to take me...
The way we die: elderly need end-of-life options
The ageing body
Medication is major problem affecting sex among Older Adults
San Diego Union Tribune
Jing debunked; sexual activity shown to aid life expectancy
Choose age vocabulary carefully
Brain cells of older adults can grow when pressed
Few older adults in film and television
Attitude on aging matters
When it comes to sex, knowledge is power
Dig it: we become cooler with age
Cell phones a convenient link between caregivers, patients
Dealing with end-of-life issues requires support and guidance
Older adults are the backbone of volunteerism
Dangers of the sexual revolution continue in old age
Incidence — and fear — of dementia increase with life expectancy
Study links aging with increase in positive thoughts
Death still mystery for the living
Technology is changing intensive care
Help is out there for those facing depression, loneliness
Dying to live longer, part 1
Dancing keeps body and brain limber
Feeling of well-being among older adults is on the decline
Homelessness up among seniors
More older adults opt for the surgical illusion of youth
Excesses can devastate older gamblers
Life span is a moving target
Health care inequity is a sad fact of life
Don't let hearing loss lead to isolation
Increase in aging population means challenges to transportation
Emotional maturity means loving your brain
As we age we become more practical, wise
Luck plays part in longevity, but don't discount attitude
Pet therapy provides benefits for everyone
Rich or poor, older adults like to give
Nation's youth trending toward diverse majority
You need sleep, no matter how old you are
Aging prison population looks destined to be a costly care issue
Prevent blindness with early detection
Federal poverty level comes up short for elderly
Cost of health care late in life can vary widely
The graying of the drug generation
Most older adults seek independence
Call center, website can provide support
Dying to live longer
Need for dental care increases with age
Dementia appears to be a pandemic in the making
Musical interaction key to emotion and, perhaps, longevity
Many shy away from planning their exit
Prevent elder abuse by staying in touch
The brain can grow and be flexible for life
Attitude on aging matters
Few older adults in film and television
Travel tops the dream list for boomers
Anti-aging products can have side effects
Shop wisely for residential care
Aging prison population looks destined to be a costly care issue
Nation's youth trending toward diverse majority
Pet therapy provides benefits for everyone
You need sleep, no matter how old you are
Prevent blindness with early detection
Looking at retirement
Increase in aging population means challenges to transportation
More older adults opt for the surgical illusion of youth
The changing face of aging in San Diego
Cost of health care late in life can vary widely
Older adults are the backbone of volunteerism
Fall-related injuries are a growing threat
As we age we become more practical, wise
Dance as journey of discovery
Planning for fewer cars
Clean living will only get you so far
Getting too old for our neighborhoods
Musical interaction key to emotion and, perhaps, longevity
Need for dental care increases with age
Boomers make 50 nifty
Senior-related issues getting a lot of ink these days
Is our population sustainable?
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MEDIA HONORS (online):
Most Popular UCSD-TV Program for 2013 generated 1,782,270 hits. Brain Fitness: Social
Aspects of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment – Research on Aging
