Welcome Four New RCMAR Scientists
The JHAD-RCMAR is pleased to announce the selection of three new 2024-2025 Johns Hopkins University RCMAR Scientists. Each scientist received a Pilot Project Award in the amount of $30,000 for a one-year period. The four awardees are:
Harry Barbee, PhD (PI)
"Examining the Effects of Victimization on Subjective Cognitive Health Among Middle-Age and Older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Adults​​." Aim 1. Analyze how experiencing discrimination, verbal harassment, and physical violence directly influences subjective cognitive health outcomes among middle-age and older SGM adults. Aim 2. Analyze how experiencing victimization based on gender, sexual orientation, race, and age directly influences subjective cognitive health outcomes among middle-age and older SGM adults. Aim 3. Analyze how presence of cardiovascular diseases, depressive symptoms, and sleep problems mediate or indirectly influence relationships between experiencing victimization and subjective cognitive health outcomes among middle-age and older SGM adults.​
Abigail Stephan, PhD (PI)
"Intergenerational Family Processes around Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders in Rural Communities." Aims: 1) identify promotive and inhibitory factors that inform how families in rural communities approach discussions and take action related to AD/ADRD, 2) assess AD/ADRD knowledge and perceptions, family function, and intergenerational solidarity in family members across age groups in rural communities, and 3) determine the acceptability of facilitated family discussions and resource sharing around AD/ADRD and aging processes in rural communities.
Claudia Thorne PhD, LISW, LCSW (PI)
"Exploring Resiliency Among Employed Black Caregivers of Persons Living with ADRD" The specific aims are to understand: (1) the unique needs, coping styles, strengths and challenges of the lived caregiving experience of working Black ADRD caregivers; (2) how caregiving impacts aspects of employment and job responsibilities; and (3) what supports are available, preferred, and accessed by working Black ADRD caregivers.
Aisha Dickerson PhD (PI)
"Investigation of occupational exposures in a diverse longitudinal sample of older adults in the United States"​​ The specific aims of this project include: 1. Develop US-specific job exposure matrices (JEMs) for 258 occupational categories by translating previously developed and validated Canadian JEMs, 2. investigate associations between occupational categories and ADRD risk in a diverse sample, and 3. examine associations between occupational exposures and ADRD incidence.​