-Dr. David Almeida Receives Faculty Scholar Medal

Dr. David Almeida Receives Faculty Scholar Medal

Published on: Apr 14 2025

Congratulations to Dr. David Almeida, Center for Healthy Aging investigator and professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State, on receiving the 2025 Faculty Scholar Medal for Social and Behavioral Sciences!

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-Closeness may cause distress in relationships affected by chronic pain

Closeness may cause distress in relationships affected by chronic pain

Published on: Apr 1 2025

Partner support is an invaluable resource for people dealing with chronic pain, but a new study from researchers in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies demonstrated that relationship closeness for couples in which one partner is dealing with chronic back pain may have both positive and negative effects. This understanding could...

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-PTSD can undermine healthy couple communication when people fear their emotions

PTSD can undermine healthy couple communication when people fear their emotions

Published on: Mar 31 2025

People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms often have trouble communicating and resolving relationship difficulties with their romantic partners, according to previous research by Steffany Fredman, associate professor of human development and family studies at Penn State, and others. In a new study, Fredman and others have found...

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-Recurring food insecurity linked to unhealthy weight changes in older adults

Recurring food insecurity linked to unhealthy weight changes in older adults

Published on: Mar 21 2025

Penn State researchers have discovered that food insecurity in adults aged 65+ is associated with unhealthy weight patterns that can lead to earlier mortality.

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-Understanding aging requires more than counting birthdays

Understanding aging requires more than counting birthdays

Published on: Mar 1 2025

New Penn State research finds that the type of tissue sample matters when measuring a person’s biological age, or how well their body is functioning.

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-Does expressing love make us feel more love?

Does expressing love make us feel more love?

Published on: Feb 14 2025

New research from Dr. Zita Oravecz, associate professor at Penn State, explores how expressing love in daily life influences our well-being. Findings suggest that the more we express love, such as through small acts of kindness or spending quality time with loved ones, the more we feel loved in return.

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-Parents’ childhood predicts future financial support for children’s education

Parents’ childhood predicts future financial support for children’s education

Published on: Dec 17 2024

Parents who endured difficult childhoods gave an average of $2,200 less for their children’s college education than those raised in more privileged circumstances.

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-Can everyday physical activity improve cognitive health in middle age?

Can everyday physical activity improve cognitive health in middle age?

Published on: Nov 12 2024

A midday walk or household chores may improve cognitive processing speed equivalent to being four years younger, according to a new study.

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-Cognitive decline and loneliness linked in older adults over short time periods

Cognitive decline and loneliness linked in older adults over short time periods

Published on: Nov 11 2024

A new study from the Penn State College of Health and Human Development reveals a complex, short-term relationship between loneliness and cognitive performance in older adults. Using smartphone-based data collection, participants aged 70-90 reported feelings of loneliness and completed cognitive tests multiple times a day. These insights highlight...

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An older woman with a concerned look on her face. The back of her head is dissolving to suggest the loss of cognitive function -Newly identified biomarkers may detect early cognitive decline via blood test

Newly identified biomarkers may detect early cognitive decline via blood test

Published on: Nov 2 2023

For some people, extreme stressors like psychiatric disorders or childhood neglect and abuse can lead to a range of health problems later in life, including depression, anxiety and cardiovascular disease. A new study led by researchers in the Penn State Center for Healthy Aging identified genetic indicators that can predict another health problem...

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Nikki Crowley, Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Early Career Chair in Neurobiology and Neural Engineering and assistant professor of biology and of biomedical engineering, with her son after receiving the Women to Watch: Class of 2023 award-Nikki Crowley honored with Women in STEAM Award by the Whitaker Center

Nikki Crowley honored with Women in STEAM Award by the Whitaker Center

Published on: Oct 6 2023

Nikki Crowley, the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Early Career Chair in Neurobiology and Neural Engineering and assistant professor of biology and of biomedical engineering, has been named a Women to Watch: Class of 2023 as part of the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts’ Women in STEAM Awards. The Whitaker Center, located in Harrisburg...

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The Social Science Research Institute welcomes three new co-funded faculty members: Cleothia Franzier, Nicole Kriesberg and Nelson Roque-Social Science Research Institute welcomes three new co-funded faculty members

Social Science Research Institute welcomes three new co-funded faculty members

Published on: Aug 10 2023

The Social Science Research Institute welcomes three new co-funded faculty members: Cleothia Franzier, Nicole Kriesberg and Nelson Roque.

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The Health Effects of Stress as We Age

Published on: Jun 28 2023

Dr. David Almeida spoke to Penn State undergraduate student Kassi Bradburn regarding Dr. Almeida's decades-long research on the role that daily stressors play in the lives of people across the lifespan.  Check out the June 25th Tracking Traits podcast to learn about the health effects of stress as we age!

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New research from Penn State showed that spaces open to the public for low or no cost in a community — like ice cream shops — can support the mental and emotional health of older Black and Hispanic adults living in rural areas. -Community spaces may promote healthy aging for rural Black, Hispanic adults

Community spaces may promote healthy aging for rural Black, Hispanic adults

Published on: Jun 20 2023

Millions of Americans over the age of 65 lack access to the social and emotional support they need for healthy aging, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Non-white individuals in rural communities are especially susceptible. New research from Penn State found that the presence of social infrastructure — shared community...

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-Seed grant awarded to Drs. Cheng, Buxton, and Hakun

Seed grant awarded to Drs. Cheng, Buxton, and Hakun

Published on: Mar 30 2022

Seed grant awarded to PI, Dr. Larry Cheng (ENG), Dr. Orfeu Buxton (BBH), and Dr. Jonathan Hakun (Neurology, COM) from the Center for Human Evolution and Diversity (CHED) entitled "Multi-modal sensor technology and machine learning approaches for evaluating brain health in older adults.”
The Center for Human Evolution and Diversity (CHED) promotes...

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-Penn State establishes the Geroscience and Dementia Prevention Consortium

Penn State establishes the Geroscience and Dementia Prevention Consortium

Published on: Feb 22 2022

There is growing evidence that cognitive decline and dementia can be slowed. According to a recent report commissioned by the Lancet, an estimated 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by targeting modifiable behavioral, physical health, and psychosocial risk factors. There are also new drug therapies being created, behavioral...

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-Dr. Alyssa Gamaldo was awarded a grant from the NIH

Dr. Alyssa Gamaldo was awarded a grant from the NIH

Published on: Oct 5 2021

Psychosocial and Neighborhood Mechanisms and Consequences of Black-White Sleep Disparities on Cognition
Black-White differences have been observed in cognitive performance and risk for cognitive impairment, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Few studies have examined how sleep may further explain these disparities,...

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-Postdoctoral Scholar, Dr. Johnny Felt, won award for presented poster

Postdoctoral Scholar, Dr. Johnny Felt, won award for presented poster

Published on: Sep 16 2021

Dr. Johnny Felt, postdoctoral scholar with the Center for Healthy Aging, was announced as a poster winner at The Innovative Methods in Child Maltreatment Research Conference which took place on September 2-3, 2021. 
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether measuring epigenetic age at midlife could identify those at risk for...

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