Research

Lifespan Cognitive Neuroscience

Aging begins at birth. The IOG’s Lifespan Cognitive Neuroscience Research Program includes faculty experts in the structure and function of brain development across childhood, midlife and late-life. Since 2001, they have led a continuous study on how the brain changes with age. They seek early predictors of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. They assess the impact of stress, high blood pressure, fitness and nutrition on brain aging. And they study how the young developing brain responds to environmental and genetic factors.

Jessica Damoiseaux, PhD ConnectLab: Brain Connectivity and Aging, Co-director, Lifespan Cognitive Aging program
Ana Daugherty, PhD Healthy Brain Aging Lab: agingbrain.wayne.edu
Voyko Kavcic, PhD Cognitive Neuroscience ELECTRA Study

Urban Health Equity

No one knows what tomorrow will bring, but these faculty members carefully analyze data to make intelligent predictions about the future of aging. Working in health economics, methodology, minority health, and the politics and policy of aging, they have studied the effects of health system reform on older adults, assessed the future needs of older adults in several Michigan counties, and warned of an impending impoverished population of older adults struggling to pay for rent and health needs. Within six months of the pandemic’s start, faculty also analyzed Census Bureau and other data sets to demonstrate Covid's dire impact on the mental health of older Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians.

Wassim Tarraf, PhD
Thomas B. Jankowski, PhD
Carrie Leach, PhD
Tam Perry, PhD, Director, Pre-Doctoral Training

Aging and the Environment

How we respond to the demands and opportunities of aging depends on our culture and the environment we live in. IOG faculty include two anthropologists and a professor of health communication. They strive to understand the disparities that negatively impact healthy aging. They've studied the older Detroiters who fish the Detroit River for food, and the older African Americans who garden to improve well-being. They are dedicated to helping Detroit residents understand and prevent health risks and stay connected to accurate health information.

Amanda Leggett, PhD – Leggett Caregiving Lab
Mark Luborsky, PhD, Director, Aging and Health Disparities Research Program
Jessica Robbins, PhD
Rodlescia Sneed, PhD - The Share Group Website

Financial Health & Safety

The FBI reports that 105,301 older adults were victims of financial fraud in 2020, losing an astounding $1 billion. IOG faculty recognized this threat years ago when they launched research to identify the vulnerable and created online tools to determine risk of exploitation and inform and protect older adults. OlderAdultNestEgg.com is a free, easy-to-navigate website for older adults, caregivers and professionals to help assess financial decision-making and vulnerability to exploitation. The SAFE (Successful Aging thru Financial Empowerment) program works in tandem to counsel, educate and recover funds for victims of fraud and identity theft. SAFE has saved or recovered more than $120,000 for victims.

Peter Lichtenberg, PhD - SAFE as Prevention Study, OlderAdultNestEgg.com: for Professionals, Odler Adults, and Family & Friends
LaToya Hall, MSW - SAFE Program