USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health Eileen M. Crimmins Andrus Gerontology Center October 21, 2004

What do we study? Population health differences Population health trends Factors causing these

Health Outcomes Mortality (by cause) Physical functioning Cognitive functioning Diseases Demographic Factors Age Gender Ethnicity Race/ Nativity SES Education Income Wealth Poverty Occupation Focus of Research: Race/Ethnic and SES Differences

Biological Risk Health Behaviors Exercise Drinking Diet Smoking Social Psychological Social support Marital status Depression Health Care Access Access to care Insurance Coverage Medication usage Health Outcomes Mortality (by cause) Physical functioning Cognitive function Diseases Biological Risk Cardiovascular Factors Metabolic Factors Inflammation Markers HPA Function SNS Activity Vitamin/ Antioxidant status Genetic Markers* Demographic Factors Age Gender Ethnicity Race/ Nativity Language SES Education Income Wealth Poverty Status Occupation

Ongoing studies, pilot projects, and network activities Inflammation and Metabolic risk in different social/economic settings Genetic markers for use in population surveys Antioxidants/APOE interact in cognitive decline,, telomeres New markers – structure and function of brain, bone density New ages – problems of aging begin in young life