Dear
Louise
December 2008 Volume 2, Number 11
A publication of the University of Utah Center on
Aging
phone: 801.585.9540
email:
aging@hsc.utah.edu
News and Events
Center on Aging has MovedThe Center on Aging,
along with the Utah Commission on Aging, has moved from the College
of Nursing to the Wilford W. and Dorothy P. Goodwill Humanitarian
Building at the College of Social Work. Many thanks to Dean Jannah
Mather, who graciously provided CoA with our new home. Dean Mather
has also agreed to serve as Chair of CoA's Board of Directors.
SAVE THE DATE - Spring 2009 Research
RetreatThe 2009 Center on Aging Research Retreat will
be held on March 23 (afternoon) and 24 (morning). John Wilmoth, PhD,
Associate Professor, Department of Demography, and researcher in the
Center on the Economics and Demography of Aging, University of
California, Berkeley, will be our keynote speaker. A poster session
and reception will occur on Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning's
schedule will include presentations by recipients of the Center's
2008 pilot grants and Dr. Wilmoth's keynote address. Additional
information regarding the plans for the retreat will follow in
subsequent newsletter editions.
Center on Aging Faculty Member Spotlight: Rob
SingletonDrs. Rob Singleton and Gordon Smith have been
awarded research grants from both the National Institute for
Neurological Disease and Stroke and the American Diabetes
Association to study aspects of neuropathy associated with diabetes
and insulin resistance. Neuropathy is a progressive injury to the
longest peripheral nerves that becomes increasingly common with
age.
Peripheral nerves are capable of regeneration, a process
that is constantly ongoing. Neuropathy can be regarded as a
condition in which length dependent damage to nerve outstrips
regenerative capacity. The American Diabetes Association study will
compare nerve regenerative capacity in normal control subjects,
patients with metabolic syndrome, and patients with diabetes both
before and during a 12 month period of intensive diet and exercise.
It is expected that patients with diabetes or insulin resistance
will show slower nerve regeneration even in the absence of overt
neuropathy, and that diet and exercise will improve regenerative
capacity.
NINDS funding continues a 5 year study to compare
methods for evaluation of neuropathy in patients with diabetes. In
this phase of the study patients with diabetes but without overt
neuropathy will be randomized to standard care, or receive diet and
exercise counseling, and participate in scheduled, mentored exercise
for a period of one year. Subjects will be followed to examine if
these metabolic interventions alter cutaneous innervation or other
measures of nerve function, and whether the treatment reduces
progression to clinically overt neuropathy.
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 About our logo: The bristlecone
pine tree (Pinus longaeva) -
the earth’s oldest inhabitant
with a life span of 4,000 years -
is found only in Utah and
five other western states.
Its extraordinary longevity and
ability to adapt and
survive in extremely harsh
environmental conditions
above 10,000 feet embodies the
investigative spirit
and mission of the Utah Center on
Aging.
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If you
have questions about the University of Utah Center on Aging, please
visit us online at http://aging.utah.edu
801-585-9540 or aging@hsc.utah.edu
Happy
Holidays!
Mark A. Supiano, MD
Executive Director - Center
on Aging
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