East Ridge at Cutler Bay Residents Volunteer for Successful Aging Research
CUTLER BAY, Fla., Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents at East Ridge at Cutler Bay (www.EastRidgeAtCutlerBay.com), a South Florida retirement community, have raised their hand to volunteer for a successful aging research study being conducted by University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.
East Ridge residents are participating in the longitudinal study of normal and cognitive aging which received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and is being conducted over five years involving 300 seniors. University of Miami was the only recipient to receive a grant for investigating novel cognitive measures in detection of normal/abnormal cognitive decline.
The study is being conducted by Dr. David Loewenstein, a Professor at the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Director of Neuropsychology at University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Loewenstein finds the residents are very receptive to being part of a scientific study that will help future generations.
"They are a group of well-educated seniors who are very engaged and active," he said. "Many fall into the study's category known as 'super-agers.' These are people who show little or no symptoms of cognitive decline despite their chronological age."
Seniors in Miami-Dade County are also being recruited to participate in the study. Criteria to participate in the study include participants who are free from psychological problems or have not suffered neurological damage. In addition to the "super agers," some participants may have mild cognitive impairment putting them at risk for Alzheimer's disease while others may have pre-mild cognitive impairment but don't show clear evidence of memory decline.
The longitudinal study focuses on the early detection of early cognitive impairment with emphasis on the early detection of the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
"If we are able to pick up memory disorders earlier and years before current tests now detect, treatments can be offered which are more effective," said Dr. Loewenstein. "Currently, by the time detection can take place, so much impairment in the brain has already taken place."
East Ridge at Cutler Bay is Miami-Dade County's only all-inclusive senior lifestyle community. Now undergoing an extensive $70 million expansion incorporating a new Health Center, the community will offer private assisted living apartments including studio suites and one- and two-bedroom residences as well as a new memory care facility, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.
For more information about East Ridge, please call (305) 256-3564.
SOURCE East Ridge at Cutler Bay
Share this article