Einstein-Montefiore Investigators Present Aging Research at Gerontological Society of America’s Annual Scientific Conference

Newswise — October 30, 2014—(BRONX, NY)—Investigators at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center will present their latest aging research at the Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) 67th Annual Scientific Meeting. Topics include the identification of a genotype that can predict survival, risk factors for cognitive impairment and the cellular biology of aging. GSA 2014 will take place November 5-9, 2014 in Washington, D.C.

“Einstein-Montefiore has distinguished itself in a range of aging fields – from basic biology to clinical diagnosis and treatment,” said Joe Verghese, M.D., chief, division of geriatrics, department of medicine, and director of the Center for the Aging Brain and the division of cognitive and motor aging, department of neurology, at Einstein and Montefiore. “Our ongoing longitudinal studies, in particular the Einstein Aging Study and LonGenity, also link the bench and the bedside, improving our understanding of the aging process and driving discoveries that may potentially slow it.”

Dr. Verghese will attend GSA 2014 and is available for interviews.

Einstein-Montefiore symposia presentations are:

1. High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Phenotype and Genotype Predict Survival in Individuals with Exceptional Longevity – This study of 326 older women and 106 older men found that those who survived longest had both higher levels of “good” (HDL) cholesterol and a variant of the gene CETP that increase blood levels of HDL. Presented by Sofiya Milman, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, Einstein, and attending physician, endocrinology, Montefiore. • Symposium: “Human Genetics of Aging and Longevity;” Thurs., Nov. 6, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM; Room 208AB (CC) at Walter E. Washington Convention Center

2. Hearing Impairment and Incident Frailty in Older Adults – 2,000 individuals age 70 and older were analyzed to evaluate if hearing impairment is linked with frailty. Findings demonstrated that those with moderate or greater hearing impairment had a 61.3% increased risk of frailty compared with normal hearing individuals, indicating that hearing impairment is independently associated with frailty. Presented by Rebecca Kamil, Einstein medical student. • Symposium: “Implications of Hearing Impairment for Physical and Mental Functioning in Older Adults;” Sat., Nov. 8, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM; Room 204A (CC) at Walter E. Washington Convention Center

3. Alterations in Body Composition with Aging and Connections to Diseases and Mortality –Abdominal (visceral) obesity appears to be a stronger indicator than body mass index (BMI) for determining a person’s risk of dying. This may be particularly true in Asian populations, who have a lower “healthy” BMI range and are more likely to have abdominal obesity. Presented by Nir Barzilai, M.D., Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Chair in Aging Research and director, Institute for Aging Research, Einstein and attending physician, endocrinology, Montefiore. • Symposium: “Making Connections: East meets West on Common Clinical Problems;” Sat., Nov 8, 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM at Capitol (M) at Washington Marriott Marquis

4. Selective Autophagy in the Fight against Proteotoxicity in Aging Autophagy— Autophagy—the degrading and recycling of intracellular components—is an essential cellular process. Dr. Cuervo’s lab studies the consequences of the decrease in autophagy efficiency that occur with age. Presented by Ana Maria Cuervo, M.D., Ph.D., professor of developmental and molecular biology, co-director of the Institute for Aging Research, the Robert and Renée Belfer Chair for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Einstein. • Symposium: “The Collapse of Proteostasis: The Why, Where, and How;” Thurs., Nov. 6, 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM at Liberty Salon L (M) Washington Marriott Marquis

The Einstein Aging Study (EAS), a forty-year, longitudinal study that examines the how the brain ages, is presenting a poster. The study, led since 1992 by Richard Lipton, M.D., director, division of cognitive aging and dementia, department of neurology, Einstein and Montefiore, investigates the normal aging process of the brain and how it goes awry, leading to dementia and other cognitive deficits.

5. Poor Renal Function Predictive of Frontal Executive Dysfunction in an Elderly Community-Dwelling Sample – Poor renal function is considered a risk factor for cognitive impairment in older adults, but has rarely been studied in community-based samples. Researchers found that low eGFR, a test of kidney function, is a risk factor for poor executive function (i.e., the ability to plan and organize), which in turn may interfere with patients’ adherence to kidney disease treatment. Presented by Andrea Zammit, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow, Einstein. • Poster session: “Cognition,” Wed., Nov .5, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Exhibit Hall D at Walter E. Washington Convention CenterIn addition, there will be two symposia and three poster presentations on ESCAPE, an Einstein-Montefiore-based study examining how stress impacts cognition. The study follows adult residents living in Co-op City, a large cooperative housing development located in the northeast Bronx. The study is led by Einstein and Montefiore’s Dr. Lipton, but all presentations will be made by collaborators at Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Healthy Aging.###

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva UniversityAlbert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University is one of the nation’s premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2013-2014 academic year, Einstein is home to 743 M.D. students, 275 Ph.D. students, 103 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 313 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 2,000 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2013, Einstein received more than $150 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Through its extensive affiliation network involving Montefiore, Jacobi Medical Center—Einstein’s founding hospital, and three other hospital systems in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island, Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and view us on YouTube.

About Montefiore Medical CenterAs the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore is a premier academic medical center nationally renowned for its clinical excellence, scientific discovery and commitment to its community. Recognized among the top hospitals nationally and regionally by U.S. News & World Report, Montefiore provides compassionate, patient- and family-centered care and educates the healthcare professionals of tomorrow. The Children's Hospital at Montefiore is consistently named in U.S. News' "America's Best Children's Hospitals." With four hospitals, 1,491 beds and 90,000 annual admissions, Montefiore is an integrated health system seamlessly linked by advanced technology. State-of-the-art primary and specialty care is provided through a network of more than 130 locations across the region, including the largest school health program in the nation and a home health program. Montefiore's partnership with Einstein advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. The medical center derives its inspiration for excellence from its patients and community, and continues to be on the frontlines of developing innovative approaches to care. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org and www.montekids.org. Follow us on Twitter; like us on Facebook; view us on YouTube.