Athan Bezaitis
Stories by Athan Bezaitis:
Why Humans Outlive Ape Ancestors
In spite of their genetic similarity to humans, chimpanzees and great apes have maximum life spans that rarely exceed 50 years.
Tokyo Conference Promotes Healthy Aging
USC Davis School of Gerontology Dean Gerald C. Davison delivered the keynote address at a major conference on healthy aging at the Yamano College of Aesthetics in Tokyo, Japan.
Davison Attends Global Summit in Dubai
For the second year in a row, USC Davis School of Gerontology Dean Gerald C. Davison traveled to Dubai to participate in the Summit on the Global Agenda.
USC Student Named to Commission on Aging
Inspiration struck USC gerontology student Lynne Reynolds when she noticed that a large number of seniors living alone in her Berkeley neighborhood were rarely visited by friends or relatives.
Improving End-of-Life Care for African Americans
Since hospice care became a Medicare benefit nearly 25 years ago, terminally ill minorities have encountered numerous barriers in accessing its services.
Saving the Elderly From Mistreatment
The Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center and the Andrus Center Volunteers hosted a seminar on preventing the mistreatment of older persons at the USC Davis School of Gerontology on Nov. 4.
A Lesson on Grieving
The USC Davis School of Gerontology hosted a trip on Oct. 30 to the Glendale branch of the Forest Lawn Memorial Parks and Mortuaries for a lesson on the grieving process that follows the death of a loved one and the business behind honoring their memory.
Davies Wins Grant to Study Oxidative Stress
Kelvin Davies, associate dean and holder of the James E. Birren Chair of Gerontology at the USC Davis School of Gerontology, has received a $244,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant from the National Institutes of Health for research on oxidative stress and aging.
Memory Center Launches New Web Site
The USC Memory and Aging Center, a pioneer in research and treatment for dementia and Alzheimer disease, launched its new Web site this month aimed at expanding collaborative research and increasing referrals of older adults with age-related cognitive disorders.
Grant to Examine Late-Life Oral Health
Jung Ki Kim, research assistant professor at the USC Davis School of Gerontology, has received a $448,061 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant to examine oral health and healthy aging.
When Pain Is a Killer
Ten years ago, author John West’s father, a well-known psychiatrist, asked him to perform an act of compassion so significant that it would change his life.
Does Wisdom Come With Age?
Sidney Harman, founder and former CEO of audio-equipment giant Harman International Industries and the first Judge Widney Professor of Business at USC, presented a lecture at the USC Davis School of Gerontology on Sept. 23.
Old Secrets to a Long, Healthy Life
Analysis of ancient texts by USC Davis School of Gerontology professor Caleb Finch reveals that some writers believed the diet influenced longevity.
Silverstein Named Social Sciences Editor
The Gerontological Society of America — the country’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging — has named Merril Silverstein editor of the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences.
Advantage Goes to Three-Generation Households
Living in a three-generation household can enhance the economic well-being of children, according to a new study from researchers at USC and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
American Psychology Assn. Honors Bob Knight
Bob Knight, professor of gerontology and clinical psychology at the USC Davis School of Gerontology, will receive an award for the Advancement of Psychology and Aging from the American Psychological Association Committee on Aging.
Rethinking Housing and Aging in Place
Combining home modifications with the Obama administration’s plan to retrofit dwellings throughout the country for energy conservation could help millions of older adults to age in place.
Andrus Center Swings for Healthy Aging
The Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center honored Edward P. Roski Jr., president and chief executive officer of Majestic Realty Co. and chairman of the USC Board of Trustees, at the 12th annual Rod Dedeaux Memorial Swing for Healthy Aging Golf Classic.
Training Guide Addresses Unfamiliar Turf
Twenty years from now, the number of people over the age of 65 in the United States will nearly double from 12 to 20 percent of the population. This group, predicted to have greater needs for psychological services than today’s older adults, faces a dearth of mental health professionals specially trained to meet its demands.
Is Alzheimer Disease Part of Normal Aging?
The question of whether Alzheimer disease is a normal part of aging was the central theme of the sixth annual Alzheimer Disease Research Update Day held on May 22 at the Andrus Gerontology Center.
Mara Mather Wins Award for Career Development
Mara Mather, associate professor of gerontology and psychology, has received a K02 award from the National Institutes of Health.
On the Trail of Huntington Disease
Using gene therapy, USC Davis School of Gerontology researchers have taken an important first step toward protecting against Huntington disease.
Aiming to End Alzheimer Disease
The USC Davis School of Gerontology welcomed Potamkin Prize winner Rudolph E. Tanzi, the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, on April 9 to discuss how genes affect Alzheimer disease.
Preventing Falls Throughout L.A.
The USC Andrus Gerontology Center’s Fall Prevention Center of Excellence received a three-year, $240,000 grant from the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. to build a fall prevention coalition for the city of Los Angeles.