Orli Belman
Stories by Orli Belman:

In memoriam: George Shannon, 84, became gerontology educator after 30-year acting career
“People always ask me if it’s too late to go back to school and I always say no,” he said during an interview for USC News in 2018.

Uncovering the secrets of the ‘SuperAgers’
A new effort from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology aims to glean life lessons from people who are redefining what old age looks like.

Students head to Costa Rica for lessons on longevity
Trojans travel to the Nicoya Peninsula to understand why Costa Rica has one of the longest-lived populations in the world.
Advance directives associated with lower out-of-pocket hospital costs
Patients with advance directives more likely to choose comfort over aggressive care at end of life, according to new USC study.

Eileen Crimmins, Manuel Pastor elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The prestigious honorary society recognizes exceptional individuals from academia, the arts, industry, public policy and research and engages them in addressing significant global and national challenges.

Immigration boosts U.S. life expectancy, according to USC/Princeton study
Life expectancy for immigrants increased while that of the U.S.-born population declined between 2010 and 2017. The mix of immigrants and an increase in American-born overdose deaths each played a role.

7 tips about Alzheimer’s and brain health, from reducing risk to supporting caregivers
Experts from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology share what they’ve learned from years of studying Alzheimer’s disease.
USC launches 3 new nutrition and dietetics master’s degrees
Specialized programs from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology provide flexibility for an in-demand field.

‘Exercise hormone’ could prevent weight gain and maintain healthy muscles
Treating mice on high-fat diets with the peptide MOTS-c helped halt obesity-associated muscle atrophy, which USC scientists say could translate to muscle-wasting conditions in humans.

Newly discovered mutation increases diabetes risk in Japanese men
Results likely apply to all East Asian carriers, but exercise may eliminate greater likelihood of getting the disease, say USC researchers.

7 new films that tell the stories of older adults
Caroline Cicero of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology recommends a crop of recent movies that tackle important topics like caregiving and living with dementia.
Most Medicare beneficiaries don’t receive cognitive screenings at annual wellness visits
Despite the importance of detecting cognitive impairment as early as possible, only a quarter of the respondents to a USC survey reported receiving a yearly structured assessment.

As the pandemic progressed, younger and older adults resumed risky behaviors
A USC study also found that being female, Black, Hispanic or Asian and trusting CNN more than Fox News were all linked with practicing more preventive behaviors.

5 tips for becoming a better online teacher
If you’re trying to teach in this brave new world of online instruction, USC’s John Walsh shares some tips that could help even novice teachers.

When COVID-19 arrived, this USC alum moved to New York City to help
After years spent promoting public health measures around the globe, it’s no surprise that Tyler Evans is now leading isolation and quarantine coordination efforts in the Big Apple.
USC gerontology school and institute for aging research win prestigious grant
The $4.6 million award from the National Institute on Aging will establish the USC-Buck Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging.
Giving back to older adults benefits everyone involved
We need to support each other when a crisis hits, says a PhD candidate at USC Leonard Davis who is researching the value of staying connected across generations.

USC’s Secure Old Age Lab works to bring elder abuse research to the masses
One in six older adults worldwide is believed to be a victim of elder abuse, a fact that USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology faculty and alumni want the public to know.

Vern Bengtson, 78, professor of gerontology, social work and sociology
In a USC career that spanned over 50 years, Bengtson explored the roles of faith and family across generations.

USC Leonard Davis School introduces master’s degree in medical gerontology
Applications for this new program — aimed at preparing health care practitioners to meet the needs of an aging population — are being accepted for fall 2019.

Reginald Tucker-Seeley puts policy research into practice during D.C. fellowship
USC Leonard Davis School faculty member spent the past year as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow in Washington, D.C.
Researchers uncover previously unknown dementia risk factor
The study provides insights on how the conditions and other diseases of aging might one day be treated and prevented.

$11 million National Institute on Aging grant supports research on air pollution and Alzheimer’s
Research will address the neglected role of environmental neurotoxins in the development of Alzheimer’s.

Kelvin Davies, Enrique Cadenas named officers of France’s National Order of Merit
Award recognizes their contributions and service to science and international cooperation.