Building an integrated research/policy planning age-friendly agenda.

This article describes an innovative model for integrating research into a policy and planning agenda aimed to help neighborhoods become more supportive of older adults. Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) established Age-Friendly Philadelphia (AFP) to catalyze efforts to improve the physical and social environments for seniors. The Research Program at PCA became an important part of this effort by providing multiple types of supports to PCA staff and other stakeholders.

Is "Walkability" A Useful Concept for Gerontology?

The study tested two hypotheses. 1) In a walkable neighborhood, residents will exercise more, eat healthier, and suffer from less obesity. 2) That relation will be stronger for the elderly.

Affective forecasting and advance care planning: anticipating quality of life in future health statuses.

That sicker people evaluate quality of life in future health status more positively, compared to healthier people, is viewed as an instance of affective forecasting error and explained by Prospect Theory, which holds that two prospects (poor health vs death) are more distinguishable when they are imminent than when distant. In a sample of 230 elderly people, we tested whether life in nine health scenarios would be more acceptable to less healthy individuals than to healthier ones. An interaction between current health status and health scenario supported the relative acceptability of poor-health prospects to sicker individuals, confirming the hypothesis.

Changes over 4 years in health, quality of life, mental health, and valuation of life.

Objective: This longitudinal study explores how the relationship between changes in physical health and changes in valuation of life (VOL) may be affected by changes in quality of life and in mental health.

Method: 335 community residents older than age 70 were interviewed over a 4-year period. Analysis used correlation and regression models.

Motivation in later life: personal projects and well-being.

"Personal projects," as defined by B. R. Little (1983), were elicited from 600 community residents aged 70+, representing a broad range of health and illness.

Comparison of the biochemical and kinetic properties of the type 1 receptor tyrosine kinase intracellular domains. Demonstration of differential sensitivity to kinase inhibitors.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), ErbB-2, and ErbB-4 are members of the type 1 receptor tyrosine kinase family. Overexpression of these receptors, especially ErbB-2 and EGFR, has been implicated in multiple forms of cancer. Inhibitors of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity are being evaluated clinically for cancer therapy.