Promoting Health and Preventing Disease Among Pittsburgh’s Older Adults

University of Pittsburgh: Center for Healthy Aging

Topics:
Aging & Elderly Health | Cancer Diabetes | Cardiovascular Health

About 500 older adults from Pittsburgh were randomly assigned to one of two study groups. People in the Lifestyle Plus Group work with health counselors and participate in healthy lifestyle programs developed by the center, such as group walking, social activities, and nutrition education. Participants in the Education Group work with health counselors and are directed to free community groups and resources. The researchers are comparing the effects of the interventions on participants’ physical, psychological, and cognitive abilities. The project focuses on 10 key ways to promote health and prevent disease among older adults: prevent bone loss and muscle weakness, control blood pressure, increase physical activity, regulate blood glucose, stop smoking, maintain social contact, participate in cancer screening, get regular immunizations, lower cholesterol, and combat depression.

 

Back to Research Projects