Research Program
Aging and Cognition
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and a leading cause of death for older Americans. It currently afflicts more than 5 million people across the country—a figure that threatens to triple in the next 40 years. But new therapies are on the way, and the Schaeffer Center is exploring options to facilitate their use, improve clinical trials, and ease the burden of the disease for patients and families.
Program Leadership
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Julie Zissimopoulos, PhD
Associate Professor, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
Co-Director, Aging and Cognition Program, USC Schaeffer Center
Co-Director, CeASES ADRD and AD-RCMAR -
Mireille Jacobson, PhD
Co-Director, Aging and Cognition Program, USC Schaeffer Center
Associate Professor, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
News
Study Finds Older Americans Are Largely Unaware of a New Alzheimer’s Drug
Among older Americans surveyed in the weeks after FDA approval of aducanumab, few could correctly answer true or false questions about the first new Alzheimer’s drug in decades.
New USC Study Finds People of Color Live More Years with Dementia Diagnosis Than Non-Hispanic Whites
These findings further reinforce the need for targeted support and resources for families and patients living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
NAS Report Outlines Priorities for the Next Ten Years of Alzheimer’s Research
Julie Zissimopoulos participated on the committee tasked with developing the research agenda.
Life Expectancy Declines for Americans without a Four-Year College Degree
Even before the pandemic, adults with a bachelor’s degree were living approximately three years longer than adults without one, according to a USC-Princeton study.
Recent Research
Advancing the Economics of Palliative Care: The Value to Individuals and Families, Organizations, and Society
A palliative care research agenda can help lay the foundation for building a strong evidence base to guide public policies meant to advance affordable, equitable, high-quality, patient-centered care.
Disparate Aging: The Role of Education and Socioeconomic Gradients in Future Health and Disability in an International Context
If on one side, aging is driven by biological changes, on the other side the aging itself reflects the accumulated effects of one’s exposure to a history of external risks, and can further be influenced by social changes, such as isolation and loss of loved ones.
Examining Primary Care Physician Rationale for not Following Geriatric Choosing Wisely Recommendations
Why do physicians order tests or treatments in older adults contrary to published recommendations?
Advance Care Planning for Medicare Beneficiaries Increased Substantially, but Prevalence Remained Low
Researchers examined fee-for-service Medicare claims and found a substantial increase in outpatient advance care planning claims between 2016 and 2019, although prevalence remained below 7.5 percent for all patient subgroups analyzed.
Experts in Aging and Cognition
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Jennifer A. Ailshire, PhD
Fellow, USC Schaeffer Center
Assistant Professor, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
2014-2015 RCMAR Scientist, USC Schaeffer Center -
Eileen Crimmins, PhD
Senior Fellow, USC Schaeffer Center
Associate Dean, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, USC Andrus Gerontology Center
AARP Professor of Gerontology, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Director, USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health -
Susan Enguidanos, PhD, MPH
Senior Fellow, USC Schaeffer Center
Associate Professor, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology -
Dana Goldman, PhD
Dean and C. Erwin and Ione L. Piper Chair, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
Co-Director, USC Schaeffer Center
Distinguished Professor of Public Policy, Pharmacy, and Economics, USC -
Mireille Jacobson, PhD
Co-Director, Aging and Cognition Program, USC Schaeffer Center
Associate Professor, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology -
Geoffrey Joyce, PhD
Director, Health Policy, USC Schaeffer Center
Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Economics, USC School of Pharmacy
Associate Professor, USC School of Pharmacy -
Reginald Tucker-Seeley, MA, ScM, ScD
Fellow, USC Schaeffer Center
Edward L. Schneider Assistant Professor of Gerontology, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
2018-2019 RCMAR Scientist, USC Schaeffer Center -
Julie Zissimopoulos, PhD
Associate Professor, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
Co-Director, Aging and Cognition Program, USC Schaeffer Center
Co-Director, CeASES ADRD and AD-RCMAR
Advancing the Conversation Around Palliative Care
Palliative Care Works, So Why Is It Rarely Used? Follow the Money
Palliative care therapy substantially improves outcomes for patients with serious illness.
Policy Approaches to Improve Access to Palliative Care
A webinar about how increased access to palliative care has the potential to improve the quality of life for patients and their families and increase the value of care provided.
Improving Care of People with Serious Medical Illness: An Economic Research Agenda for Palliative Care
Too often, people facing serious illnesses do not get the care and support they—and their families and caregivers—need and want.
Advancing the Economics of Palliative Care: The Value to Individuals and Families, Organizations, and Society
Public and private payers lack the evidence base needed to validate increased access to palliative care across settings and patient populations.