University of Maryland Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC)

7. Project Summary: Overall The theme of the UM-OAIC is enablement defined as the restoration of function in those with impairments and the prevention or delay of further progression in those who are already disabled. The overarching mission of the UM-OAIC is to develop, implement, and evaluate rehabilitative strategies that are designed to improve and restore mobility and functional independence in older persons with disabling conditions. This will be accomplished by 1) advancing our understanding of the mechanisms by which exercise and activity-based and multi-modal rehabilitation interventions directed at specific impairments affect multiple body systems; 2) developing and testing interventions to restore function and minimize disability following acute disabling events and to prevent declines related to serious chronic diseases; and 3) training the next generation of investigators who will further the understanding of the aging process and develop interventions that help promote health and independence in older adults with disabling medical conditions. The functional impairments and disabilities that occur in older people emanate from acute events, such as stroke, heart attack, and hip fracture, or reflect the progression of chronic diseases. This pathway of how disease leads to disability, i.e., disablement, has been discussed extensively. The UM-OAIC’s mission builds knowledge of disablement and focuses on the restoration of function in those with impairments and to prevent or delay further progression in those already disabled, i.e. enablement. The aims of the UM-OAIC are to: 1) Conduct research that examines the mechanisms underlying the functional impairments associated with acute disabling events (e.g., stroke, hip fracture) and prevalent chronic diseases (e.g., heart failure, cancer) in older people. 2) Design novel, exercise and activity-based and rehabilitation interventions that produce clinically relevant outcomes and study the mechanisms underlying them. 3) Translate interventions developed in UM-OAIC clinical laboratories and elsewhere for implementation and rigorous evaluation in home and community settings. 4) Support pilot and exploratory studies, UM-OAIC Scholar research, development projects, and externally funded projects that are consistent with the UM-OAIC theme. 5) Support the development of junior faculty and Scholars from multiple disciplines as they pursue careers as independent, academic scientists and leaders with expertise in the study of older persons with disabling diseases through mentor-based, didactic and experiential training in bench-to-bedside-to-community translational research.