Social connections play a vital role in our health and quality of life. Without them, we are left to age alone and navigate an uncertain world that seems to change socially, politically, and physically in the blink of an eye. We may be an injury or single loss of a loved one away from social isolation and loneliness which increases our risks for strokes, heart disease, cancer, and death. In this discussion we will cover types of social connections, how unmet social needs can propel us towards illness and how strong social connections can help build resilient and vibrant lives. We will also briefly discuss the role spirituality plays in protecting us against the negative effects of social isolation and loneliness. Jason Burnett, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Joan and Stanford Alexander Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston and is the Director of the Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment Institute. His emerging research focuses on ensuring meaningful social connections and the health benefits for older adults living with elder mistreatment, self-neglect, and/or stroke. He is currently a steering committee member for the UTHealth Institute on Aging where he serves as the chair of the Carmela and Salvatore Graduate Fellowship Program in Elder Mistreatment, the Harry E. Bovay Jr. Foundation Endowment to Support Geriatric Research and Education, and the UTHRO Endowment for Healthy Aging. Dr. Burnett also serves on several national advisory boards and research committees for elder mistreatment and self-neglect.

This presentation will provide a brief overview of the current state of the science on cognitive aging and dementia, including information about brain health disparities. Dr. Luis D. Medina is a licensed clinical psychologist and cultural neuropsychologist. He received his B.A. in psychology from Yale University and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology/neuropsychology from the San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Medina completed his clinical residency in geropsychology at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in adult clinical neuropsychology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Currently, he is faculty in the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston where he directs the Collaborative on Aging Research and Multicultural Assessment (CARMA). His research examines the cultural neuroscience of cognitive aging, particularly in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), as well as the clinical assessment and diagnosis of ADRD in underrepresented populations.