|
|
Research Assistant Professor, Email: Chava.pollak@stonybrookmedicine.edu Location: Stony Brook University,101 Nicolls Road, HSC T12, Stony Brook, NY 11794 |
Area of ResearchSocial Connection; Aging; Physical Function; Gait; Cognition; Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Risk Factors. |
|
Education and Training |
|
|
Education:
Postgraduate Training/Fellowships: |
|||
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
Pace University |
2014 | |
| Master of Science in Nursing | Pace University | 2016 | |
| PhD in Nursing | Pace University, | 2021 | |
| Master of Science in Clinical Research Methods, 2024 Postdoctoral Fellowship |
Albert Einstein College of Medicine |
2024 2022-2024 |
|
| Professional Interests: |
Maintenance of cognitive and physical functions are crucial for independent living and of high priority for older adults. Social disconnection in aging is associated with cognitive and functional decline, predementia syndromes, Alzheimer’s dementia, and early mortality. However, mechanisms for these relationships for how social connection interventions improve cognition and function in older adults are not well understood. Homebound older adults are particularly vulnerable to social disconnection and commonly underrepresented in research and interventions. My earlier work focused on the epidemiology of social disconnection in aging, and we showed associations between social disconnection and reduced physical activity, increased frailty, accelerated gait speed decline, and functional decline in community dwelling older adults. Given the epidemiology of social disconnection in aging is now well established, our focus shifted to screening and intervention. Our previous findings showed a one-item loneliness screen may underestimate loneliness in vulnerable populations such as homebound older adults receiving home health care. We are building on our loneliness screening pilot and plan to focus on screening and intervention for homebound older adults who are often hard to reach. My primary goal is to develop and test social connection interventions for homebound older adults to prevent cognitive and functional decline, maintain independence, and improve quality of life in this population. |
||
| Selected Publications |
Pollak, C., Winter, J., Drury, L., George, C., Ehrlich, A.R., Verghese, J., and Blumen, H. (in press). Implementation of a loneliness screening and referral program in primary care: A mixed-methods pilot study. Res Gerontol Nurs. Pollak, C., Verghese, J., and Blumen, H. (2024). Difference-making pathways to frailty through social factors: A configurational analysis. Gerontologist, 64(6). doi: 10.1093/geront/gnad173 Pollak, C., Verghese, J., and Blumen, H. (2024). Longitudinal associations of social support and gait speed decline in aging. Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 79(3). doi:10.1093/Gerona/glad250 Pollak, C., Verghese, J., Buchman, A.S., Ying, J., and Blumen, H. (2024). Loneliness predicts frailty progression in community-dwelling older adults. Journal of Frailty and Aging, 13(2), 163-171. doi:10.14283/jfa.2024.27 Pollak, C., Verghese, J., and Blumen, H. (2024). Loneliness predicts decreased physical activity in widowed, but not married or unmarried individuals. Frontiers in Public Health 12(1295128). doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1295128 Pollak, C., Cotton, K., Winter, J., and Blumen, H. (2024). Health outcomes associated with loneliness and social isolation in older adults living with HIV: A systematic Review. AIDS & Behavior. doi:10.1007/s10461-024-04471-3. Pollak, C., Verghese, J., and Blumen, H. (2023). Loneliness and functional decline in aging: A systematic review. Res Gerontol Nurs, 16(4), 202-212. doi:10.3928/19404921-20230503-02 Complete List of Published Work available in NCBI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/chava.pollak.1/bibliography/public/ Other Links |
||