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Successful Aging

The Successful Aging Grand Challenge engages researchers, students, and staff from multi-disciplinary research, as well as community engagement organizations.

Contact Information

Please contact the Successful Aging Grand Challenge team by email at grandchallenges@unm.edu

Leadership Team: Debra Waters, PhD, Research Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, GIM/Geriatrics; Janice Knoefel, MD, MPH, Professor, Internal Medicine, Neurology, School of Medicine; Christophe Lambert, PhD, Professor, Internal Medicine, Center for Global Health, Division of Translational Informatics; Mark A. McCormick, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Ann L. Gibson, PhD, Professor, Exercise Science; Paul Nathanson, JD, Special Counsel, Justice in Aging.

Past Events

The Successful Aging team was the local organizing committee for an international conference on frailty and sarcopenia (ICFSR) held at the Hotel Albuquerque Old Town March 20-22, 2024. Learn more here.

Preliminary Research Questions

As New Mexico ages, it is important that we understand the needs of our diverse population, especially in our culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Our team is conducting research to help older adults stay healthy longer by involvement in meaningful and healthy community activities. The state’s senior and community centers will play a vital role in social and physical activity.  Organizational innovation and effectiveness will improve access to to health care resources and services for older adults.

Technologies can enhance mobility, improve social connectedness, and decrease admission to hospitals. With the use of wearable and assistive technologies, older adults and caregivers can be in charge at home.

We will explore ways for New Mexico to foster economic growth in medical and healthcare sectors, to efficiently expand all levels of professional services supporting our aging population and innovate other economic activities secondarily related to healthcare and service industries.

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