225 Stories to Celebrate: Pitt Leads the Way in Research on Aging

Extensive resources for geriatric research combined with Pittsburgh’s senior-heavy demographic make Pitt a national model for aging science and clinical programs. Charles Reynolds, director of the Pitt Aging Institute, calls Pitt’s opportunity to be a leader in the field “second to none.”

As part of his research, Neil Resnick, Pitt's Thomas Detre Professor of Medicine and chief of UPMC's Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, works to dispel myths surrounding one of the most common syndromes affecting older adults—incontinence. Resnick’s research has shown that incontinence is not part of normal aging or dementia and has uncovered more effective ways to treat it.

The gerontology program in Pitt’s University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR) focuses on social effects of aging. In a recent study of 1,330 older married couples, UCSUR found that husbands whose wives reported high levels of suffering were nearly twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease and depression compared with those whose wives did not report suffering.

In Pitt's School of Social Work, initiatives llike the Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education help to train social work professionals to serve older adults.

For more stories about Pitt's legacy of achievement or to share your own stories about the University, visit www.225.pitt.edu.