As the world’s population is aging, and U.S. baby boomers are entering their golden years, Kaiser Permanente Washington scientists are at the forefront of research to help older adults lead healthier lives.
“Research on aging cuts across virtually everything our institute does,” says Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, a senior investigator who previously served as executive director of Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) and Kaiser Permanente Washington vice president for research and health care innovation.
This includes studies looking at brain health, physical activity and behavior change, unsafe and unnecessary treatment, cardiovascular health, and chronic disease management, among other research areas. Now, new funding for aging research — especially Alzheimer’s and related disorders — offers even greater opportunities for KPWHRI scientists and their colleagues who work in health care systems.
The institute has hosted several long-running cohort studies, including the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) Study, a collaboration with the University of Washington, among other partners. For more than 30 years, ACT researchers, led by Dr. Larson, have focused on finding ways to delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, and cognitive decline. Through ACT and related studies such as the Seattle Longitudinal Study, the institute has discovered clues to healthy aging that translate into guidance for safely staying active, avoiding injurious falls, and reducing cardiovascular risks. These and other changes have likely contributed to lowering of dementia rates in the United States and other countries.
More recently, ACT researchers have also been contributing to research on traumatic brain injury and on the genetic foundations of various diseases, including Alzheimer’s. ACT has established one of the world’s largest brain banks set in a community health care system and dedicated to the study of the aging brain, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia, with more than 880 brains donated from ACT volunteers.
In May 2021, the National Institute of Aging awarded ACT a new grant totaling $55.6 million — 3 times the amount of the study’s previous funding round. Under the 5-year grant, ACT partners are expanding the existing cohort of 2,000 Kaiser Permanente Washington members to 3,000 and implementing new strategies to recruit a more diverse population. Additionally, as part of the grant, the ACT team is making its data more accessible to researchers nationwide.
Scientists at KPWHRI are advancing age-related research in many other areas as well. Some highlights:
“We’re learning what our study participants value as they grow older,” Dr. Larson says. “And we hope to apply that to help them have a positive experience with aging — promoting their independence and providing them with skills to cope with any problems that may occur.”
Heller TA, Larson EB, LoGerfo JP. Quality of ambulatory care of the elderly: an analysis of five conditions. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1984;32(11):782-8. PubMed
Larson EB, Reifler BV, Sumi M, Canfield C, Chinn N. Prospective study of the routine dementia evaluation. Clin Res. 1984;32:297A.
Larson EB, Reifler BV, Canfield C, Cohen GD. Evaluating elderly outpatients with symptoms of dementia. Hosp Community Psychiatry. 1984;35(5):425-8. PubMed
Larson EB, Reifler BV, Featherstone HJ, English DR. Dementia in elderly outpatients: a prospective study. Ann Intern Med. 1984;100(3):417-23. PubMed
Breen AR, Larson EB, Reifler BV, Vitaliano PP, Lawrence GL. Cognitive performance and functional competence in coexisting dementia and depression. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1984;32(2):132-7. PubMed
![]() Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, MACPSenior Investigator and former Executive Director, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute; Former Vice President for Research and Health Care Innovation, Kaiser Permanente Washington |
![]() Sascha Dublin, MD, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Dori E. Rosenberg, PhD, MPHAssociate Investigator |
![]() Erin J. Bowles, MPHResearch Associate |
![]() Ellen O'Meara, PhDSenior Research Associate |
![]() Melissa L. Anderson, MSSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Rod L. Walker, MSSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Laura Harrington, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
![]() Michael L. Parchman, MD, MPHSenior Investigator, Center for Accelerating Care Transformation |
![]() Katie Coleman, MSPHDirector, Collaborative Science; Director, Center for Accelerating Care Transformation |
![]() Robert Penfold, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Marlaine Gray, PhDAssistant Investigator |
![]() Ben Balderson, PhDResearch Associate |
![]() Jing Zhou, PhDSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Jennifer C. Nelson, PhDDirector of Biostatistics, Senior Investigator |
![]() Onchee Yu, MSSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Jessica Chubak, PhD, MBHLSenior Investigator |
![]() Nora Henrikson, PhD, MPHAssociate Investigator |
![]() Yu-Ru Su, PhDAssistant Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Julia J. Smith,Senior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Chloe Krakauer, PhDCollaborative Biostatistician II |
![]() Karen Wernli, PhDAssociate Investigator |
![]() Mikael Anne Greenwood-Hickman, MPHResearch Associate II |
![]() Brian D. Williamson, PhDAssistant Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Pamela A. Shaw, PhD, MSSenior Biostatistics Investigator |
James Bowen, MD
Neurologist
Swedish Medical Center
Paul Crane, MD, MPH
Professor, Internal Medicine
University of Washington
David R. Crosslin, PhD
Assistant Professor
Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education
Adjunct Faculty
Genome Sciences, Division of Medical Genetics
University of Washington
Kristen Dams-O'Connor, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai
James Floyd, MD, MS
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
Shelly Gray, PharmD, MS, AGSF
Professor, Department of Pharmacy
University of Washington
Gail Jarvik, MD, PhD
Professor, Medical Genetics, Genome Sciences, Department of Medicine
University of Washington
Dirk Keene, MD, PhD
Department of Pathology
Harborview Medical Center
Zachary A. Marcum, PhD, PharmD
Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy
University of Washington
Wayne McCormick, MD, MPH
Head of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
UW Medicine
Sue McCurry, PhD
Research Professor, Psychosocial and Community Health
University of Washington
Elizabeth Phelan, MD, MS
Associate Professor, Medicine/Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
Harborview Medical Center
Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Services
University of Washington
Janelle S. Taylor, PhD
Professor, Department of Anthropology
University of Toronto
Linda Teri, PhD
Professor, Psychosocial & Community Health
Director, Northwest Research Group on Aging, Psychosocial and Community Health
University of Washington
Oleg Zaslavsky, PhD, MHA, RN
Assistant Professor Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems Department
Associate Director of Research, de Tornyay Center for Health Aging
School of Nursing, University of Washington