Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease and Aging: As a cardiovascular epidemiologist studying older adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), I determined the relationship of subclinical cardiovascular disease and endurance to several aspects of disability and mortality. This work has important implications for improving healthy life through CVD prevention. Through my mentees this work was expanded to address white matter change on brain MRI, subclinical peripheral artery disease and coronary artery calcium.
Obesity, Sarcopenia and Aging: Through my work as PI of the Health ABC study, I made key observations about sarcopenia, weight loss and health in old age. I have demonstrated that most of the loss of lean mass can be explained by overall weight loss and that lean mass is conserved relative to fat mass, except when weight loss occurs in the setting of illness. I also demonstrated that muscle strength and not low lean mass predicts mortality, leading to new definitions of sarcopenia.
Healthy Aging and Biology of Aging: I have made several important contributions to conceptualizing healthy aging and the biology of aging including an index of healthy aging, used in studies of genetics and in clinical trials of aging. I led the first GWAS cohort study of longevity and I led the phenotype working group for the LLFS. Most recently, I developed a novel scale of vigor in the Study of Mobility and Muscle Aging (SOMMA).
Clinical Trials and Aging: I have been active in the development of clinical trials in older adults. I was a founding investigator of the LIFE study. My work on mobility disability in the Health ABC study was used for designing the study outcome. I was a founding investigator for the ASPREE trial, a core investigator for the ENRGISE Trial, served on the PREVENTABLE Trial Steering Committee (2018-2020), and currently lead Reducing Inflammation for Greater Health Trial (RIGHT).