High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

The association between disease burden and Alzheimer's hospitalization rates in older adults.

The association between disease burden and Alzheimer's hospitalization rates in older adults.

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Course Code

HSC

Course Number

4501

Faculty/Instructor

Dr. Jiang

Faculty/Instructor Email

qianxia.jiang@ucf.edu

About the Author

My name is Autumn Johnson, and I'm a graduating senior at the University of Central Florida (UCF). I'll be graduating from the College of Health Professions and Sciences in August of 2025. I have a passion for policy, research, and infectious diseases. I hope to take a gap year and then obtain my master's in public health. Then, I'll become an epidemiologist while advocating for public health policies that serve all.

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

Dementia refers to symptoms that impair daily life, including social and intellectual abilities, with memory loss being a key feature. Conditions such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) are major causes of memory loss. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disorder that deteriorates memory and thinking skills, characterized by withdrawal from social activities, mood changes, and confusion about time or place.

Age is the leading risk factor for Alzheimer’s, alongside non-modifiable factors like genetics and family history. Modifiable factors include physical activity, smoking, education, and social engagement. The Alzheimer’s Association’s 2024 fact sheet emphasizes the need for more research on how social engagement impacts cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s.

Initially, this study aimed to examine the link between social isolation in Alzheimer’s patients and hospitalization. However, due to limitations in the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) data, which only provided statewide statistics, the focus shifted to assessing the severity of health problems and their impact on daily functioning. Findings, based on FLHealthCHARTS and three published abstracts, do not conclusively show an association between disease burden and hospitalization but highlight potential connections that warrant further investigation.

I’ve learned the importance of attention to detail and diligence, as this research wasn’t easy.

Keywords

Alzheimer’s Disease, Quality of Life (QoL), Burden of Disease, Hospitalization, Florida

The association between disease burden and Alzheimer's hospitalization rates in older adults.


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Accessibility Statement

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