The Sealy Center on Aging at UTMB Health: Leading Aging Research Since 1995

When Dr. Yong-Fang Kuo analyzed Medicare data from more than 2 million older adults, the results revealed a striking pattern: those who received annual wellness visits were significantly more likely to receive early diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment—catching memory problems before they progressed to full dementia.

Led by Dr. Neil K. Mehta, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and associate dean for research for the School of Public and Population Health, the new center aims to become a nationally recognized leader in outcomes research by leveraging UTMB's exceptional data infrastructure and multidisciplinary expertise. As a university-wide center, it will create new opportunities for collaboration between clinical and research enterprises across UTMB.

The Department of Epidemiology hosted Dr. Neil Mehta for a compelling seminar in April, where he shared his research insights and perspectives on advancing epidemiological excellence at UTMB's School of Public and Population Health. "Why are some people healthy and others not?" This fundamental question, first encountered in a 1990s book on population health determinants, sparked Mehta's career trajectory. His fascination with life expectancy patterns led him to explore statistical regularities in human mortality across centuries.

In April 2025, researchers from UTMB Health’s Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) participated in the annual meeting hosted by the Coordinating Board of the Pepper Centers. Attendees included faculty across career stages who gave several notable presentations. The meeting provided a valuable platform for collaborative learning and mentorship.

Please join us for the next Pepper Investigators Lecture: "Impact of Error-Augmented Visual Feedback in Robotic Gait Rehabilitation Post-Stroke," presented by Mansoo Ko, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Health Professions on May 28, 2025 at noon in RSH 6.100 and via Teams. Lunch provided for those in person.