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Welcome
The Pepper Center at UTMB:
Continuously Funded Since 2000

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The UTMB Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) is the home of a diverse multidisciplinary team of investigators with complementary research interests. The Center supports investigators, research, and expertise in gerontology to accomplish the OAIC mission: To Improve Physical Function and Independence in Older Adults.


Current Events

Productivity Metrics

  • Publications (2000-2022): over 740
  • Scholars Trained (2000-2022): 33
  • External projects currently supported: 33

Contact Us

University of Texas Medical Branch
Sealy Center on Aging (SCoA)
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0177
Directions and Maps
Phone: (409) 747-0008
Email: aging.research@utmb.edu


Featured News

New Study Looks at Association Between Cognitive Impairment and Repeat Fractures

Sep 12, 2023, 08:00 AM by SCOA

A study by an interprofessional team of researchers including Huey-Ming Tzeng, Brian Downer, Chih-Ying Li, Mukaila A Raji, Allen Haas, and Yong-Fang Kuo investigates the association between cognitive impairment and repeat fractures. Read the article online, Association Between Cognitive Impairment and Repeat Fractures in Medicare Beneficiaries Recently Hospitalized for Hip Fracture.

This study looked at older adults who had hip fractures and were sent home from a skilled nursing facility after getting rehabilitation. They wanted to see if there was a connection between their cognitive (thinking) abilities and the chances of them getting another fracture within 90 days of going home.

They checked the data of 29,558 older adults with hip fractures. The results showed that those who had even mild cognitive problems were more likely to have another fracture compared to those with good cognitive function. In other words, people with thinking difficulties had a higher risk of getting hurt again.

This study tells us that it's important to consider a person's cognitive health when they leave the hospital after a hip fracture. If someone has even mild cognitive problems, they might need extra care and support to prevent another fracture and the need for hospitalization.


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301 University Blvd. Galveston, TX 77555-0177 | p 409.747.0008 | f 409.772.8931
The Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center Award #P30-AG024832 is funded by
the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.