HISTORY OF THE UM-OAIC

The UM-OAIC is a National Institute of Aging (NIA) Claude D. Pepper Older American Independence Center exploring novel approaches to restore and maintain functional independence in older adults. The Claude D. Pepper Older American Independence Center Program was established in honor of the late Florida Senator, Claude D. Pepper.  During his five decades of public service, Senator Pepper was a strong and effective advocate for the health and well-being of older adults.

UM-OAIC HIGHLIGHTS FROM 1994 TO PRESENT

• The UM-OAIC was initially funded in September 1994. The Center conducted intervention studies that examined the effects of exercise rehabilitation and dietary modification programs on functional independence, free living daily activity and subjective well-being in older patients disabled by peripheral arterial disease or congestive heart failure.
  

Intervention Study: Functional Independence in Older Disabled Claudicants-  The primary finding of this prospective, randomized controlled trial showed that a six-month program of exercise rehabilitation effectively improves cardiovascular fitness and ambulatory capacity in older adults with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) who are functionally limited by claudication (pain or fatigue, in the calf muscle during walking). These gains translated into increased daily physical activity in the community, enabling the patients to become more functionally independent.

Intervention Development Study-1: Exercise and Diet in Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)- The results of this study showed that exercise can be safely conducted and may be helpful in improving function and endurance in some older patients with stage III and IV CHF.  There were improvements in exercise and walking capacity, consistent with results in previous studies of younger CHF patients.  Additionally, a cross-sectional study examining the energy expenditure of the CHF patients showed that reduced energy intake, not elevated resting or total energy expenditure is the cause of weight loss and sarcopenia in CHF patients. 

Intervention Development Study-2: Functional Independence in Older Smoking Claudicants- This study compared the effectiveness of a six-month exercise rehabilitation program on functional capacity in older smokers to nonsmokers with intermittent claudication due to PAOD. Results showed that smokers were more disabled than nonsmokers, but that exercise rehabilitation significantly increased the distance that the smokers with claudication walked to an extent similar to the nonsmokers.

• In September 2001, the UM-OAIC was renewed. At that time, UM-OAIC researchers knew that rehabilitation programs appeared to be most effective if they included principles of task specific exercise conditioning and motor learning paradigms targeted to improve functional outcomes. To continue this work, two new Intervention studies were initiated.
  

Exercise Training for Hemiparetic Stroke: This study demonstrated that task-oriented treadmill training (T-AEX) improved ambulation (walking) and cardiovascular fitness in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients, up to even ten years after the initial stroke.

Upper Extremity Training for Chronic Stroke: This study showed that a task-oriented bilateral upper extremity (arm) training program with rhythmic auditory cueing (BATRAC) designed to improve reach and interlimb function was associated with neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to physically change in response to stimulus and activity) that translated motor gains into improved daily function of the upper extremity hemiparetic.

• In September 2006, the University received notification that it had been awarded a five-year $6.08 million renewal from the NIA to continue the work of the UM-OAIC. The funding will allow for continued collaborations among a multidisciplinary team of investigators in the conduct of exercise rehabilitation in stroke, hip fracture, obesity, and other conditions associated with aging, and the translation of these findings into effective community programs. The award also provides opportunities for young investigators to be trained in the field of gerontology, and pilot and exploratory grant funding to investigators for projects related to the Center’s mission.