Aging from the Inside Out: Diet, Inflammation, & Gut Microbiota - Funded by a grant from the University of Massachusetts
Kelsey Mangano and Sabrina Noel have been awarded a UMass Lowell Seed Grant to assess changes in bone biomarkers that happen due to microbiome-driven, inflammatory changes in aging adults. To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare data on Caribbean Latinos to published studies in communities with healthy dietary habits, among Non-Hispanic Whites. This work has the potential to modify diets of Caribbean Latinos toward a healthier pattern, while maintaining deeply rooted cultural ties, to immediately impact gut microbiota, which will have long term affects on inflammatory related conditions. Results will provide preliminary data for a larger R21 to develop a dietary intervention to improve the gut microbiome and lessen inflammation among Caribbean Latinos.
Diet and Health Behavior Change to Improve Bone Health - Funded by NIH/NIAMS - K01 Grant
The major goals of the study are to: 1) Develop a dietary quality index predictive of bone health using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data; 2) Adapt the bone-specific index to reflect ethnic-specific food choices that may influence bone status among Caribbean Hispanics using data from the Boston Puerto Rican Osteoporosis Study; 3) Adapt and pilot test the feasibility and potential impact of a theory-based cultural and literacy-tailored lifestyle intervention to improve dietary quality and physical activity among Caribbean Latino adults. The prevalence of osteoporosis among Puerto Rican adults compared to Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites has been assessed in addition to knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of osteoporosis with focus group data from 45 Caribbean Hispanic adults from the Lawrence community.
- Noel SE, Mangano KM, Griffith JL, Wright NC, Dawson-Hughes B, Tucker KL. Prevalence of Osteoporosis and Low Bone Mass Among Puerto Rican Older Adults. J Bone Miner Res. 2018 Mar;33(3):396-403. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.3315. PMID: 29044768; Link to PubMed
- Noel SE, Arevalo SP Mena NZ, Velez M, Dawson-Hughes B, Tucker KL. Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and HealthBehaviors of Bone Health among Caribbean Hispanic/Latino Adults. Arch Osteoporos. 2019 Jan 20. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-019-0566 Link to PubMed
Tufts Age-Friendly Lawrence - Funded by the Tufts Health Plan
Equal Collaboration with Lawrence's Council on Aging, Mayors Health Task Force, Groundwork Lawrence, Office of Planning and Development, City Administrators and UMass Lowell
This project aims to develop and initiate a city-wide action plan to advance age-friendly systems, policies, programs and practices in the City of Lawrence. It is a direct response to Mayor Rivera's Proclamation that designated Lawrence's Council on Aging and the Mayor's Health Task Force to lead a multi-stakeholder group that includes elders in planning, assessing and developing strategies to support active aging and aging in place. A comprehensive assessment will be conducted, based on 9 domains: 1)Transportation, 2) Housing, 3) Outdoor Spaces/Buildings, 4) Health Services, 5) Healthy Living, 6) Volunteer/Employment, 7) Social Participation/Community Supports, 8) Safety, and 9) Immigration Services. From the assessment, priorities will be identified and an age-friendly action plan will be implemented and evaluated for its impact in the community.
Age-Friendly Lowell: Planning Grant - Funded by the Greater Lowell Health Alliance
Equal collaboration with Lowell's Council on Aging, GLHA, Lowell Police, City Administrators and UMass Lowell
The overall purpose of the GLHA Age-Friendly Planning Grant is to increase knowledge of the age-friendly initiative in the City of Lowell, form an Advisory Board to guide future work, and begin to build a framework for a community wide assessment. These initial steps are integral in working toward conducting a comprehensive city-wide assessment for full integration of age-friendly programs, policies and infrastructure to improve the health and quality of life of individuals of all ages.
Dietary Quality and Acculturation among 1.5 and 2nd Generation Cambodian Adults Living in the Greater Lowell Area - Funded by a grant from the University of Massachusetts
Sabrina Noel, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Lowell (Co-Primary Investigator), Sherman J Bigornia, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire (Co-Primary Investigator), Ivy Ho, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Lowell (Co-Primary Investigator)
This study sets out to measure the dietary quality, identify shortfall nutrients, and identify key food sources of Cambodian Americans (ages 18-40) in the Greater Lowell area. Dietary recalls, acculturation, and intergenerational conflict will be measured and assessed using validated tools. This proposed project will provide preliminary evidence to identify effective, culturally-relevant dietary interventions.
Dietary Quality, Food Access and Food Safety among Cambodian Adults at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes - Funded by the Greater Lowell Health Alliance
Sabrina Noel, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Lowell (Primary Investigator), Sherman J Bigornia, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire (Co-Investigator), Boce Zhang, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Lowell (Co-Investigator), Robin Toof, EdD, University of Massachusetts Lowell (Collaborator), David Turcotte, ScD, University of Massachusetts Lowell (Collaborator)
The overall purpose of this project is to target Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and access to healthy and safe foods, which have both been identified as priority areas for the Cambodian community in Greater Lowell. First generation Cambodian Massachusetts residents have a much greater risk of having T2D, and the City of Lowell has the highest density of Asian Americans, of which 57% are Cambodian. The study will characterize the dietary patterns of Cambodian Americans in the Greater Lowell area, as well as identify existing community-level resources and gaps in the food environment.