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The Community Connection at the Sealy Center on AgingStay Connected. Stay Engaged. Stay Inspired.

Welcome

At the Sealy Center on Aging, we believe that growing older should mean growing stronger, through knowledge, community, and meaningful opportunities. That’s why we created the Community Connection, a program designed to keep older adults in Galveston County informed, engaged, and empowered.

Launched in 2022, the Community Connection has more than 1,300 subscribers who receive our quarterly newsletter by email or traditional mail. Each issue is filled with valuable updates, including:

  • Spotlights on groundbreaking aging research at UTMB Health
  • Invitations to participate in clinical studies that can improve health and wellbeing for older adults everywhere
  • Local events and programs tailored to seniors in our community
  • Volunteer opportunities, such as AmeriCorps Seniors, where you can give back and stay active

Why Join?

The Community Connection is more than a newsletter! It’s a way to stay plugged into the latest discoveries, connect with people who share your interests, and find new ways to stay involved in your local community.

We're Growing, Together!

Thanks to strong community partnerships and outreach, the Community Connection is expanding every day. Whether you hear about us through a senior center, social media, or a postcard at an event, the invitation is the same: be part of a growing network of older adults shaping the future of aging in Galveston County.

  • Sign up for the Community Connection newsletter and become part of a vibrant community of older adults making a difference.
  • Follow and engage with us on Facebook, where we share news and resources as well as event announcements that are relevant to local older adults.
  • Learn more about getting involved with AmeriCorps Seniors.
  • Visit the Learning Center, now located at the Osher Long Life Institute at UTMB Health

Newsletter Archive

Current Studies

News from the Sealy Center on Aging

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One Way to Spot Early Cognitive Decline? Medicare Wellness Visits

Jan 23, 2025, 10:55 AM by SCOA

A recent study by Huey-Ming Tzeng, PhD, and co-authors at UTMB Health found that receiving a Medicare annual wellness visit (AWV) was associated with greater recognition of mild cognitive impairment in older adults. "This study suggests that the Medicare AWV health policy may increase mild cognitive impairment identification, prompting more specialized care," Tzeng and colleagues said. "Early recognition of cognitive impairment is key to optimal dementia care," the researchers noted. "Patient access to dementia assessment often limits timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment."

Key Takeaways

  • Medicare annual wellness visits were associated with a 21% increase in mild cognitive impairment diagnoses.
  • Those with a wellness evaluation received a diagnosis 76 days earlier than others.
  • Findings suggest the Medicare wellness visit policy may help identify cognitive impairment earlier.

Read more at MedPage Today: One Way to Spot Early Cognitive Decline? Medicare Wellness Visits — Annual evaluation tied to timelier mild cognitive impairment diagnoses

Read the article at JAMA: Annual Wellness Visits and Early Dementia Diagnosis Among Medicare Beneficiaries

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