BCS in the CR group showed immediate and sustained improvements in self-reported cognitive complaints and memory functioning on neurocognitive testing. Results of the qEEG substudy provide some support for neurophysiological changes underlying the intervention. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Sixty-seven (N = 67) urban African American older adults were divided into successful and nonsuccessful aging groups based on objective MacArthur (i.e., physical and cognitive functioning) and on self-rated health criteria. Only 30% of the sample met objective MacArthur criteria for successful aging compared to 63% who rated themselves as successful. Self-rated successful aging was best predicted by regular exercise, whereas objective successful aging was best predicted by demographic characteristics and cognition. Reading ability mediated the relationship between both education and cognition to objectively defined success. Finally, objective successful aging was related to quantity and quality of education, whereas self-rated successful aging was related to a wider variety of variables. Defining successful aging on objective factors alone may limit our understanding of successful aging in urban African American older adults.

The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12; Ware, Kosinski, & Keller, 1996) is a widely used screening device for measuring physical and mental health to assess quality of life. However, limited psychometric data exist for older adults, especially minority aging samples. Findings from Resnick and Nahm (2001) suggest revising traditional SF-12 scoring for use in older adults because of different factor loadings for two questions. This study sought to examine the reliability and validity of a verbally administered SF-12 in a community-dwelling sample of African Americans using the Detroit City-Wide Needs Assessment Database (N = 985). Reliability analysis resulted in an overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.77. Factor analysis with principal components extraction and varimax rotation yielded two factors. Consistent with Resnick and Nahm (2001), question 10 loaded on the physical health factor and question 12 on both the physical and the mental health factors. The overall SF-12 score was significantly related to use of home health services, visits to a physician, number of prescription drugs, as well as number of chronic diseases. The SF-12 appears to be a valid and reliable measure used as a screening device for use with African American elders overall. However, for optimal measurement, modifications to traditional scoring methods for the SF-12 should be considered.

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This pilot study examined a pleasant events focused treatment for depressed mood (Lichtenberg, Kimbarow, Wall, Roth, & MacNeill, 1998) in frail older adults. Using a cross-over design, 15 individuals from two suburban assisted living settings were randomly assigned to either the immediate treatment group (n = 8) or the wait-list control group (n = 7). Data from all participants were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Trained staff delivered the treatment sessions to residents over a 3-month period for 30-minute sessions. Mood ratings (p < .05) and depression scores (p < .09) tended to improve for both treatment groups. Overall, 37% (4 of 11) of those who initially scored above the cutoff for depression scored below it following the treatment package; all of these four remained below threshold at final follow-up. This type of behavioral treatment appears promising for assisted living residents with mild to moderate levels of depressed mood.

SNI I males are at significantly increased risk of death compared with all other groups. The average number of years from initial visit to death for SNI I males is only 2.8 years. These results are consistent with the literature, which suggests men are more affected by social isolation and have decreased survival compared with females. The influence of SNI on mortality in this frail, elderly group appears to be diluted by the presence of functional disability and a high degree of comorbid illness.

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