Center on Aging and the Life Course at Purdue

Oops! A quick correction to a recent post: CALC Dual-title PhD student, Bohyun Ro, will graduate this summer. We also want to correct the title of her dissertation: "Physiological Adaptations to Heat Therapy in Aging and Metabolic Disease." We look forward to celebrating Bohyun’s accomplishment in August.

The achievements of three dual-title PhD students, along with CALC director Dr. Cathy Liu, were recognized by the Department of Sociology at its 2026 annual awards celebration. Congratulations on these well-deserved honors.

Congratulations Sam Nemeth, CALC Graduate Student, on receiving Purdue University's Presidential Excellence Award. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding first-year PhD students and supports their scholarship and research.

CALC founder and Faculty Associate Ken Ferraro, PhD, was featured on several media outlets discussing research showing that cognitively stimulating neighborhoods may help support cognitive health as we age. Watch the segment from WTVT Fox Tampa to learn more about how our communities can shape healthy aging and brain health.

https://bit.ly/4edRYyu

CALC Faculty Associate Natasha Jaiswal published a study entitled “AKT Signaling Regulates Agrin-Mediated Acetylcholine Receptor Surface Density.” The study found that AKT, a key protein in muscle cells, helps control the number of acetylcholine receptors needed for proper muscle function. When AKT activity was blocked, receptor levels dropped, but this effect could be reversed by limiting protein breakdown. These findings highlight an important role for AKT in maintaining healthy muscle signaling, with potential implications for neuromuscular diseases and muscle loss.

To read more, see the link: https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62030456.

CALC Faculty Associates Priscilla Ding, Laura Murray-Kolb, and Zach Hass contributed to a new interdisciplinary study examining the connection between diabetes risk and sleep-related leg movements. Their research highlights how sleep patterns may help identify diabetes risk earlier and advances understanding at the intersection of sleep, health, and aging.

To learn more, see the link:
https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/news/2026/04/purdue-researchers-find-connection-between-diabetes-risk-and-sleep-related-leg-movements-in-interdisciplinary-study/?utm_source=sfmcPT&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=260420PurdueToday&utm_term=Purdue+researchers+find+connection+between+diabetes+risk+and+sleep-related+leg+movements+in+interdisciplinary+study&utm_id=1277662

CALC’s Tech Team program allows students to experience one-on-one contact with older adults as they assist residents of senior living facilities with their technology issues. A big thank you to CALC grad student Mallory Bell and Jinjie Wang, a PhD student working with CALC Faculty Associate Brandon Pitts, who coordinated the program in the spring semester. We also appreciate all the students who volunteered and the facilities that partnered with us. We look forward to continuing this invaluable program in the 2026-27 academic year.

In recognition of “significant contributions to psychopathological research” and to mentoring upcoming researchers, CALC Faculty Associate Erin Dunn has received the 2026 Breslau/Murphy Award from the American Psychopathological Association. Congratulations, Dr. Dunn.

To read more, see link:
https://www.cla.purdue.edu/news/college/2026/erin-dunn-receives-breslau-murphy-award.html?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=April%20Liberal%20Arts%20Lens%20&utm_id=49389111

CALC Faculty Associates Daniel Hirai, Nasreen Lalani, Jiyeon Lee, Bruno Roseguini, and Christie Sennott have been approved for faculty promotions starting in the 2026-27 school year. Dr. Hirai and Dr. Lalani have been promoted to Associate Professor and Dr. Lee, Dr. Roseguini, and Dr. Sennott have been promoted to Full Professors. Congratulations on your hard work.

To read more, see link: https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/2026/Q2/faculty-promotions-and-tenure-approved-by-trustees/.

Natasha Jaiswal, CALC Faculty Associate, co-authored a study entitled “Lactate homeostasis is maintained through regulation of glycolysis and lipolysis.” The study shows how the body carefully balances lactate levels by controlling how it is produced and used. Researchers found that insulin increases lactate production, but rising lactate levels can signal the body to slow down this process and boost its breakdown. These findings reveal how the body maintains stable lactate levels, which may help improve understanding of conditions like diabetes.

To read more, see the link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2024.12.009.