OBM Geriatrics is an Open Access journal published quarterly online by LIDSEN Publishing Inc. The journal takes the premise that innovative approaches – including gene therapy, cell therapy, and epigenetic modulation – will result in clinical interventions that alter the fundamental pathology and the clinical course of age-related human diseases. We will give strong preference to papers that emphasize an alteration (or a potential alteration) in the fundamental disease course of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular aging diseases, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, skin aging, immune senescence, and other age-related diseases.

Geriatric medicine is now entering a unique point in history, where the focus will no longer be on palliative, ameliorative, or social aspects of care for age-related disease, but will be capable of stopping, preventing, and reversing major disease constellations that have heretofore been entirely resistant to interventions based on “small molecular” pharmacological approaches. With the changing emphasis from genetic to epigenetic understandings of pathology (including telomere biology), with the use of gene delivery systems (including viral delivery systems), and with the use of cell-based therapies (including stem cell therapies), a fatalistic view of age-related disease is no longer a reasonable clinical default nor an appropriate clinical research paradigm.

Precedence will be given to papers describing fundamental interventions, including interventions that affect cell senescence, patterns of gene expression, telomere biology, stem cell biology, and other innovative, 21st century interventions, especially if the focus is on clinical applications, ongoing clinical trials, or animal trials preparatory to phase 1 human clinical trials.

Papers must be clear and concise, but detailed data is strongly encouraged. The journal publishes a variety of article types (Original Research, Review, Communication, Opinion, Comment, Conference Report, Technical Note, Book Review, etc.). There is no restriction on the length of the papers and we encourage scientists to publish their results in as much detail as possible.

Publication Speed (median values for papers published in 2023): Submission to First Decision: 5.7 weeks; Submission to Acceptance: 17.9 weeks; Acceptance to Publication: 7 days (1-2 days of FREE language polishing included)

Current Issue: 2021  Archive: 2020 2019

Topical Collection

Mobility and Aging: Falls Prevention Among Older People

Editor

Ray Marks

Adjunct Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, USA; School of Health & Professional Studies, York College, City University of New York, New York, USA

Website | E-Mail

Research Interests: Osteoporosis; osteoarthritis; knee osteoarthritis; falls prevention; depression; aging

Topical Collection Information

Falls and their consequences continue to pose a major public health concern owing to their widespread occurrence and deleterious impact. This special edition is designed to encompass and document health research literature detailing the various falls prevention programs that exist or should be developed for older adults at high risk for falls. Research and review articles related to the community or nursing home settings are invited. Articles that employ a holistic approach are especially encouraged.

Publication (8 papers)

2021

Jump to: 2020 2019 

Open Access Research Article

Stepping Out: A Pilot Program to Reduce Falls Risk in People with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Received: 14 September 2020;  Published: 08 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2101151

Abstract

Cognitive impairment significantly increases the risk of accidental falls in older adults, and falls outcomes are more severe in this population. However, few interventions exist to reduce falls among individuals with cognitive impairment. To address this gap, we developed Stepping Out, [...]

2020

Jump to: 2021 2019 

Open Access Research Article

A Novel Approach to Fall Risk Reduction: Combining Education and Therapeutic Yoga

Received: 03 October 2019;  Published: 03 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001097

Abstract

Falls have negative consequences for older adults, but falls can be reduced through interventions that target the reduction of fall risk factors. Cognitive behavioral education programs and therapeutic yoga are two interventions that have independently been used as a means to reduce the risk of fall [...]

2019

Jump to: 2021 2020 

Open Access Review

Design Guidelines to Reduce Extrinsic Fall Risks in the Built Environment

Received: 28 August 2019;  Published: 16 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904095

Abstract

As people age, environments supporting changing needs can potentially impact their quality of life. Aging often leads to a decrease in the ability of people to interpret sensory cues within their environment. Using Pastalan’s Empathic Model as a framework, a list of guidelines was established to ad [...]
Open Access Original Research

Automated Movement Feedback for Recovering Independence in the Sit-to-Stand Movement in an Older Population: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of a Novel System

Received: 23 September 2019;  Published: 02 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904089

Abstract

Background The sit-to-stand (StS) movement is a frequently performed task critical to independent living that is both difficult to perform and associated with falls in older populations. Consequently, the recovery of this movement through supervised practice is a priority during the rehabilitation [...]
Open Access Research Article

Balance and Fall Rates are Associated with Chronic Pain, and Improve with Yoga

Received: 29 September 2019;  Published: 25 November 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904087

Abstract

Background: Falls are relatively common in older adults and are associated with chronic pain. Chronic pain may even be a predictor of falls in older adults. However, this relationship has not been studied in adults <65 years of age. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship betwee [...]
Open Access Case Report

Qualitative Evaluation of Interdisciplinary Service Learning Experience to Assess and Manage Fall Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Received: 15 August 2019;  Published: 29 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904084

Abstract

Aim: This case study reports on the planning and implementation of a fall risk assessment and prevention activity for older adults offered in multiple community settings by health professional faculty and students. Background: In the US, the percentage of adults 65 and older who fell was more than 2 [...]
Open Access Research Article

Using Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36v2®) to Predict Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Received: 14 September 2019;  Published: 25 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904082

Abstract

Background: Falls are the leading cause of hospitalization and death among older adults; therefore, the ability to predict fall risk among older adults is critical. Several performance-based outcome measures exist to assess fall risk. Psychological factors are also associated with fall risk yet can [...]
Open Access Research Article

GAPcare: The Geriatric Acute and Post-Acute Fall Prevention Intervention for Emergency Department Patients – A Qualitative Evaluation

Received: 21 August 2019;  Published: 10 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904078

Abstract

Three million US emergency department (ED) visits occur for falls each year. The mortality of falls is increasing and only one fourth of older adults report their fall to their primary care provider, suggesting that valuable preventative opportunities are missed. A fall prevention intervention initi [...]
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