On the Heights: May 2025
Departmental news, research highlights, community achievements, and more to help you stay connected with the Michigan Public Health community.
Lindsay Kobayashi
Multiple periods of loneliness may add up to higher mortality risk
New research from Xuexin Yu and Lindsay Kobayashi
Working from well-established research on the detrimental health effects of loneliness, University of Michigan researchers set out to study whether feeling lonely at multiple times through the years leads to more serious illness and higher mortality risk in mid to later life.
Paper studies concordant hypertension across four countries
New research from Lindsay Kobayashi and Chihua Li
A new study encompassing data from four countries shows that if one member of a couple has high blood pressure, the other member is likely to have high blood pressure as well.
Cumulative loneliness associated with accelerated memory aging in older adults
New research from Xuexin Yu and Lindsay Kobayashi
Prolonged loneliness in adults over 65 may be an important risk factor for accelerated memory aging, according to a new study led by University of Michigan School of Public Health researchers.
To Combat Vaccine Hesitation, Identify and Target 'Fence-Sitters' Early in Pandemic
New research from Abram L. Wagner
Identifying adults who are ambivalent about vaccines early in a pandemic and finding community leaders who can help spread reliable information within their communities could help reduce vaccine hesitancy, according to a new University of Michigan study.
As a Season of Joy Arrives, Pandemic Stress Weighs Heaviest on Least-Healthy Older Adults
New research from Lindsay Kobayashi
Poll finds many people over 50 have found joy and stayed resilient amid a prolonged public health crisis, but shows stress too.