This past July, three Pepper Scholars represented the Pepper Center and Institute on Aging in the Spotlight on UF’s Young Scholars at the Institute for Learning in Retirement of Oak Hammock. Thank you to our amazing scholars and their contributions to the field of aging research!
July 7: Pain and Aging – A Nutritional Perspective
Speaker: Larissa Strath, Ph.D., Pepper Scholar, Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, UF
Can your food make you hurt more? Join Dr. Larissa Strath to discuss the latest research on how the food we eat contributes to our pain and accelerates our aging!
July 21: Aging Strong: How Hormones, Muscle, and Medicine Shape Independence
Speaker: Aditya Shirali, MD, Pepper Scholar, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, UF
This talk will explore how hormones and muscle health affect aging, how to recognize when something may be treatable (not just ‘normal aging’), and what practical steps you can take to stay active, strong, and independent.
July 28: Nutrition for Musculoskeletal Health in Older Adults
Speaker: Cora Best, Ph.D., Pepper Scholar, Department of Human Nutrition, IFAS, UF
This session will explore how nutrition supports bone and muscle health across the life span, with a focus on preventing age‑related bone loss and maintaining strength in later life. We’ll discuss key nutrients, dietary patterns, and new findings from UF research on healthy aging.
Our research coordinators also tabled at each session to recruit attendees to join the Pepper Registry, a group of individuals interested in participating in aging research studies being conducted at the University of Florida.
Thank you to Oak Hammock for hosting and including the Institute on Aging in this wonderful series.