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Harvey Jay Cohen

Walter Kempner Distinguished Professor of Medicine, in the School of Medicine
Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care
Duke Box 3003, Durham, NC 27710
2509 Blue Zone Duke Clinic, Center for Aging, Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Dr. Cohen's research program includes clinical research relating to aspects of the pathways to functional decline and reilience with aging, geriatric assessment, and cancer and anemia in the elderly.

Pathways to functional decline are being explored through the NIA funded Claude Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, and includes studies of the contributions of age related physiologic change, in particular changes in inflammatory parameters, comorbid diseases and conditions, environment, genetics, and the interactionas among them. Data are derived from several current studies as well as previously collected data sets from the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE), National Long Term Care Survey, and the Chinese Longevity Study (with Dr. Zeng Yi). Previous work has demonstrated the important contributions of age related inflammation and coagulation activation to functional status. He is Co-PI of the Pepper Center Physical Performance Across the LifeSpan (PALS) study, which is a longitudinal cohort study of community dwelling adults from age 30-90+and includes functional measures and biomarkers on inflammation and metabolism.
 
Geriatric assessment approaches have been studied in a number of randomized and controlled studies and work is now concentrating on the application of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment tools to the evaluation and treatment of elderly patients with cancer. This is an extension and continuation of a long standing interest in geriatric oncology. Previous studies have elucidated age-related patterns of disease presentation, treatment approaches, clinical trials, survivorship, quality of life, impact of comrobidities and functional outcomes. Dr. Cohen was co-chair, and now member of the Cancer in the Older Adult Committee of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (ALLIANCE). A number of active studies and ongoing data bases aree being utilized to address these questions.


Anemia in the older adult is being addressed through an NIA funded U01 consortium (Dr. Cohen Co-PI). the current main study is an observational study followed by a pragmatic treatment trial for anemia in older adults with CHF, in collaboration with the Cardiovascular Research Network (CVRN) of the Health services research network (HSRN)

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Walter Kempner Distinguished Professor of Medicine, in the School of Medicine · 2007 - Present Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Medicine
Professor of Medicine · 1980 - Present Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Medicine
Emeritus Director, Center for the Study of Aging & Human Development · 2019 - Present Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Institutes and Centers
Faculty Research Scholar of DuPRI's Center for Population Health & Aging · 2011 - Present Center for Population Health & Aging, Duke Population Research Institute
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 1971 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers
Faculty Associate in the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities & History of Medicine · 2005 - Present Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities & History of Medicine, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published July 22, 2019
After Five Decades, Don't Count on a 'Father of Geriatrics' Retiring
Published October 29, 2014
Conference to explore creativity, aging
Published October 14, 2014
Updated: March 5 Aging and Creativity Conference Cancelled

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Recent Publications


Associations between anaesthetic dose-adjusted intraoperative EEG alpha power, processing speed, and postoperative delirium: analysis of data from three prospective studies.

Journal Article Br J Anaesth · April 10, 2025 BACKGROUND: We previously have shown that low intraoperative EEG alpha power is associated with impaired preoperative cognition, a delirium risk factor, and that intraoperative anaesthetic-dose-adjusted EEG bispectral index values were associated with a fo ... Full text Link to item Cite

Depressive symptom trajectories in older breast cancer survivors: the Thinking and Living with Cancer Study.

Journal Article J Cancer Surviv · April 2025 PURPOSE: To identify trajectories of depressive symptoms in older breast cancer survivors and demographic, psychosocial, physical health, and cancer-related predictors of these trajectories. METHODS: Recently diagnosed nonmetastatic breast cancer survivors ... Full text Link to item Cite

Opioids and benzodiazepines in oncology: Perspectives on coprescribing and mitigating risks.

Journal Article J Geriatr Oncol · March 2025 INTRODUCTION: Opioids and benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for cancer symptoms. In combination, they can increase the risk of adverse events, particularly for older adults with multimorbidity, who represent most patients with cancer. We aimed to und ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Duke/UNC ADAR Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

Improving decision-making for older adults with melanoma

ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2026

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Education, Training & Certifications


State University of New York, Brooklyn · 1965 M.D.