Mario D. Garrett Ph.D.

Professor of Gerontology

PLAY VIDEO (37m)

For the first time since the 1900s, and the separation of psychiatry (biology), psychoanalysis (unconscious), and psychology (learning), all three disciplines are brought together to elucidate dementia’s causes. Causes that have evaded understanding from the beginning of civilization. Even though the main thrust is for a biological cause, more than a third of older people with dementia do not have enough of the biological markers to explain their dementia. As a result, we need to look for alternative explanations. As we get older our representation of the world becomes more accurate and more dominant. We tend to rely on our past experiences rather than on learning new material. Since memory’s role is "recalling past events to facilitate learning," relying on past experiences diminishes learning and eventually weakens memory. Once learning becomes less dominant, memory starts to suffer, The secondary role of memory, to bring past experiences into consciousness then starts to suffer. Memory loss in dementia disconnects the conscious from the unconscious. Dementia becomes an issue of consciousness rather than a problem of thinking. This perspective provides a different interpretation of our thinking processes and establishes a more humane view of the deficits that we witness in dementia. We learn to see the person living with dementia not as a product of loss but as a product of miscommunication. By examining what memory is for, we develop a humanistic approach. By changing the perspective--that it is not dementia that causes memory loss, but memory loss that causes dementia--a new interpretation emerges that sees the contribution of perceptual biases in dementia. It is impossible to understand aging without first addressing dementia. Trying to answer the question of whether aging is pathological—a disease—or whether dementia is the disease of aging is at the crux of gerontology. This book argues that perceptual change results in pathology. That reliance on our past experiences relegates memory as peripheral and eventually weakens memory to the extent that we lose contact with our accumulated subconscious experiences. This is the social pathological of dementia.

COMING SOON !!!

Award winning blog with over 200 short blogs on aging

Podcast with Michael Patterson and MINDRAMP

Talking about the new theory of SOCIAL DEMENTIA.

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Kerime_CARTOON.pdf

Kerime Sak, a student from Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey did a cartoon series of my lectures...she attended the course twice so that she can do this. This document is provided here for discussion. All copyright resides with the artist Karime Sak © 2020

Click on the image for a PDF document.

UNIVERSITY TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

San Diego State University

- GERO101: Introduction to Gerontology
- GERO350:Social Policy and Aging
- GERO360: Diversity and Aging
- GERO370:Images of Aging
- SW391: Research Methods
- GERO402: Aging Networks
- GERO501: Psychology of Aging
- GERO530: Research Practical
- GERO520: Evaluation
- GERO601: Theory in Gerontology
- GERO602:Research Methods
- SW610: Computer Application
- GERO630: Research Methods Application
- SW690: Research Methodology

University of British Columbia , Canada

- PSYCH422: Psychology of Adulthood

Bogazichi University- Turkey

- PSYCH 401: Psychology of Ageing

University of New Mexico

- GEN402 (American) Indian Aging

Extracurricular Activities

HONORS

Most Popular UCSD-TV Program for 2013

Brain Fitness: Social Aspects of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment – Research on Aging

Foreigner Correspondence Club Japan: "The Politics of Alzheimer's Disease and the Impact on Japan"

Every year I curate and host an annual COMING OF AGE film festival on aging in San Diego at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) situated in Balboa Park. The audience enjoy free films together with an introduction and a Q&A afterwards. Since 2011, COMING OF AGE has been made possible by generous support from local agencies. To review this community program please go to www.comingofageinfilms.com

Blogs translated into other languages:

Russian

Vietnamese

Mandarin

Korean

German

Portuguese

Hindi

Japanese

HOME WORK

PO Box 331, San Diego State University, School of Social Work,

La Mesa, CA. 91944 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-1872

PHONE 619-992 5317 PHONE 619-594 2818

ACADEMIC PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS (MORE RECENT FIRST)

These papers are being made available here to facilitate the timely dissemination of scholarly work; copyright and all related rights are retained by the copyright holders.

Garrett MD (under review) Psychopathology of Dementia: The Role of Memory. European Journa of Clinical Medicine.

Garrett MD (2021). Social Pathology of Dementia. Arch Neurol & Neurosci. 10(1).

Garrett MD (2021) Letters: The Social Pathology of Dementia. Academia Letters.

Garrett MD (2020) Multiple Causes of Dementia as Engineered Senescence. European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, Vol2 (2).

Garrett MD (2019) Developing a Modern Mythology for Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Arch Neurol & Neurosci. 4(1).

Garrett, MD (2019) The pitfalls of crowdfunding Alzheimer’s disease research. International Medicine 2019; 1(2): 78-89 | DOI: 10.5455/im.36591

Garrett MD (2019) Curing Alzheimer’s Disease; Myriad Causes and Cures Await. OBM Geriatrics 2019;3(3):16; doi:10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903063.

Garrett MD (2019). Aging as Planned Obsolescence: The Case of Alzheimer’s Disease. Iris J of Nur & Car. 2(1). DOI: 10.33552/IJNC.2019.02.000526.

Garrett, MD & Poulain M (2018). Geography of Aging: The Science of Belonging. Open Science Journal of Psychology Vol. 5, No. 6, 2018, pp. 73-83.

Garrett MD. (2018) We all have Alzheimer’s Disease: The Legacy of the 2018 National Institute on Aging’s Research Framework Toward a Biological Definition of Alzheimer’s Disease. J Neurol Forecast. 1(1): 1003.

Garrett MD (2018) A Critique of the 2018 National Institute on Aging’s.Research Framework: Toward a biological definition ofAlzheimer’s disease. Curr Neurobiol 9(1): 49-58

Garrett MD & Valle RJ (2016).A Methodological Critique of The National Institute of Aging and Alzheimer’s Association Guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice,15(2) 239–254. DOI: 10.1177/1471301214525166

Garrett MD & Valle R (2016) A Century of Confusion in Researching Alzheimer;s Disease. Dementia: The International Journal of Healthcare 2(2), 13-22.

Garrett MD, Valle R (2015) A New Public Health Paradigm for Alzheimer’s Disease Research. SOJ Neurol 2(1), 1-9.

Garrett MD, Baldridge D, Benson W, Crowder J & Aldrich N (2015). Mental Health Disorders Among an Invisible Minority: Depression and Dementia Among American Indian and Alaska Native Elders.The Gerontologist. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnu181

Garrett MD & Valle RJ (2014).A Methodological Critique of The National Institute of Aging and Alzheimer’s Association Guidelines for Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice.DOI: 10.1177/1471301214525166

Garrett, MD. Geography and the Elderly. (2014). In Oxford Bibliographies in Geography. Ed. Barney Warf. New York: Oxford University Press.

Valle R, Garrett MD & Velasquez R (2013). Developing Dementia Prevalence rates Among Latinos: Locally Attuned, Data-Based, Service Planning Tool. Journal of Population Ageing Online first, April, 2013)

Garrett MD, Baldridge D & Williams E (2012). American Indians and Alaska Natives in Nursing Home: Initial results from the 2008 Minimum Data Set. Pimatisiwin. Volume 10 Number 1.

Antoninetti M & Garrett MD (2012). Body Capital and the Geography of Aging. Royal Geographical Society. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4762.2012.01089.x

Sugita JA, & Garrett MD (2012). Elder Abuse and Oral Healthcare Providers: An Intervention to Increase Knowledge and Self Perceived Likelihood to Report. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect. 24(1):50-64.

Reid JL, Morton DJ, Wingard DL, Garrett MD, von Muhlen D, Slymen D, Field M.(2010). Sex and Age Differences in the Association of Obesity and Smoking with Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes in Southern California American Indians, 2002–2006. Ethnicity and Disease. 20(3):231–238.

Reid JL, Morton DJ, Wingard DL, Garrett MD, von Muhlen D, Slymen D. (2010) Obesity and Other Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and their Association with Osteoarthritis in Southern California American Indians, 2002–2006. Ethnicity and Disease.20(4):416-422.

Garrett MD, Baldridge D, Muus K, Baker-Demaray T, Benson WF, & McGuire, LC (2010). Native Migration: In Search of the Missing Cohorts, American Indian and Alaska Native Migration and the Loss of Caregivers in Native Communities. Pimatisiwin: A Journal of Aboriginal and Indigenous Community Health, Vol. 8, No. 1,1-18.

Garrett MD, Baldridge D, Benson WF, McGuire LC. (2008). Missing Cohorts of Caregivers Among American Indian and Alaska Native Communities. The IHS Primary Care Provider. Volume 33(4), April:105-111.

Garrett MD & McGuire LC. (2008). Family Caregivers Declining for American Indians, Alaska Natives. Aging Today Nov-Dec:11.

Garrett MD (2008). Is Our Population Sustainable. Journal of Sustainability 1 (4).

Garrett MD, Morton DJ, & Black KF. (2006) Healthy Aging: Lessons from Isleta Pueblo Elders. Journal of Native Aging and Health. June.

Garrett, MD. (2006) Filial Piety and Capital Transfer as Determinants in the Changing Patterns of Responsibility of the Elderly: Southeast and Eastern Asia as an Accelerated Microcosm. Global Impact: Concerns for an Aging Population. San Diego, CA.

Morton DJ, Garrett MD, Reid J, & Wingard DJ. (2006) “Current Smoking and Type 2 Diabetes In Selected Indian Health Service Clinics, 1998-2003” Am J Public Health. 2008 Mar;98(3):560.

John R, Hennessy CH, Dyeson TB & Garrett MD. (2001). Toward the conceptualization and measurement of caregiver burden among Pueblo Indian family caregivers. The Gerontologist. 2001 41: 210-219.

Griffith SP, Garrett MD, Ramsey P. (2001). Accuracy of Using PCC Data for

Measuring Childhood Obesity. The IHS Provider, 26:37-9.

Garrett MD. (1995). Inequalities in the Utilization of Gerontological Services in Malta: A Micro State Study. The Southwest Journal on Aging, Vol 11, 1.

Garrett MD. (1995). Filial Piety or a Filial Pie: Capital Transfer from the Elderly to their Offspring within Southeast and Eastern Asia in Ingman, SR, Pei X, Ekstrom, CD, Friedsam, HJ & Bartlett, KR (eds) , An Aging Population, An Aging Planet, and a Sustainable Future: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally. Series in Social Policy, Community and Regional Development. University of North Texas, Denton, 1995.

Garrett MD & Scerri M. (1994). Community Services for the Elderly in Malta; In J. Kosberg (ed) International Handbook of Community Services for the Elderly. Greenwood Publications. New York.

Garrett MD. (1994). Indigenous Elderly: Our Invisible Heritage. Aging International. Volume 21, Number 4. December, 1994:43-46

Kinnie N, & Garrett M (1993). Managerial Strategies for Flexible Employment: An analysis using cross-sectional data. Management Research News, Vol. 12 Iss: 3, pp.14 – 15. DOI:10.1108/eb028018

Blanchflower DG, Oswald AJ & Garrett MD. (1990). Insider Power in Wage Determination: 1980 and 1984. Economica, 57, 143-70.

Blanchflower DG, Oswald AJ, Garrett MD & Deeks AJ. (1987). Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment in Britain. UK Department of Employment Working Paper. London, U.K.

Garrett MD. (1982) Electroconvulsive Therapy and its non-Efficacy. Journal of Science and Technology, UK. Nov.

SELECTED NON-REFEERED PUBLICATIONS (chronological order)

Blanchflower DG, Oswald AJ, Garrett MD & Deeks AJ. (1987). Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment in Britain. UK Department of Employment Working Paper. London, U.K.

Garrett MD & Allerton M. (1989). Methodology and Initial Statistics of the YOUTHSCAN Longitudinal Survey - Part I. International Centre for Child Studies. Bristol, U.K.

Kinnie N & Garrett MD. (1989). Management Strategies for Flexible Employment: An analysis using cross-sectional data. Management Research News, Vol 12(3).

Cuscheri A, Delia L, Garrett MD & Troisi J (1993). Evaluation of Existing Services for the Elderly and their Implications in Planning for Future Services in the light of Economic Realities and Demographic Trends. White Paper, Government of Malta, Parliamentary Secretary for the Care of the Elderly.

Garrett MD. (1991). Life Expectancy: A Global Analysis and Critique. BOLD, Vol.1 No.2. UN-INIA, Malta.

Garrett MD. (1992). Changing Patterns of Responsibility: East and Southeast Asia as an accelerated microcosm. In United Nations Population Division. Proceedings of the Expert Group Meeting on Population and Demographic Structure, UNFPA, New York.

Garrett MD. (1993). Emerging Needs in Developing Countries: Two scenarios. BOLD. Vol.4 No.1. UN-INIA, Malta.

Garrett MD. (1993). Emerging Trends and Needs: A scenario for change. New Series of Papers in Gerontology, University of Liverpool, UK.

Garrett MD. (1994). Ageing in East and Southeast Asia: Is family support a viable policy? BOLD. Vol 4, No. 3. UN-INIA, Malta.

Garrett MD. (1994). Indigenous Elderly People: First Global Estimates. BOLD. Vol 4, No. 4. UN-INIA, Malta.

Baldridge D, Baros S , Campos B, Garrett MD, Henriksen L & Inglis M. (1996). Mapping Indian Elders...An initiative of the National Indian Council on Aging. National Indian Council on Aging, July 1996.

Garrett MD. (1997). New Mexico American Indian Elders: A Demographic and Services Profile. New Mexico Office for Indian Affairs/Indian Area Agency on Aging, February 1997.

Garrett MD (2000). The Mapping of Gerontological Data. BOLD. Vol 10, No. 2. UN-INIA, Malta.

Garrett MD & Menke KA. (2002). Indian No More: Inconsistent Classification of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Medicare. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol 2, No. 2.

Garrett MD, Menke KA, Inglis M, & Baldridge D. (2002). Where and How Indians Die: Context of American Indian and Alaska Native Deaths. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol 3, No. 2.

Garrett MD, Menke KA, Baldridge D & Inglis M. (2002). American Indians and Alaska Natives in the 2000 U.S. Census Part 1. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol 3, No. 3.

Garrett MD & Menke KA. (2002). The Continued Disappearance of Indians in Medicaid. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol 3, No. 4.

Garrett MD. (2003). USRDS Users Guide. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 6, No. 1.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island & Vermont. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No.1.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 2; New York. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 2.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 3: New Jersey, Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 3.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 4: Delaware & Pennsylvania. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 4.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 5: Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland & District of Columbia. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 5.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 6: Georgia, North Carolina & South Carolina. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 6.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 7: Florida. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 7.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 8: Alabama, Mississippi & Tennessee. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 8.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 9/10: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky & Ohio. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 9.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 11: Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota & Wisconsin. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 10.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 12: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri & Nebraska. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 11.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 13: Arkansas, Louisiana & Oklahoma. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 12.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 14: Texas. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 13.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 15: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah & Wyoming. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 14.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 16: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon & Washington. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 15.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 17: American Samoa, Guam, Mariana Islands, Hawaii & Northern California. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 16.

Garrett MD & Baldridge D. (2003). Summary of Results from the USRDS Network 18: Southern California. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 5, No. 17.

Garrett MD, Baldridge D, Menke KA. (2003). Health Disparities Among Americans. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 10, No. 1. Sponsored by the Papa Ola Kahali and Out of Many One.

Garrett MD. (2003). Asthma Among American Indians. NICOA’s Monograph Series, Vol. 6, No. 1. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Garrett MD (2008). Editorial: Is Our Population Sustainable? San Diego Union Tribune. August 15.

Garrett MD (2008). Is Our Population Sustainable? Journal of Sustainability. Issue 1(4), Sept: online: http://journalofsustainability.com/lifetype/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=4&blogId=1

Garrett MD. (2009). The Sustainability of Dying? Journal of Sustainability. Issue 2(2), February: online:

http://journalofsustainability.com/lifetype/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=45&blogId=1

Garrett MD (2015) Genetic Longevity. Encyclopedia of health & aging. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412956208

Garrett MD (2015) Lifespan. Encyclopedia of health & aging. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412956208

Garrett MD (2015) Life Expectancy. Encyclopedia of health & aging. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412956208

Garrett MD (2015) Dementia and Depression Among American Indians and Alaska Native Elders. Atlas of Science.

BOOKS

Garrett MD (2020) Social Dementia. Kindle. USA.
Garrett MD (2019) Coming of Age in Films, Cambridge Scholar Publishing, UK.
Garrett MD (2018) Dementia: A Being Out of One's Mind. Kindle. USA.
Garrett MD (2017) Immortality: With a Lifetime Guarantee. Kindle. USA.
Garrett MD (2015) Politics of Anguish: How Alzheimer's disease became the malady of the 21st century. Kindle. USA
Garrett MD (2015) Reclaiming Senile. Kindle. USA
Garrett MD (2012) New Insights in Aging. Kindle.USA
Baldridge D, Garrett MD, & Menke K. (2003). Monograph Series. National Indian Council on Aging, September.
Wozniak D, Yuen L, Garrett MD & Shuman TS. (Editors) (1999). International Symposium on Herbal Medicine: A Holistic Approach. International Institute for Human Resources Development, San Diego State University.
Wozniak D, Shuman TS, Roet A, Garrett MD (Editors) (1996). Human Settlements Habitat: Proceedings and Recommendations of the International Symposium on Human Settlements. San Diego State University.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Chair, Commission on Aging, La Mesa City Council (Mayoral Nominee 2006- 2012)

Chair, Council on Minority Aging (2005-2007)

Board Member, Alzheimer’s Association San Diego and Imperial county Chapters, Medical and Scientific Board (2009- 2018)

Board Member, The Glenner Memory Care Centers, Medical and Scientific Board (2012- present)

Secretary, Board of Directors, CSA San Diego County (2007- 2018)

Consultant, Tierrasanta Village, a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community initiative.

Sample Social Network Sites (San Diego Union Tribune Articles not included, 120 PsychologyToday articles have been deleted after they censored my articles.)

An award winning blog that collates all these blogs in one place can be accessed at iAge. Another blog addresses a more personal view of aging at iAging).

Master of Science in Gerontology: Thesis Committee Chairperson

2004

Building a dementia care network : a community-based service delivery system for Latino families in San Diego County. Roberto E. Velasquez
HIV/AIDS epidemiologic trends of the over age 50 population in San Diego County. Norman Douglas Jackson
Predictors of unsubsidized employment for older workers in a senior community service employment program. Cynthia Lee Hansen
What are the real-life issues regarding conservatorships in California today? Jacqueline Santangelo-Herman

2005

Comparison of activity of daily living (ADL) impairments between urban and rural elderly nursing home residents in San Diego and Imperial County. Debbie A. Petrocco
Cultural competency in geriatric case management : promoting the use of primary care. Sonia L. Castro Negron
Existing and potential health promotion services in San Diego : a survey of religious institutions. Lisa Randall
The exploratory analysis of mental health services in San Diego County's long term care continuum. Gisella Stonier
Perceptions of elder abuse and help-seeking patterns among different ethnic and age groups. Scott William Code
The usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for treatment of hypertension among Chinese and Taiwanese elderly in Southern California. Shih-Fan Lin
With friends like these who needs enemies : a study of financial abuse of older adults by caregivers and family members. Kandi Kayne Lee

2006

How San Diego religious leaders support their congregant members at end of life. Stacy L. Sampson
A survey of caregiving characteristics. Iris Diaz Canapi

2007

The effects of structured educational programming of RCFE residing elderly with cognitive impairments : an evaluation of program participation, quality of life and behavior management. Lindsey Beth Cornwell

2008

An evaluation of the local needs assessment process and its ability to represent minority elders in San Diego County. Annette S. Quinata
Maximizing Medicaid's continuum of care : an analysis of assisted living facilities and nursing home residents . Christina LeBlanc Selder

2009

Elder abuse and oral healthcare providers : an intervention to increase knowledge and self-perceived likelihood to report. Julie Ann Sugita
Job satisfaction and the Shared Care Model as compared with the Traditional Model of hospice care. Carolyn Mae Stevenson

2011

An exposition of irregularities in Residential Care Facilities For The Elderly (RCFE) in San Diego and Imperial Counties.Christine M. Murphy

2013

Luck, control and the Holocaust. Katrine Teplitsky