Lois M. Verbrugge, Ph.D., M.P.H. | Institute of Gerontology

Senior Distinguished Research Scientist, IoG

300 N. Ingalls
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2007
Tel: (734) 936-2103
Fax: (734) 936-2116
Email: verbrugg@umich.edu

Verbrugge's current research topics span empirical and theoretical issues in disability; for example, (1) the efficacy of equipment assistance and personal assistance in resolving disability; (2) comparison of U.S. adults with arthritis disability compared to those with heart disease disability; (3) disability symptoms such as fatigue, or taking a long time, or pain when doing a task, and factors that diminish them; and (4) the twin issues of aging-with-disability and disability-with-aging.

Through her current and recent work, Verbrugge hopes to increase scientific attention on nonfatal chronic conditions and their extensive impacts on middle-aged and older people's activities. Blending social, medical, environmental, and engineering perspectives of disability is a prominent goal.

Her research career has also covered the topics of sex differences in health and mortality; health trends and future health prospects for American adults; comorbidity and its impact on disability; disability associated with osteoarthritis; multiple roles and physical health of women and men; physician treatment of men and women patients; health diary methodology; development of global (one question) indicators of disability; and economical procedures for evaluating arthritis and musculoskeletal function in home surveys.

Selected Honors and Awards: Verbrugge is Visiting Professor at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore in 2004-2005. The central goals of the senior fellowship to develop new disability theory and design collaborative projects with colleagues in the Asia/Pacific region.

Verbrugge had a Research Career Development Award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in 1982-87 to work on sex differentials in health and mortality. In 1987-92, she had a Special Emphasis Research Career Award from the National Institute on Aging to secure biomedical training in the rheumatic diseases and to develop collaborative research with rheumatology colleagues. In 1992, she was awarded the university title of Distinguished Research Scientist by the University of Michigan. In 1994, the American Psychological Association awarded her its Distinguished Contribution to Women's Health Award. In 1995-96, she held two visiting professorships in The Netherlands, at the University of Groningen and the Technological University of Eindhoven. In 1996-98, Verbrugge was employed as Senior Scientist, Aging and Disability Studies at Westat Inc. (Rockville, MD), a premier survey research firm engaged in design and conduct of health/disability surveys for the federal government. She was a Meyer Fellow (short-term senior fellowship) at the National University of Singapore in 2001.

Verbrugge publishes widely in medical sociology, public health, and gerontology journals.

Recent Publications

Verbrugge, L.M. and L.S. Yang. "Aging with disability, and disability with aging." Journal of Disability Policy Studies. 12:253-267. 2002.

Verbrugge, L.M. and P. Sevak. "Use, type, and efficacy of assistance for disability." Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences. 57B:S366-S379. 2002.

Deeg, D.J.H., L.M. Verbrugge, and C Jagger. "Disability measurement." Pp. 203-219 in J.M. Robine, C. Jagger, C.D. Mathers, E.M. Crimmins, and R.M. Suzman (Eds.). Determining Health Expectancies. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 2003.

Verbrugge, L.M. and L.S. Yang. "Duration of disability and timing of onset." Pp. 275-298 in B.M. Altman, S.N. Barnartt, G.E. Hendershot, and S.A. Larson (Eds.). Using Survey Data to Study Disability: Results from the National Health Interview Survey on Disability. Research on Social Science and Disability, Volume 3. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Ltd. 2003.

Verbrugge, L.M., L.Yang, and L.Juarez. "Severity, timing, and structure of disability." Social and Preventive Medicine. 49(2):110-121. 2004.

Verbrugge, L.M., J.J. Rainey, R.L. Reimink, and H.D. Blankespoor. "Swimmer's itch: Incidence and risk factors." American Journal of Public Health. 95(5):738-741. 2004.

Verbrugge, L.M., J.J. Rainey, R.L. Reimink, and H.D. Blankespoor. "Prospective study of swimmer's itch incidence and severity." Journal of Parasitology. 90(4): 697-704. 2004.

Verbrugge, L.M. and P. Sevak. "Disability symptoms and the price of self-sufficiency." Journal of Aging and Health. Forthcoming, November 2004.