Paola Scommegna
Contributing Senior Writer
Paola Scommegna is a contributing senior writer in U.S. Programs. She has held a variety of communications positions at PRB since 2011. Her focus is on communicating academic research on health, well-being, and aging in nontechnical language for policymakers and program planners. She has previously worked at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Bread for the World, and PRB. She has also served as an independent consultant for a variety of research and social change organizations, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Firelight Foundation, and Amizade. Scommegna holds a master’s degree in global education from American University and a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Northwestern University.
Featured News & Insights
The Sorry State of Women’s Health in the United States
“Girls, women, families, society, and the economy all pay a price for the gaps in knowledge about women’s health,” a new report says.
New Studies Identify Early Warning Signs of Dementia
Brain changes, weight loss, and even infection history could help pinpoint who might be at risk
Citizenship, Ancestry May Help Determine Who Gets the ‘Hispanic Health Advantage’
New research helps explain the factors behind why Hispanic people in the United States tend to live longer than other Americans
Census Issues, Impact of Dobbs Decision, and Population Aging Among Highlights of 2024 Population Association of America Conference
PRB staff offer summaries of new research and insightful sessions at the annual demography meeting.
Among Older Americans, Black and Hispanic People Are Much More Likely to Need Help at Home—and Go Without It
Income, neighborhood characteristics, and state policies may underly racial disparities in who gets needed care, despite federal efforts to expand home-care programs.
No Matter Where They Lived, Older Americans With Dementia Were More Likely to Die From COVID-19
Among assisted living residents, those with dementia spent more time alone and sleeping in 2020 than their peers without the condition
Featured Resources
7 Trends Reshaping the Health and Lifespans of America’s Rapidly Aging Population
Experts point to key dynamics challenging policymakers, health care planners, and families
Fact Sheet: Trends in Family Care for Older Americans
In the United States, over 24 million people provide unpaid care for older adults—a 32% increase from a decade ago.
Today’s Research on Aging 44: More Than a Feeling: How Social Connection Protects Health in Later Life
Older adults’ social ties are more important for physical and mental health than previously thought, new research shows.
Today's Research on Aging: How COVID-19 Protections Affected Older Adults’ Mental Health
New research shows the pandemic deepened feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression among older adults and their caregivers. Social connection is the "medicine hiding in plain sight."
Fact Sheet: Aging in the United States
The current growth of the population ages 65 and older, driven by the large baby boom generation—those born between 1946 and 1964—is unprecedented in U.S.
Public Housing, Vouchers Open Doors to Better Child Health, New Research Suggests
But common waitlist practices disadvantage families facing greatest hardships, analysis finds
Featured Projects
Center for Public Information on Population Research (CPIPR)
The Center for Public Information on Population Research at PRB helps improve the translation and dissemination of major findings from population dynamics research and the communication and cooperation across the NICHD Population Dynamics Research Centers.
Demography and Economics of Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
PRB summarizes recent research supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health, highlighting its implications for individuals and society.
