Contribute to research: These studies need volunteers
Predicting cognitive change
Which sensory, lifestyle and personality traits can help predict cognitive change over time? Research led by Jennifer Lister, associate dean in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences and professor of communication sciences and disorders, aims to find those answers. Volunteers aged 60 or older may qualify if they do not have any neurological disorders, have not had a stroke or brain injury, and do not have mild cognitive impairment or dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. Participants visit the lab every six months for five years for testing. To learn more, call 813-974-0802 or email bcs-noalab@usf.edu.
Diet, the microbiome and the brain
What is the relationship of diet to brain health? In this study, researchers analyze the composition of bacteria in stool and saliva samples donated by study participants at the beginning of the study and then once a year for at least five years. They will track alterations in the populations of oral and gut microorganisms, collectively known as the microbiome.
Using an interactive mobile app, study participants will also complete a daily dietary questionnaire and yearly tests of their memory, speed of thinking and other cognitive abilities. Researchers are recruiting participants age 60 and older who are cognitively healthy as well as those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and early-stage dementia. To learn more, contact Shalini Jain, assistant professor in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, at 813-974-6281 or jains10@usf.edu.
Cognition, aging, sleep and health lab
Ashley Curtis, assistant professor in the USF Health College of Nursing, investigates the relationship of cognitive function to sleep in aging adults. Through several grant-funded projects, Curtis and her team are exploring computerized cognitive training and its impact on mental functioning and sleep. They are recruiting study participants; to learn more, contact Curtis at ashleycurtis@usf.edu.
Center for Innovation, Technology and Aging
This recently formed center will transform the landscape of care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as other vulnerable older adults with disabilities such as Parkinson’s disease and those recovering from stroke. A team of 27 researchers from seven colleges will develop and evaluate innovative user-centered technologies to improve quality of life for older adults.
Palliative care education in Assisted Living Lab
Led by Debra Dobbs, professor and interim director of the School of Aging Studies in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, this lab focuses on education and interventions to improve end-of-life care for assisted living residents, including those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. Dobbs is the principal investigator for a new three-year, federally funded trial aimed at preparing assisted-living staff to care for patients with dementia. Dobbs and colleagues from the School of Aging Studies will collaborate with researchers from multiple universities and community hospices on the study.
