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Educator seeks answer to age-old problem |
| By
Kim Harvey |
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Jun 26, 2008
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| Pasupuleti |
It’s almost a given with the mature adult population. As Aunt Karen reaches her twilight years, she’ll start to forget things, her reactions will slow, and she’ll need increasing assistance with everyday tasks.
It’s merely part of getting older, right?
Maybe not.
“There is a traditional stereotype that says as we get older, our cognitive abilities are bound to decline,” explained Dr. Sudershan Pasupuleti, associate professor of social work and director of the Office of Service Learning and Community Engagement. “Research in cognitive health is beginning to show evidence that this stereotype is no longer true.”
Pasupuleti proposed a study of how cyber stimulation affects the brain and cognitive functioning among older adults to the John A. Hartford Foundation. His theory sparked interest; Pasupuleti was chosen as one of 10 inductees into the Hartford Faculty Scholars Program for 2008, becoming the third scholar in the state of Ohio. The Hartford Faculty Scholars program has existed for more than a decade.
The distinguished honor comes with a two-year commitment of $100,000 in research funding and access to acclaimed mentors.
“I’m really excited about this opportunity,” Pasupuleti said. “It’s a good foundation for my future research. This award brings great recognition for me personally, for my department and for the University.”
His research is titled “Impact of Computer-Based Brain Fitness Program on Cognitive Functioning and Quality of Life of Older Adults in Public Dwellings.” He’ll examine whether older adults experience positive changes in cognitive functions after receiving the computer-based Brain Fitness intervention. Those in the study will complete the cyber exercises for five hours weekly during a period of eight weeks.
“This research has wider implications for serving older adults with cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,” Pasupuleti said. “Data we gather will help us answer the question, ‘Can we do anything to improve cognitive function or minimize the effects of cognitive decline?’
“If an older person loses his day-to-day abilities, he begins to depend more on others,” Pasupuleti continued, noting cognitive impairment is one of the primary reasons older adults seek help through assisted living and other supplemental arrangements. “If we improve cognitive function, even by a small percentage, we can reduce the growing dependence on long-term care and other resources often used with older adults.”
Approximately 100 people will take part in the study, which Pasupuleti will administer with the assistance of the Area Office on Aging, the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority, Madonna Homes Inc. and other organizations.
Participants will work with interactive software from Posit Science Corp., a San Francisco-based company.
“Posit Science was developed by leading experts in the area of cognitive health and neurosciences,” Pasupuleti said. “Posit’s software provides intellectual stimulation that has a positive effect on areas of the brain that control basic thinking and speed processing.”
Participants will be evaluated before and after they complete the program.
“During the next five years, I would like to test different interventions to discover which methods have the most positive effects,” Pasupuleti said. “Once we have that knowledge, older adults will be able to choose an activity, based on their capacities, to maintain cognitive health.”
Pasupuleti said the Hartford award recognizes work in the field of gerontology, social work, mental health and nursing. In the future, he expects UT to offer a geriatric concentration in its master of social work program.
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