Seed Project – Detection, Care, and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia

Funded Projects

Physical Activity Together (PAT) Trial for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Their Romantic Partners: A Feasibility Study

Project Team:

Sangwoo Ahn, UTK College of Nursing

Joel Anderson, UTK College of Nursing

Monica Crane, Genesis Neuroscience Clinic

David Bassett, Jr., UTK Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies

Clea McNeely, UTK College of Nursing

Abstract:

The proposed study brings together a team of applied and basic researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Genesis Neuroscience Clinic to test a novel approach for promoting physical activity among older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and their romantic partners. One longitudinal study found that people with aMCI who participated in regular physical activity had a 64% lower risk of dementia. However, fewer than 15% of older adults meet physical activity guidelines in the U.S. and the proportion is even lower for those with aMCI. This study seeks to overcome adherence challenges by involving the romantic partners of older adults with aMCI in promoting their physical activity. Participants will be asked to do aerobic activities five days/week (30 minutes per session) and engage in strengthening exercises. Romantic partners will be asked to keep a log of all aerobic activity sessions for older adults with aMCI and themselves. The preliminary data collection supported by this seed funding will lead to the development of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial that will compare the impact of physical activity together with romantic partners vs. physical activity alone by older adults with aMCI on 1) physical activity adherence and 2) health outcomes of older adults with aMCI and their romantic partners.

Topics and Patterns in Conversational Discourses During Daily Routines in Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

Project Team:

Devin Casenhiser, Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Eun Jin Paek, Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Kimberly Mitchell, School of Design, UTK

Hairong Qi, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UTK

Xiaopeng Zhao, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, UTK

Abstract:

Communication breakdowns that accompany ADRD can lead to emotional distress and depression among caregivers. Repeated verbal questioning, for example, has been described by caregivers as particularly frustrating and exhausting. Robots with AI can be designed to provide information, assistance, and simple conversation to relieve some of this burden from caregivers. In addition, the use of AI as a conversational partner for individuals with ADRD may provide some therapeutic benefit through increased communicative interactions and cognitive activities. The purpose of this proposed project is to: (a) investigate themes and topics that emerge during daily conversations between individuals with ADRD and their caregivers, and (b) analyze conversational patterns and strategies during discourse production in both individuals with ADRD and their caregivers. The long-term goal of this collaborative research project is to inform and develop efficient management of ADRD using AI robots that will help delay disease progression in individuals with ADRD and decrease caregiver burden and cost of care. Understanding the impairments and functional limitations in ADRD in natural conversational settings will enable clinicians and researchers to better understand the causes and phenomena of social communication disorders and thereby allow them to develop better targeted strategies to manage communication difficulties in this population. It will also provide essential data for the AI researchers interested in creating robots that may assist with care during daily living.

Feasibility of Personalized Monitoring of Environmental Exposomes toward Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia

Project Team:

Qiang He, Principal Investigator, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UT Knoxville

Paul D. Terry, Dept. of Medicine, UT Medical Center

Courtney M. Cronley, College of Social Work, UT Knoxville

Shuai Li, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UT Knoxville

Abstract:

This seed project will generate data to demonstrate the feasibility of innovative personalized environmental exposome monitoring, which could be used to evaluate the linkages between the environment and health outcomes. Given the importance of environmental exposure in ADRD pathogenesis, it is of critical significance in ADRD prevention strategies to develop capabilities for the monitoring and subsequent mitigation of environmental exposure. The objectives of this seed project are to: 1) test the feasibility of personalized monitoring of human exposomes in the indoor environment; and 2) compare the exposomes of healthy individuals and ADRD patients in order to test for differences in the indoor exposome between healthy individuals and ADRD patients. The project team will focus on the simultaneous monitoring of airborne particulate matter (APM) and airborne microbiome (i.e. all microorganisms suspended in the air). In addition to better understanding the role of environmental factors in ADRD, the project seeks to develop and strengthen engagement and collaboration with local communities, particularly those underrepresented and disadvantaged neighborhoods. Another outcome of the project is the building of a collaborative team that encompasses public health, epidemiology, social science, behavioral science, and engineering to develop convergent research strategies that are necessary to addressing ADRD-related challenges.