BRANCH Lab

The mission of our lab is to promote healthy lifestyles as people age. Our research projects and community outreach are centered on ways to increase physical activity and reduce risk of disease and cognitive decline that may occur with advancing age. We work closely with the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center on grants and projects in healthy older adults and individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Current Projects

LEAP! Rx - We are enrolling participants in a multi-faceted, community-based intervention called Lifestyle Empowerment for Alzheimer's Prevention. It links physicians, patients, and local YMCAs together to empower older adults to make healthy lifestyle changes and maintain them over time. 

PASS - The Physical Activity and Sleep Study measures physical activity, sitting behavior, and sleep with electronic monitors in everyday life in older adults with and without Alzheimer's disease.

ReST-MCI- Have you heard that “sitting is the new smoking”? Sitting for long periods of time is harmful even if you exercise regularly. We are currently analyzing data for an intervention to reduce sitting time in individuals with mild cognitive impairment using body worn devices.

Genetic Influences - We are investigating the role of genetic influences on longitudinal cognitive decline including BDNF, TOMM40, and Haplogroup J