AUSTIN NELSEN
Staff Writer
There may not be the fountain of youth, but a Pepperdine professor is trying to find out the best way to grow old.
Sports medicine professor and director of the motor behavior laboratory Dr. Priscilla MacRae is on sabbatical this semester and has dedicated her time to conduct a research study to focus on strategies for optimizing the aging process and reducing the loss of cognitive functions.
She is being assisted by six undergraduate students, Kim Bloom, Ryan Chandhoke, Stephanie Cooper, Max Fitzgerald, Justin Hall and John Yoon. Kathryn Linehan, adjunct instructor at Pepperdine, is the research coordinator for the study.
“The overall purpose of this research study is to understand the effects of an exercise or education and discussion program on the physical and mental function of older adults who live independently in the community,” MacRae said.
In MacRae’s study, she recruited 20 adults above the age of 65, who live independently in the community, and then randomized them to one of the two groups. She uses an exercise group, as well as an attention-control group, which will allow the effects of the attention and social interaction of the exercise group to be separated form the exercise stimulus itself.
MacRae’s hypothesis is that the exercise-training group will significantly improve their physical and cognitive function while the attention-control group may exhibit significant change in cognitive function, but will not change in physical function.
MacRae’s study, however, has one more interesting twist to it that previous study’s have not.
“It’s faith-based,” MacRae said. “It’s part of what makes it most meaningful for me.”
The cognitive-control group is studying “The Jonah Factor” a book by Ed Klodt, who also serves as a consultant for the study.
The book focuses on the problem of Americans’ growing dissatisfaction with their work and it helps them realign their skills and passions by fulfilling vocations God intended.
Even the exercise group in the study has a spiritual aspect.
While doing repetitions with weights or pushups, instead of counting, numbers were replaced with the fruit of the Spirit and individuals are encouraged to share their lives while walking
“We read all about research studies like this for class,” said Max Fitzgerald, one of MacRae’s research assistants. “But most students don’t get to experience them. Its great being able to work on a complex research project like this”
The study began March 3 and will run through April.
Most of these studies, which began in 1975, have examined the cognitive effects of various forms of exercise such as flexibility training, aerobic training, walking and even tango dancing. However, until MacRae’s study, there has not been a study that has examined the effects of a multi-dimensional exercise program, combining aerobic exercise with strength and flexibility training on the physical and cognitive function of older adults.
03-29-2006