The Ohio State University
welcome to
The FASTER Study Newsletter
Thank you for participating!
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE buckeye brain aging lab and the mindset lab AT OSU
WHERE WE’VE BEEN
Brain Injury Awareness 5K
Members of the Buckeye Brain Aging Lab and the MINDSET Lab braved freezing temperatures at the Brain Injury Awareness 5K to give out fliers about tips for a lifestyle that supports healthy aging. Huge shout out to the Chronic Brain Injury (CBI) Program and the student organization, Buckeyes Raising Awareness in Neuroscience (BRAIN), for organizing this inspiring event!
Check out the CBI and BRAIN websites for more accessible and exciting community-building events!
Uplift Her
Members of the Buckeye Brain Aging Lab attended the African American Male Wellness Agency’s Uplift Her event! We chatted with attendees to learn more about the different ways that they take care of their mental and physical health. We also had the opportunity to share educational resources about healthy aging and connect with organizations that empower wellness in underrepresented populations!
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Project Spotlight
Project Spotlight
Members of the Buckeye Brain Aging Lab and the MINDSET Lab presented research using data from the FASTER study at various conferences! Below are descriptions of a few of the projects, but more to come in future editions.
Examining the
relationship between
gait, balance, processing
speed, and executive
function across the lifespan
Grace is a first-year graduate student in the
BBAL. Her work found that components of
balance and walking are related to cognition, but those relationships are dependent on age. She found that as you age, worse balance was related to worse executive function performance (such as attention, planning, and inhibition).
Examining the Role of
Age and Physical Fitness on the Relationship between Physical Activity and Executive Functions in Aging
Matthew is a third-year graduate student in the BBAL. His work found that found that measures of physical fitness - mostly aerobic fitness - were related to
participants' cognitive performance. Our study results suggest better physical fitness may
partially account for why physical
activity is beneficial for
cognition as we age.
Examining self-
reported moderate-to-
vigorous physical activity (MVPA),
actigraphy metrics, and subjective cognitive complaints across the lifespan
Olivia is a first-year graduate student in the BBAL.
Her work found that the relationship between
objective measures of MVPA and the amount of
cognitive complaints people report experiencing
may depend on age. Also, objective measures
of MVPA may be more accurate measures of
physical activity than asking people
to self-report their
activity levels.
Dynamic
balance and
gait, but not
static balance, are
positively associated
with episodic memory performance across
the adult lifespan
Noor is a research assistant in the BBAL. Her work
found that mobility and episodic memory can be
divided into smaller pieces that have different
relationships with each other. For example, your
ability to balance while moving is more related
to your visual memory, while the way that
you walk is more related to your
verbal memory.
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FASTER Follow-Ups
2.5 Year Follow-Ups
Dear FASTER Study participants,
We will be reaching out very soon to begin scheduling our 2.5-year follow-up appointments for The FASTER Study!
Appointment 1
Consent +
Cognitive Tasks
Gait and Balance Assessments
Appointment 2
Questionnaires
& Cognitive Tasks
DEXA Scan and VO2 Max
Appointment 3
Blood Draw and Brain MRI
Muscular Strength
The FASTER Study Follow-ups will include 3 appointments and we will be providing monetary compensation for participation. These follow-up appointments will help us understand how people’s lifestyles impact their brains over time. We greatly appreciate your continued interest in The FASTER Study!
Sincerely,
The FASTER Study Staff
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“Science Says... “
Science Says...
Safety in the changing weather
As the weather becomes unpredictable this rainy season, make sure to have the following 10 essentials ready for your weather emergency kit: Non-perishable food & water, flashlight, first aid kit, hygiene supplies, sleeping bag, communication device, change of clothes, eyeglasses and hearing aids, medications, and important health information.
Dress for success in the Outdoors
When you are out on the hiking and biking trails this summer, try dressing in layers, so you are prepared for the weather, and able to take items off as you get warm from exercising. Also, don’t forget, safety first! Remember to always wear a helmet while riding your bike and drink lots of water.
Staying Tick Safe Outdoors
As you spend time taking advantage of the warm weather, be sure to take precautions to protect yourself from pesky ticks. Avoid areas where ticks like to hangout, such as high grass and leaf litter. Once inside from your outdoor adventure, wash your clothes in hot water, check your body for ticks, and take a refreshing shower.
EXERCISE IS FOR EVERYONE
Even when we don’t feel up to an intense bike ride or a jog through the forest, there are fun ways we can stay active. On these warm summer days, catch the rays and try doing the following exercises:
- Flexibility exercises, such as stretching and tai chi
- Strengthening exercises, such as overhead arm raises
- Endurance exercises, like swimming at a local pool
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Summer Crossword Puzzle
Summer Crossword Puzzle
In this edition of “Science Says”, we come to you with a little game to explore ways to have a happy and healthy summer.
Summer Time!
1
2
3
4
5
8
15
14
12
10
7
6
11
13
9
Down:
1. Don't forget to stop by the store and get
hamburger buns for this outdoor activity.
2. A fun activity you can do by yourself or with
your dog
3. An activity that can be done indoors, but
just seems better in the sun. Dive deep into
magical stories while doing this activity.
4. Enjoy a beautiful rainbow and some pretty May flowers after this weather event.
5. An activity that allows you to peddle your
way through trails and parks.
7. A game that's similar to tennis that has
recently become a big “dill”.
9. An outdoor workout that can get your body
moving and up your cardio
10. The best place to be to enjoy the summer.
12. A fun sport to watch during this summer season.
14. Watch out for ants! a fun way to get out doors with friends and family
Across:
2. This little critter comes out to say hi after a
spring shower.
6. Travel up north to Hocking Hills and enjoy
this fun activity. Make sure to bring your
bug spray!
8. An activity that lets you to grow things for
healthy meals and snacks
11. To do this activity, you need a small boat
and a paddle. Can be just for you or you can
have a friend join you as well!
12. A stunning insect in its final stage of
metamorphosis.
13. An outdoor workout that can get your body moving and up your cardio.
15. On a windy day go to the park and fly this
object.
®
®
Answer Key on Final page!
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Funding and Donations
Other Ways to Support our Research
Donate to support research on healthy aging and Alzheimer’s disease
Your financial contributions go a long way in helping our lab meet our research goals and continue to discover findings that can help promote a happy, healthy community!
Your contributions help fund:
- Training experiences for undergraduate and graduate students
- The use of state-of-the-art measurement and testing equipment
- Community outreach materials and activities
Thank You to Our Funding Sources
The National Institutes of Health: National Institute of Aging
The Ohio State University’s Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge
The Ohio State University Discovery Themes Chronic Brain Injury Initiative
Our research efforts are also supported by generous donations made by community members.
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Thank You!
NEED TO CONTACT US OR WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION?
The Ohio State University
thank you for reading
The FASTER Study Newsletter
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The link below will take you to our screening form.
WARNING! Crossword Puzzle Answers ahead
NEWSLETTER COMPILED AND EDITED BY: Abigail Bowsher, Noor Chaudhry, Jillian Graham
Crossword Puzzle Answer Key
Crossword Puzzle Answer Key
Down:
1. Don't forget to stop by the store and get
hamburger buns for this outdoor activity.
2. A fun activity you can do by yourself or with
your dog
3. An activity that can be done indoors, but
just seems better in the sun. Dive deep into
magical stories while doing this activity.
4. Enjoy a beautiful rainbow and some pretty
May flowers after this weather event.
5. An activity that allows you to peddle your
way through trails and parks.
7. A game that's similar to tennis that has
recently become a big “dill”.
9. An outdoor workout that can get your body
moving and up your cardio
10. The best place to be to enjoy the summer.
12.A fun sport to watch during this summer season.
14. Watch out for ants! a fun way to get out doors with friends and family
Across:
2. This little critter comes out to say hi after a
spring shower.
6. Travel up north to Hocking Hills and enjoy
this fun activity. Make sure to bring your
bug spray!
8. An activity that lets you to grow things for
healthy meals and snacks
11. To do this activity, you need a small boat
and a paddle. Can be just for you or you can
have a friend join you as well!
12. A stunning insect in its final stage of
metamorphosis.
13. An outdoor workout that can get your body moving and up your cardio.
15. On a windy day go to the park and fly this
object.