Physical Therapy

Walking difficulty is common and costly in older adults. While traditional exercise has been shown to promote physical and mental health and may prevent walking difficulty, such exercise has focused on strength and endurance, and has overlooked a critical component of walking ability; the timing and coordination of movement. Aging and disease alter timing and coordination as reflected by slowed neuromotor performance, increased gait variability and reduced smoothness of movement.

Midcareer Investigator Award in Translational Patient-Oriented Research in Aging This application is for a K24 Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research to promote mentoring and career development in dissemination and implementation research that improves mobility and prevents disability in community-dwelling older adults. Dr. Jennifer Brach, PI of the proposed award, is a physical therapist, epidemiologist and scientist committed to mentoring health professional trainees and junior faculty and working to improve the mobility and quality of life of older adults.