News Releases

USM Professors Seek Older Students for Dementia Study
Individuals 60+ with mild memory loss to learn interventions

August 16, 2006

Two USM professors will team up to provide a new course for older adults with mild memory loss, and will research the effect of such learning on dementia. Titled "Health Promotion for the Mind, Body, and Spirit," the class is for the older adult (60 or older) who is in the early stages of memory loss and wishes to learn methods of maintaining optimal health. The 13-week class will be held Fridays on USM's Portland campus, beginning September 22 and ending December 15, 2006. The course is limited to 15 participants and is free of charge.

Some of the topics covered will include physical and cognitive fitness; nutrition; recreation; communication; disease process; depression; coping; and driving issues. Assistant Professor Nancy Richeson in USM's College of Nursing and Health Professions, and Professor E. Michael Brady of the College of Education and Human Resource Development are the lead teachers and researchers. Brady also serves as senior research associate for USM's Osher Life Long Learning Institute.

Entrance criteria for this free class include: older adults who are 60 years and older; diagnosis of mild cognitive disorder or mild dementia; willingness to participant in a 13-week course; willingness to participate in a research study as part of the course; and available transportation to class. All participants will be screened for eligibility prior to admission into the project.

According to Richeson, "Often, individuals receive a diagnosis of dementia and leave the doctor's office not knowing what to do or where to turn. There are not many programs and services for older adults with early-stage dementia. As a result, many do not receive support and are left waiting until the disease progresses, or problems to arise."

The course, added Richeson, "is designed as a health promotion course to teach health behaviors to help prevent commonly occurring problems and teaching new habits and lifestyles early in the disease process." At the same time, participants will be evaluated to gauge whether such a course for older adults with dementia produces positive results, such as increased cognitive functioning and decreased depression.

For more information about the course and to enroll, please contact Nancy Richeson, at 207-780-4646, or richeson@usm.maine.edu.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, a program of the University of Southern Maine, provides a curriculum of intellectually stimulating learning opportunities and special activities for persons 50 years of age or older. It is part of Maine's statewide network of 16 Senior Colleges for older learners. Visit online at http://www.maineseniorcollege.org

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you need help contacting Professor Richeson, please call Bob Caswell or Judie O'Malley of USM Public Affairs at 780-4200.

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