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Aging: What's the Difficulty?

 

Is it true that cognitive abilities decline with age? If so, which specific functions are typically impaired? Is the speed of cognition the main change? And how do the changes impact activities of daily life?

Mei-Ching Lien, of the Department of Psychology, is approaching such questions in her study, "Cognitive Aging and Dual-Task Performance." She hopes that the findings will eventually lead to answers such as how our society can enable people, as they get older, to still drive safely.

"There's a rule that after 60, a person can't pilot commercial aircraft," says Lien, who worked for NASA before coming to OSU. "That's because of our common belief that cognitive ability declines. And yet, older adults have more valuable experience to draw upon. So can we design equipment and environments to compensate for lessoning cognitive abilities? Maybe — if we first pinpoint the abilities."

Lien considers tasks that require divided attention, such as driving. Even without a cell phone, she says, driving is multi-tasking. For instance, one has to interpret traffic signs, pay attention to other vehicles, think about the route, use the car's controls, maybe talk with a passenger, . . . There are various theories about the difficulties an older person may have, according to Lien. "There could be 'generalized slowing' of all cognitive processes. Or it could be difficulty in recognizing signs and symbols, retrieving information from memory, and selecting an appropriate response. Or it could be related to performing dual tasks: How soon can you switch attention from task A to task B? Do you have a problem performing A and B at the same time?"

Dr. Lien, left, instructing a volunteer.

Although she cannot observe her subjects in cars in her lab in Moreland Hall, Lien has developed effective experiments. With paper and pencil, computer screens, and questionnaires, she simulates specific cognitive challenges, and times and analyzes the subjects' responses. She hopes to have some conclusive results this winter. People from ages 60 to 80 from the community have volunteered for Lien's studies. "They are so helpful and so nice," she says. "My students say they only want to work with older people now!"

Zach Goodin, left, assists David Kuhns in donning an EEG cap. Both are research assistants in Dr. Lien's lab: Goodin is an undergraduate student, funded by URISC; Kuhns is a graduate student, funded by the Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium. note: Goodin's bandana is not wired.

 

Around Campus

 

The research featured in this issue (in the article above, and the bird's eye view below) are based on abstracts supplied to the Research Office in conjunction with the announcement of the past year's record-breaking research awards. Each of the projects exemplifies the fantastic quality of work being done by faculty across this campus, is aligned with OSU's goals, and has relevance for the well-being of citizens of Oregon and beyond.

Coastal Autonomous Profiling and Boundary Layer System (CAPABLE)
PIs: Jack Barth and Murray Levine, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences

This program, a partnership between COAS and Western Environmental Technology Laboratories Inc. (WET Labs) of Philomath, will develop new instrumentation and profiling equipment to make detailed measurements of Oregon's coastal ocean. The new sensing system will be used to help study physical and biological processes, and it will form the basis of new ocean observatories. The knowledge will be critical for predicting change in the coastal ocean environment, for management of natural resources. Funding from NSF: $482,507.

 

National Occupational Safety and Health Training
PIs: Anthony Veltri, College of Health and Human Sciences, and Ken Funk, College of Engineering

Reducing injury and illness in the workplace has a significant economic impact on the state and nation. This project uses a multidisciplinary approach to prepare professionals to address critical needs. Graduates in human factors engineering, ergonomics and safety are particularly needed in the Pacific Northwest to support the current efforts of government agencies and industries. Funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $112,000 for 3 years.

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Alcohol-Impaired Bone Healing: Mechanisms and Countermeasures PI: Russ Turner, College of Health and Human Sciences Alcohol consumption can have a negative effect on the capacity of bone to heal. This is a significant concern for military personnel experiencing stress fractures during basic and on-going physical training programs. The project tests the hypothesis that alcohol-induced osteoporosis is largely due to decreased insulin-like growth factor expression by osteoblasts, and that it can be prevented or reversed by treatment with parathyroid hormone. Funding from the Department of Defense: $1.2 million for five years.

 

 

Interview in the Elevator: Elisa Fallows, Research Compliance Manager

The new addition to the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance recently arrived on campus. As Research COmpliance Manager, Elisa Fallow works with the Institutional Review Board, and also oversees compliance areas of IACUC and Conflict of Interest.
Update met her on her way up to her office on the 3rd Floor of Kerr Administration Building.

Update: Welcome. What would you like to say to the OSU research community.

Elisa Fallows: I'm eager to meet people here. If you're planning research that involves animals, or humans, or commercializing technologies, or starting a spin-off business . . . I've come to be of assistance.

Update: Does this really mean that you'll be policing PIs for compliance?

EF: That's an unfortunately common misperception. Actually we can help you avoid pitfalls that might get you into trouble. Especially if you let our office know early-on about a project you're developing. For instance, you may think that certain regulations have nothing to do with you because you don't intend to publish, yet later that changes.

Update: You come from a similar office at the University of Texas. What do you bring from your experience there, that will help OSU?

EF: One thing is an awareness of a difference! This is a very small community, and for instance in order to maintain a good human subject volunteer pool, you have to make sure that people are comfortable participating - that they don't feel pressured or coerced because they know the researcher; that their anonymity can be preserved; that they won't regret being seen walking into a research building; that they understand that with informed consent, they can withdraw from a study at any time without repercussions for themselves or their family .. .

Also, I bring ideas about implementing even more quality assurance here. My approach is to make compliance more proactive, rather than reactive - so I want to be in touch with PIs before there are problems.

Update: You've chosen not to have our traveling elevator photographer make an image of you.

EF: I will be going around campus introducing myself to PIs and committee members - they'll be seeing plenty of me! Please, tell people to call or come to my office to discuss anything about their research.

 

Strengthening OSU's Federal Presence: A Survey of Faculty

 

YES NO

Towards increasing OSU’s success in securing federal funding, a task force is working to identify the extent to which OSU faculty are already engaged in activities that influence federal research and education programs.

The Vice President of Research asks you to respond to a brief survey, at http://oregonstate.edu/research/survey/ .

The OSU Survey Research Center will collect and report all questionnaire data, ensuring that information you provide will remain confidential and anonymous.

contacts:

• Questions about the purpose of the survey: Jeff McCubbin, jeff.mccubbin@oregonstate.edu
• Technical problems with the survey: Clif Johnson, cjohnson@science.oregonstate.edu
• Questions about your rights as a survey participant: the Oregon State University Institutional Review Board (IRB) Human Protection Administrator, phone 541-737-3437, email IRB@oregonstate.edu .

 

 

Call for Proposals: Major Instrumentation Award

The Incentive Funds Program in the Research Office is requesting Letters of Intent from interested faculty for the National Science Foundation - Major Research Instrumentation (NSF-MRI) Award

OSU plans to put forth three proposals for the 2006 NSF-MRI call for proposals.

In an effort to provide the highest level of excellence and viability for funding, the Faculty Senate Research Council will review all Letters of Intent and rank order them for the Vice President of Research. These candidates will be asked to represent Oregon State University and to submit their proposals to the National Science Foundation MRI program.

Guidance for completing the Letter of Intent can be obtained by emailing Debbie Delmore, Research Office.
If you have questions, email or call Jack Higginbotham, 737-9088. More information is at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05515/nsf05515.htm

Letters of Intent should be sent to: Research Office, A312 Kerr Administration Building
Letter of Intent Deadline to the Research Office: Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Full Proposal Submission Deadline for NSF-MRI: January 26, 2006

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Sponsored Programs: Upcoming Workshops

The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance continues a series of workshops for faculty and staff.
Link for full description and registration information
To register, contact Toshie Gordon, 541-737-9525, osprc@oregonstate.edu

Proposal Processing

Monday, November 21, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Introduces the new internal proposal routing form, and a refresher on how to complete it.

Submitting your Proposal Through OSU

December 12, 2-3 p.m.
Includes explanation of resources, schedules, and how to avoid delays.