News Releases

USM Professors Seek Older Students for Dementia Study

February 2, 2006

EDITOR'S NOTE: USM Professors Nancy Richeson and E. Michael Brady are preparing to offer their second class for older adults who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia. The course is designed to help students learn ways to cope with their illness. It also will allow the professors to research and evaluate whether such a course produces positive results, such as increased cognitive functioning and decreased depression. To follow up on this, please contact Professor Nancy Richeson at 780-4646, richeson@usm.maine.edu. For help arranging interviews, please contact Bob Caswell or Judie O'Malley of USM Public Affairs at 780-4200. We're also available at home, 839-2026 (Caswell) and 839-6402 (O'Malley). 

Two USM professors will team up to provide their second course for older adults with mild memory loss and will research the effect of such learning on dementia. Titled "LIFE 101" the class is for older adults in the early stages of memory loss who wish to learn ways to cope. The nine-week class will be held Fridays on USM's Portland campus, beginning March 9 and ending May 4, 2007. The course is limited to 15 participants and is free of charge.

The class, which will be offered through USM's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, will be facilitated by Nancy Richeson, associate professor in the College of Nursing and Health Professions and E. Michael Brady, professor in the College of Education and Human Resource Development. Brady also is a senior research associate in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Entrance criteria include: (a) older adults; (b) diagnosis of mild cognitive disorder or early-stage dementia; (c) willingness to participate in a nine-week course; (c) willingness to participate in a research study as part of the course; (d) have transportation. All participants will be screened for eligibility prior to admission.

This is the second such course USM has offered for people with mild memory loss. Last fall, 12 participants completed a course titled "Health Promotion for the Mind, Body, and Spirit." The results, reported Richeson, were overwhelmingly positive and the research demonstrated a significant increase in self-efficacy, in addition to a slight increase in mental status. The class members reported a "growth in confidence," from participation in the course, said Richeson. As one student stated, "Just because I have dementia does not mean I am not interested in learning and making new friends."

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

LIFELONG LEARNING BACKGROUND:
USM's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute provides a curriculum of learning opportunities and special activities for persons 50 years of age or older. In 2004, The Bernard Osher Foundation designated USM's Osher Institute as the National Resource Center for the nationwide network of more than 100 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes. As such, the USM Osher Lifelong Institute disseminates information on effective educational programming and publishes a national research journal. In Maine, the Institute is part of a statewide network of 16 Senior Colleges. Fore more information, visit http://www.usm.maine.edu/eap/seniorcollege/

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