Balance & Falls SIG Virtual Course - Cancer, Cognition and Physical Function

Course Title: Cancer, Cognition and Physical Function

Presenter: Jennifer Blackwood PT, PhD, Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist

Time: 1 hour

Course Description:

This 1-hour course will highlight research describing relationships between physical and cognitive function in older adults with a history of cancer. Results from recent studies will be presented and future directions for research will be discussed.

Course Objectives:

After viewing this course participants will be able to:

1. Describe relationships between cognitive and mobility in older adult survivors of cancer.

2. Identify appropriate cognitive domains to be screened in physical therapist practice which are associated with physical function in older adult survivors of cancer.

3. Describe the reliability and validity of common screening measures of cognition in older adult survivors of cancer.

4. Describe how physical performance differs in older adult survivors of cancer with impaired executive function.

Bio:

Dr. Blackwood is a Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and an associate professor of Physical Therapy in the physical therapy department at the University of Michigan-Flint. Dr. Blackwood has won numerous teaching and research awards at the University of Michigan – Flint as well as at the State and National levels. Her research focuses on factors which contribute to physical activity, mobility, and falls in older adults with a specific emphasis on those with early cognitive declines as a result of pathology (Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s disease) or other disease associated sequalae (chemotherapy induced cognitive impairment).