​​​​​​​

Understanding Cognition Through Auditory & Vestibular Pathways in Parkinson's disease
Course

This course examines how the auditory and vestibular systems, known as our senses of hearing and balance, shape cognition in Parkinson’s disease.

Participants will learn how these sensory pathways support attention, memory, navigation, and communication, and how early changes in hearing and balance can signal cognitive vulnerability before more visible symptoms emerge. The session introduces foundational auditory and vestibular neuroanatomy, outlines sensory declines commonly observed in Parkinson’s, and highlights emerging biomarkers and therapeutic strategies aimed at earlier detection and improved quality of life. Drawing on ongoing research at FAU, the course emphasizes the importance of multisensory assessment in understanding and addressing cognitive change in aging and neurodegenerative disease.

Claudia Alvarez, PhD
Course Author

Claudia is a Neuroscience Ph.D. candidate at FAU’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, conducting her doctoral research in the Hearing, Tinnitus, and Balance Research Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Ali Danesh. Her work investigates inner-ear sensory processing, specifically auditory impairment and vestibular dysfunction, and its relationship to cognitive decline in older adults.

Her preliminary findings in Parkinson’s disease indicate that concurrent multisensory decline acts as a functional amplifier, exacerbating clinical symptom severity.

Claudia is dedicated to elucidating the neural mechanisms driving phenotypic variability in Parkinson's disease, ultimately informing targeted diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for historically underrepresented patient populations.

​​​​​​​

Parkinson’s Disease: Foundational Knowledge for Healthcare Providers
Course

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and young-onset (YOPD) often face challenges within the medical system, resulting in adverse experiences and negative outcomes within the hospital, rehabilitation, or primary care settings.

This course will provide foundational knowledge and strategy recommendations to professionals working with individuals with PD and YOPD.

Emily Peters-Tempel
Course Author

Emily is a 2024 graduate of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at Russell Sage College in Troy, NY, USA. She is a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador, based in upstate NY. Emily's advocacy for PD lies within the scope of occupational therapy.

Her personal mission is to provide individuals globally with YOPD access to evidence-based occupation-based strategies, and connect them directly with relevant healthcare and health promotion resources.

When asked why sharing her work is important, Emily shared the following:

"Student involvement can lead to the development and application of new tools and techniques in Parkinson's research, potentially accelerating discoveries and improving research outcomes. Students often work in interprofessional teams, fostering collaboration between different fields of study. This can lead to innovative approaches and a more comprehensive understanding of complex disease processes.

Student work in Parkinson's research is vital for driving progress, fostering innovation, and building the next generation of researchers dedicated to understanding and treating the disease."