Assistant Professor, Kinesiology
Involvement:
School or College:
School of Public Health and Health Sciences
Bio:
Potter completed her PhD in Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina in 2014, followed by postdoctoral training in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine at The Miriam Hospital/Brown University Medical School. Her research focuses on leveraging the human-animal bond to promote physical activity and health across the lifespan.
Research Proposal Title:
The role of dog companions in preventing Alzheimer’s dementia
Research:
Physical inactivity is responsible for the largest proportion of preventable dementia cases in the United States.Social isolation is another major risk factor for dementia. Dog ownership supports physical activity and social connectedness, but whether older adult dog owners experience better brain and cognitive aging is unknown. This project will investigate differences in cognitive function and dementia biomarkers in older adult dog owners compared to non-dog owners, as well as factors that mediate the dog ownership-brain health relationship. This research could have significant public health impact by informing novel dementia prevention interventions that support dog ownership and dog walking for older adults.