Human Factors of Aging Program

摘要： 候选人马克·S·雷德费恩博士是匹兹堡大学的教授，在斯旺森工程学院生物工程系担任初级职务，在健康与康复科学学院耳鼻喉科、医学院和物理疗法系担任二级职务。他正在申请K07，以建立一个新的人类老龄化因素计划，以教育和支持专注于改善老年人生活的研究人员、临床医生和学生。该课程的一个独特方面是通过与皮特阿尔茨海默病研究中心(ADRC)的合作，为认知能力下降和阿尔茨海默病设计。研究往往会产生一些想法和发现，这些想法和发现可以直接应用于改善所有年龄段的人的生活。翻译这些新思想的一个限制步骤是在设计中融入人的因素。将老龄化的人为因素纳入任何针对老年人的医疗设备设计中都是一个重要的组成部分。有身体因素(如活动能力、灵巧度、人体测量、力量、活动范围)、感觉因素(如视觉、听觉、前庭、本体感觉)和认知因素(如记忆、执行功能、认知速度)。为患有认知减退和阿尔茨海默氏症的老年人翻译思想尤其困难。认知减退与与衰老相关的生理和感官变化的相互作用需要在设计时特别注意，到目前为止还没有解决这一问题。为了满足这一需求，Redfern博士将与ADRC合作，建立一个新的、新颖的教育计划，并设置课程，将人的衰老因素的必要知识带到研究社区。这门课程不仅涉及生理和感官方面的考虑，而且还涉及认知衰退成年人的独特要求，以及他们如何与其他与年龄相关的问题互动。长期目标是改进新的医疗设备和干预措施的开发，这些设备和干预措施针对老年人使用/与老年人一起使用，同时考虑到认知能力下降。其具体目标是：1)与ADRC合作，在老龄化的人为因素方面对临床医生、研究人员和工程师进行教育，以更好地将他们的想法转化为有效的干预措施；2)支持研究人员就老龄化相关应用中的特殊问题提供协作建议和咨询，并支持医疗器械实验室中的人为因素用于开发和评估针对老年人的医疗器械/干预措施；以及3)发展一个对老龄化的人为因素感兴趣并具有专业知识的多学科研究人员社区，其中包括ADRC的专家。雷德费恩博士是NIH/NIA的高级研究员，在人类因素/人体工程学方面拥有长期教育工作者的背景，在学术领导方面的职位使他成为创建可持续和有效项目的理想人选。拟议中的与ADRC的伙伴关系将汇集一种在其他地方找不到的独特优势。

Abstract: The candidate, Mark S Redfern, PhD, is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh with a primary appointment in the Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, and secondary appointments in Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, and Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Science. He is applying for a K07 to establish a new program in Human Factors of Aging to educate and support researchers, clinicians and students focused on improving the lives of older adults. A unique aspect of the curriculum is including design for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease through a partnership with Pitt’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC). Research often leads to ideas and findings that can have direct application to improve the lives of people of all ages. One limiting step in the translation of these new ideas is the incorporation of human factors in the design. Incorporating the human factors of aging is a critical component of any medical device design for an older population. There are physical (e.g. mobility, dexterity, anthropometry, strength, range of motion), sensory (e.g. vision, hearing, vestibular, proprioception) and cognitive considerations (e.g. memory, executive function, cognitive speed). Translation of ideas for older adults with cognitive decrements and Alzheimer’s disease is particularly difficult. The interactions of cognitive decrements with the physical and sensory changes associated with aging require special attention during design that to-date is not addressed. To address this need, Dr. Redfern, in collaboration with the ADRC, will establish a new and novel educational program with a curriculum to bring the necessary knowledge of Human Factors of Aging to the research community. This curriculum will address not only physical and sensory considerations, but also the unique requirements for adults with cognitive decline, and how they interact with other age-related issues. The long-term goal is to improve the development of new medical devices and interventions that are targeted to be used by/with older adults taking into consideration cognitive decline. The specific aims are to: 1) partner with the ADRC to educate clinicians, researchers, and engineers in the human factors of aging to improve the translation of their ideas into effective interventions 2) support investigators with collaborative advising and consultation on special issues in aging-related applications and availability of the Human Factors in Medical Device Laboratory for development and evaluation of medical devices/interventions targeting for older populations; and 3) develop a multidisciplinary community of investigators with interests and expertise in human factors of aging; including experts from the ADRC. Dr. Redfern’s background as a senior NIH/NIA researcher, longtime educator in Human Factors/Ergonomics, and positions in academic leadership make him the ideal person to create a sustainable and effective program. The proposed partnership with the ADRC will bring together a unique strength found nowhere else.