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Browsing by Author "Schmid, Arlene, committee member"

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    Associations between white matter microstructure of cerebellar connections and balance performance in people with multiple sclerosis
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Odom, Arianna D., author; Fling, Brett W., advisor; Mañago, Mark, committee member; Schmid, Arlene, committee member
    Sensory reweighting, the ability to change the relative contribution of visual, vestibular and proprioceptive systems to balance in response to a changing environment, is critical to balance maintenance. The cerebellum contributes to sensory re-weighting through its white matter connections to the brainstem, the cerebellar peduncles. People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) have impairments in both sensory reweighting and white matter microstructure of the cerebellar peduncles. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between the white matter microstructure of the cerebellar peduncles and balance performance during sensory-manipulated conditions to elucidate the extent of cerebellar-regulated balance in PwMS. We assessed cerebellar peduncle white matter microstructure with radial diffusivity and fractional anisotropy and standing balance performance with center of pressure-derived measures of path length, sway velocity and root mean square of sway during each sensory-manipulated condition of the Clinical Test of Sensory Integration on Balance in 24 PwMS and 21 neurotypical participants (HC). PwMS exhibited worse balance performance across all sensory-manipulated conditions and worse cerebellar peduncle white matter microstructure compared to HC. Notably, PwMS displayed differentially worse vestibular-based balance performance than HC which was associated with worse cerebellar peduncle white matter microstructure. In addition, PwMS demonstrated unique associations between cerebellar peduncle white matter microstructure and visual-based and proprioceptive-based balance performance that were not found in HC. Our findings suggest that PwMS may place a greater reliance on cerebellar-regulated proprioceptive- and visual-based balance control and demonstrate worse vestibular-based balance than HC, augmenting previous work indicating abnormal vestibular-based balance and a contribution of the ICP to proprioceptive-based balance performance in PwMS.
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    Mindful parenting: associations with parental depression and well-being
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Miner, Rachel, author; Coatsworth, Doug, advisor; Schmid, Arlene, committee member; Shomaker, Lauren, committee member
    This study investigated the association between mindful parenting and both parent depression, and parent well-being. Current research has found that many individuals experience stress in parenting, which impacts their overall well-being, possibly leading to depressive symptoms. Mindfulness has been found to counteract negative effects of stress. However, much of the research has neglected to focus on the effects of mindful parenting, as opposed to only trait mindfulness skills, as well as general stress as opposed to parenting stress specifically. Mindfulness also appears to differ by gender. In a sample of four hundred and thirty-two families, this study tested the association between mindful parenting and both parent depression and parent well-being, after controlling for trait mindfulness practices as well as SES and parenting stress. Results indicated that mindful parenting was associated with parent depression and parent well-being independently and uniquely after controlling for trait mindfulness, income, and parenting stress. Parent gender was not significantly associated with depression or well-being outcomes. Conclusions of this study indicate a need for incorporating mindful parenting into parenting interactions as a way to combat the negative effects of parenting stress.
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    Mindfulness-based group intervention for an adolescent girl at risk for type 2 diabetes: a case study
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Dalager, Stephanie, author; Shomaker, Lauren, advisor; Coatsworth, Doug, committee member; Schmid, Arlene, committee member
    Adolescent-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a rising healthcare problem that disproportionately impacts females and historically disadvantaged racial/ethnic groups. Standard behavioral lifestyle interventions to prevent T2D by lowering body mass index (BMI) to lessen insulin resistance, a key precursor to T2D, unfortunately have had limited long-term success. Underlying psychosocial factors, particularly depressive symptoms, have been related to insulin resistance and T2D, independent of BMI. Mindfulness-based group interventions are being utilized increasingly in adults with T2D to address depression. More recently, using a prevention lens, mindfulness-based programs have shown preliminary promise for intervening with elevated depressive symptoms and insulin resistance in adolescents at risk for T2D. Yet given the newness of this area, little research exists to deepen understanding around clinical implementation and acceptability with this at-risk, adolescent population. In the current case study, we present the experience of an adolescent girl with elevated depressive symptoms, obesity, insulin resistance, and a family history of T2D, who participated in a six-week mindfulness-based group program delivered at an outpatient therapy clinic in the context of a pilot clinical research study. At baseline, immediately following the group program, and at one-year follow-up, surveys and interviews were administered to evaluate mindfulness and depression; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity; BMI and body fat were assessed; and insulin resistance was estimated from the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Case results indicated increased dispositional mindfulness, decreases in depressive symptoms, and lessening of insulin resistance. BMI and body fat were stable. Key therapeutic themes that emerged for the participant included increased recognition of internal experience and decreased reactivity to stress, which might help to explain the positive psychological and insulin outcomes. We discuss several implications of the case study for potentially increasing the success of implementing mindfulness-based programs in this population, including more emphasis on the promotion of social connections among group members, increasing adherence to home practice, and facilitation techniques to promote concrete understanding of abstract mindfulness concepts. The current case results suggest that teaching mindfulness skills to adolescent girls at risk for T2D with depressive symptoms possibly may offer benefits for depression and T2D risk. Adequately-powered clinical trial data are required to evaluate these results on a larger scale.
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    The scientific advancement of two nature-based interventions for people with dementia: adaptive riding and adaptive gardening
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Lassell, Rebecca K. F., author; Wood, Wendy, advisor; Cross, Jennifer, committee member; Schmid, Arlene, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
    People living with dementia are at risk for decreased quality of life (QoL). QoL may be supported through adaptive riding and horsemanship activities and adaptive gardening, two nature-based interventions; yet, they require further scientific advancement. This dissertation sought to scientifically advance adaptive riding and adaptive gardening for people with dementia. Study one, a mixed methods descriptive case study, addressed the development of an adaptive riding intervention and resulted in a logic model linking its purpose, assumptions, components, occupational opportunities, and immediate outcomes of QoL for participants with dementia. Study two, a quantitative case study compared adaptive riding and adaptive gardening, targeted development and piloting, and revealed that both supported participants' emotional well-being and participation, two dimensions of QoL, with significantly longer durations of complex participation observed during adaptive riding. Study one provided the first published logic model for a nature-based intervention involving animals, whereas study two served as the first nature comparison for this population. Both interventions were scientifically advanced from development to piloting and described in-depth to inform future replication. Next, care partners' perceptions should be explored. The novel observational approach applied in both studies may be helpful to describe other nature-based interventions, and may also contribute to occupational science with a method for situating occupations in the here and now.
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    The transcallosal highway: the ipsilateral silent period as a neural biomarker for impaired corpus callosum communication and gait asymmetry in people with multiple sclerosis
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Acosta, Jordan, author; Fling, Brett, advisor; Rudolph, Alan, committee member; Miravalle, Augusto, committee member; Schmid, Arlene, committee member
    Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that damages the myelin sheath within the central nervous system. Axonal demyelination, particularly in the corpus callosum, impacts communication between the brain's hemispheres in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Changes in transcallosal communication impairs the coordination of gait which requires constant communication across the corpus callosum to excite and inhibit specific muscle groups. To further evaluate the functional role of transcallosal communication in gait and mobility, this study assessed the ipsilateral silent period (iSP), an indirect marker of transcallosal inhibition in PwMS. This study utilizes transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to assess the inhibitory capacity between the brain's hemispheres. There is a lack of research analyzing directionality data between the more and less affected hemisphere in PwMS. Therefore, we evaluated outcome metrics dependent upon the individual's more affected hemisphere calculated from the subject's more affected limb observed during walking assessments and self-report. We hypothesize that the iSP may serve as a neural biomarker for transcallosal impairments evaluated by directionality differences between the hemispheres and highlight transcallosal inhibition as an underlying neural mechanism for gait asymmetries in PwMS. From twenty-nine PwMS, metrics such as depth iSP% average, duration, depth iSP% max, and onset latency were collected. No statistically significant differences were found between the two hemispheres. This suggests that PwMS may be able to preserve their interhemispheric inhibitory capacity irrespective of their more affected hemisphere. Additionally, another component of the study investigated gait coordination utilizing a split-belt treadmill training paradigm. Limb excursion asymmetry (LEA) measures, pre and post-training, were analyzed for spatial coordination and as a measurement of locomotor adaptability in PwMS. The relationship between LEA change and dSP% average highlighted a significant correlation (r=0.46, p= 0.02). Thus, showing that less interhemispheric inhibition corresponds with more spatial adaptability leading to a more symmetric gait. These findings may help determine the potential of iSPs as a neural biomarker to address gait asymmetries and stratify participants into mobility rehabilitation protocols.