Dec. 3 | TUESDAY, 9:30 - 10:30am (EST) Hybrid

The Institute of Gerontology is pleased to present:
Michael Van Nostrand, PhD, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Health Care Sciences, Neuroimaging and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory

 Join us on campus at:
Wayne State University, Charles Lang Freer House
71 E. Ferry Street, Detroit, 48202

ABSTRACT
For individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), mobility and cognitive impairments profoundly affect gait quality, physical activity, and community participation—key factors that are essential for maintaining a high quality of life. Gait quality measures, such as gait speed and stride regularity, serve as strong predictors of fall risk. However, due to these impairments, people with MS are only half as active as the general population, engage less in community activities, and 70% experience a fall within any six-month period. Most current mobility assessments are conducted in controlled laboratory environments, which fail to capture the real-world challenges that influence daily mobility and community participation. Similarly, the impact of exercise interventions are often evaluated using these lab-based assessments, leaving uncertainty about how well their benefits translate to real-life conditions. This gap restricts our understanding of fall risk and limits understanding of the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving quality of life for people with MS. While mobility and cognitive impairments are significant, they do not occur in isolation. Psychosocial factors and environmental barriers also play a crucial role in shaping community mobility and participation. In this talk, Dr. VanNostrand will present his past research linking mobility (gait quality, physical activity) and cognition with “real-world” measures of mobility. He will discuss efforts to bridge the laboratory to real-world gap in an ongoing clinical trial, and outline future directions, highlighting the importance of considering psychological and environmental influences on these mobility and participation outcomes.

SPEAKER BIO
Dr. Michael VanNostrand is a National Multiple Sclerosis Society-funded Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Neuroimaging and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, led by Dr. Nora Fritz at Wayne State University within the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Human Functioning and Rehabilitation Science with a specialization in motor control and biomechanics from the University of Vermont. Dr. VanNostrand’s research investigates the mechanisms underlying mobility and cognitive impairments, specifically as they relate to gait and balance challenges in people with multiple sclerosis, and their impact on real-world functioning. His work is dedicated to developing innovative interventions that enhance physical activity and reduce fall risk for individuals with MS.

ZOOM LINK: https://wayne-edu.zoom.us/j/96351998346?pwd=bNDLrx8MPsHY5vIKqaoRo7vetg7hzd.1
Meeting ID: 963 5199 8346
Passcode: 404190

For more information contact: Tam Perry at teperry@wayne.edu

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