The focus of the seminar series is to call for experts related to academia and research in the areas related to biomechanics, variability, motor disorders, physical therapy, and related studies.

Presentation Title: Characterizing the Psychological and Neural Bases of Empathy in Healthy and Pathological Aging

Presentation Abstract:

Our capacity to empathize with others strengthens social bonds in both familial and communal contexts. In older adulthood, empathy becomes even more critical as individuals attempt to maintain high quality relationships in the context of a dwindling social network. Yet, even healthy older adults face changes in certain aspects of empathy due to aging-related brain changes, with more significant changes seen in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Older adults in highly stressful roles, such as serving as a caregiver to a loved one, may encounter even more challenges in their attempts to empathize with others. My research investigates the degree to which structural and functional brain differences affect empathy in healthy and pathological aging.

About the speaker:

Janelle Beadle, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is a cognitive neuroscientist specializing in social and affective changes in aging. She has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, as well as intramural funding (e.g., University of Nebraska Collaboration Initiative). Her research program examines psychological, hormonal, and neural changes to emotion systems in healthy and pathological aging.