@PEPLaboratory

We aim to help older adults stay active at home and in the community.

starklab.wustl.edu/
Joined October 2020
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170Media
Read about causes of falls, fall risk factors, and how to prevent them in USA Today, featuring Susy! buff.ly/wglCkk3

A simple fall can change your life. Here’s how to prevent one

Aging doesn't mean falls are inevitable. People of any age can take steps to reduce their risk.

usatoday.com
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Small updates like improving lighting, removing tripping hazards, and installing grab bars can help protect your independence and prevent falls. 💙 As Eleanor Lundy-Wade shared, "People do have some control." 💙
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In our study of people aging w/ disability, falls, multi-year falls, and related injury were common & associated w/ aging-with-disability symptoms, especially fatigue. This underscores the importance of fall prevention for this population. Read the paper: buff.ly/hRIeItf
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Yoyo Ding, a trainee in the WashU ICTS TL1 Predoctoral Program, did a great job presenting at the Conference on Cognition, Aging and Speech Communication! Yoyo’s study found associations between multisensory decline and cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease.
Yoyo stands at a podium to the right of a screen with text and a diagram describing study findings: multisensory decline often precedes cognitive decline, and multisensory decline affects cognition beyond additive effect.

ALT Yoyo stands at a podium to the right of a screen with text and a diagram describing study findings: multisensory decline often precedes cognitive decline, and multisensory decline affects cognition beyond additive effect.

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Congratulations to coauthors on the publication on our Delphi study of a dyadic social support intervention for people with TBI! We built consensus on intervention components among a panel through three iterative surveys. Read more: buff.ly/s4OLHyU
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Another publication hot off the presses! We found that TIMM, a tailored medication management intervention for older adults, is feasible, acceptable and may reduce barriers and improve performance of medication management. buff.ly/12blCAQ

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Medication Intervention for Older Adults...

Interventions to address polypharmacy and improve adherence are insufficient for community-dwelling older adults. To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and...

journals.sagepub.com
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Our article on fall research funding is now available in the American Journal of Health Promotion. We found that research funding on falls is disproportionately low. Addressing this gap in funding is especially urgent as the aging population grows. buff.ly/ovhJA4S
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WashU School of Public Health has a new name: WashU Bursky School of Public Health! The Bursky Family Foundation’s $200M commitment will be transformational for our school and for public health. publichealth.washu.edu/

WashU Bursky School of Public Health

WashU Bursky School of Public Health leads interdisciplinary research, education, and public health innovation to improve health locally and globally.

publichealth.washu.edu
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Reminder: Susy will be speaking at the Aging with Developmental Disabilities Conference at the St. Charles Convention Center tomorrow afternoon! Join us to learn more about how to minimize the risk of falls for adults aging with developmental disabilities.
35th Annual Aging with Developmental Disabilities Conference, May 11-12, 2026. "Minimizing Fall Risks for Adults Aging with Developmental Disabilities," Susan Stark, Tuesday May 12, 2026. 1:15 p.m. CT.

ALT 35th Annual Aging with Developmental Disabilities Conference, May 11-12, 2026. "Minimizing Fall Risks for Adults Aging with Developmental Disabilities," Susan Stark, Tuesday May 12, 2026. 1:15 p.m. CT.

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Susy was recently featured in The New York Times Ask Well! Check out the story, highlighting recommendations for how to prevent falls at home! buff.ly/HB4OlLj

How Do I Prevent Falls at Home?

Dangerous trips and slips can happen to anyone, but they can often be averted by taking a few common-sense steps.

nytimes.com
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We are excited to announce that our undergraduate research assistant Izzy Erdmann was selected for WashU's Summer Undergraduate Research Guided Experience (SURGE) program! Congratulations, Izzy! More on the SURGE program: buff.ly/B6HPkXy
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Are you attending the Aging with Developmental Disabilities (AADD) Conference in May? Come to Susy’s session, “Minimizing Fall Risks for Adults Aging with Developmental Disabilities,” on May 12 at 1:15 p.m.! More info: buff.ly/zCfFao8 #aaddconference #agingwithdd
35th Annual Aging with Developmental Disabilities Conference, May 11-12, 2026. "Minimizing Fall Risks for Adults Aging with Developmental Disabilities," Susan Stark, Tuesday May 12, 2026. 1:15 p.m. CT.

ALT 35th Annual Aging with Developmental Disabilities Conference, May 11-12, 2026. "Minimizing Fall Risks for Adults Aging with Developmental Disabilities," Susan Stark, Tuesday May 12, 2026. 1:15 p.m. CT.

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We loved seeing this feature on our good friend Bill Siedhoff in WashU Magazine! Bill is a Brown School alumnus who spent decades working for state and city agencies to support and advocate for people with disabilities and older adults. buff.ly/SnhMu4S
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New York Times Wirecutter recently released their reviews and rankings of shower chairs, featuring input from our friends Jon Sanford and Ian Rice! bit.ly/46W2pnD

These Shower Chairs Make Bathing Safer for Everyone

The best shower chair for you depends on your needs and bathroom setup. We tested 20 chairs in seven bathrooms and have six to recommend.

nytimes.com
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We recently found that falls were associated with faster progression to mild dementia, suggesting that falls may serve as an early clinical marker of AD progression. Read the paper, led by our former PhD student Audrey Keleman, in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: bit.ly/4aHytwy
Title: Falls predict faster progression to Alzheimer's dementia. Bullet points: Falls predicted faster progression to dementia symptoms. Those without falls or amyloid burden progressed to dementia least quickly. This may reflect motor and gait dysfunction intrinsic to disease progression. Falls could serve as early markers of motor dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. Article info: Keleman et al. Alzheimer's & Dementia volume 22, issue 2.

ALT Title: Falls predict faster progression to Alzheimer's dementia. Bullet points: Falls predicted faster progression to dementia symptoms. Those without falls or amyloid burden progressed to dementia least quickly. This may reflect motor and gait dysfunction intrinsic to disease progression. Falls could serve as early markers of motor dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. Article info: Keleman et al. Alzheimer's & Dementia volume 22, issue 2.

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Attention all occupational therapists trained to deliver HARP: Recertification begins March 1, 2026!
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Wesley House experienced severe damage to their building during the May 2025 tornado. We were so happy to see that, on Jan. 31, they held an open house to celebrate reopening following renovations. Welcome back to our friends at Wesley House Association! bit.ly/4qvP2Sd
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Seasons greetings from all of us at the PEPLab! The lab will be closed this afternoon through Dec. 25 and on Dec. 31 & Jan. 1. We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!
Red and white vintage-style holiday ornaments hang above red text reading "Season's Greetings from your friends in the Participation, Environment and Performance Lab"

ALT Red and white vintage-style holiday ornaments hang above red text reading "Season's Greetings from your friends in the Participation, Environment and Performance Lab"

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We were so excited to see Callista Poiter, former PEPLab graduate research assistant and current instructor of the "When I'm 64" class and WashU Medicine AHBR graduate student assistant, featured in the WashU Medicine AHBR newsletter! Congratulations, Callista!
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Social participation didn't change much over our 3-year study of people aging with disability, but it was influenced by physical and mental health factors. Addressing symptoms like pain, depression, and fatigue may help sustain social participation. tinyurl.com/3p6j5bwu
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