Neurodegenerative Diseases & Exercise
Ali Benjamin
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A little bit about me!
A little bit about me!
Hi! My name is Ali Benjamin, and I have attended Moorestown Friends since 6th grade. I have seen several groups of students in years past commit to conducting long-term research on a topic of personal interest. Since then, I have been fascinated by the opportunity to create a capstone project. As a dancer, the benefits of movement on neurological, as well as physical health has always been of interest to me. Taking the time to focus on a particularly effected group and study how something I value so deeply can impact them in a completely different way was an eye opening experience for me. The field of physical therapy for neurological rehabilitation is rapidly developing with new research being published faster than many medical professionals can keep up with. I hope this project brings greater awareness to a less widely know, but equally as important, path to a better life for those living with incurable diseases.
MY PROJECT
My Capstone project focused on the benefits and positive impact of exercise on the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Conditions such as Parkinson's Disease, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), and Huntington's Disease remain incurable, but their symptoms can be managed with treatments beyond medication. After spending the summer before my sophomore year volunteering with the non-profit organization Rock Steady boxing and in pilates classes for people with neurological conditions, I was immediately intrigued by the this topic and these organizations' missions. I researched various forms of movement and exercise and their impacts on a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. I also highlighted the benefits of different forms of movement based on the individual's diagnosis and their symptoms.
Ali Benjamin Capstone Final Project.pdfMY PROCESS
Doing a Capstone is an educational opportunity I am so grateful I made the choice to take part in. The process was long and challenging, but it taught me so much not only about my research topic, but about my own time management skills and learning styles. I aimed to approach each interview or shadow day with some knowledge on both the person and their work, so I spent a lot of my time doing that kind of background research. Before beginning the assembly of my final product, I compiled all of my interviews and notes from my site visits and found commonalities within them. This ensured that I would highlight the most important areas of the topic in my project. It also gave me direction for the remainder of my scientific-based research focused on specific conditions, their symptoms, and what professionals have done in the past.
Beginning
Beginning
Brainstorming
Adapt to changing ideas and direction of project
Middle
Middle
Interviews + Research
Learn from professionals and read reliable and recent research
End
End
Project Design/Assembly
Create a visually appealing and informative final presentation
SOURCES
The majority of my research was conducted through interviews and shadow opportunities at the Penn Medicine and JCC facilities. Supplemented by university hospital research and recent discoveries in MRI imaging, I was able to gather current data on a rapidly developing topic. During my time shadowing Penn Medicine Physical Therapist Heather Cianci, I learned about surgical procedures for Parkinson's disease including DBS, and how exercise can supplement procedures like this. My interviews with Megan Matis from the JCC Parkinson's Connection allowed me to better understand the benefits of incorporating vocal work and cognitive practice activities into a physical movement routine. Finally, my conversations with those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases both from Rock Steady and Penn Medicine provided first-hand experiences and information I would not have been able to find in any journal article or digital resource.
IMPACT + NEXT STEPS
Because of my life-long involvement in dance, I have always been interested in the positive impact of movement not only on the body, but on the brain. Having the opportunity to conduct extensive research revolving around this idea opened the door for me to potentially help someone suffering from an incurable disease through something I enjoy and am now knowledgable about. I hope to continue my work in the future with several more shadow days at the UPenn Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, and explore the possibility of a career in physical therapy. I concluded my project with many questions remaining, and am looking forward to finding the answers as new research is continually published, with the hopes of making life just a little bit easier and a little bit more comfortable for at least one person.
ADVICE FOR FUTURE CAPSTONE STUDENTS
Make Strong Connections
This project is a great way to form foundational relationships with people in a field you may want to pursue in the future
Use Your Junior Year Spring/Summer To Your Advantage
First semester senior year is busy! In order to create a final product you are proud of use the time you do have throughout the summer
Have Confidence in Your Process
This project is hard- don't let the obstacles you will inevitably face derail the hard work you put in prior to the difficult moments
Be Flexible
The idea you start with will likely not be the one you turn in and that's okay. Allow your ideas to change and develop with your research
Commit to a Topic that Matters to YOU
Make the hours spent creating this project worthwhile by researching a topic you are truly interested in and want to learn more about
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO...
My advisors
Avery Stern
Noah Rachlin
My resources
Dr Matthew Stern
Heather Cianci
Megan Matis
Melissa Heaney
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