Lynn Rochester, Professor of Human Movement Science
The way people walk – their gait – can be studied and measured, with the potential to predict the onset of some age related diseases.
Movement scientists at Newcastle University have developed sophisticated technologies and techniques for measuring gait and analysing the results.
The University’s Professor of Human Movement Science, Lynn Rochester, leads a multi-disciplinary team of researchers who are able to accurately assess how well older people walk.
Predicting the onset of diseases
This is providing valuable insights into the locomotive and cognitive functions of the brains of people who may be suffering from the early stages of conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease and dementia.
Predicting the onset of diseases could enable researchers to develop interventions to slow down the rate at which they take hold and improve the lives of patients.
"It’s the thinking part of the brain that plays an important part in walking," explained Professor Rochester. "Studies have shown that slow gait is predictive of people who go on to develop cognitive decline and dementia."
Professor Rochester and her team have a 3D motion analysis laboratory in which they precisely capture movement in great detail. And they can place small accelerometer devices on the bodies of patients to measure their speed and flow of movement.
"One of the things we are working on is very advanced processing of data to extract patterns of behaviour in patients, to see if those are changing," she said.
Her research has received funding worth between £10m-£12m, drawn from a variety of sources such as:
- the Medical Research Council and other research councils
- charities like Parkinson’s UK
- the European Union Framework 7 programme
- and the National Institute of Health Research.
These have helped pay for an impressive array of technology made possible through collaboration between electrical engineers and digital scientists. Specialists from the University’s Institute of Neuroscience are also using this in their studies of such things as the causes and effects of strokes.
Healthy ageing work
In turn, Professor Rochester contributes to other research programmes such as the healthy ageing work of Livewell, led by the University’s Professor of Human Nutrition John Mathers, and part of the ICICLE study into cognitive decline and treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, led by Professor of Movement Disorder Neurology David Burns.
Professor Rochester trained as a physiotherapist at what is now Northumbria University. Her interest in how the brain controls movement led to her studying for a doctorate, partially at Northumbria and at Newcastle University.
She moved to New Zealand for seven years, carrying out further research, and after spending some intervening time in Glasgow returned to Newcastle University where she has been able to set up from scratch her studies into gait and balance.
"I never thought I would end up back in Newcastle but I consider myself very fortunate to be here. Being in Newcastle University absolutely facilitates all the essential connections that enable me to work within a complex multi-disciplinary team," she said.
Professor Rochester is motivated by a desire to improve the lot of people with conditions like Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. So her work has a strong focus on finding interventions that will improve their quality of life.
"There is a fantastic body of work that shows keeping moving and keeping active is critical to protect us as we age. The more we can give people tools to allow that to happen, the better."
One of the potential tools, which could have mass application at relatively low cost, is developing specific computer games for the Microsoft Kinect system, with its movement sensor, for use by Parkinson’s sufferers.
A feasibility study is being carried out in collaboration with a team led by the University’s Professor of Human-Computer Interaction, Patrick Olivier.
"People will be able to do their exercise at home and we will be able to get feedback on how well they are doing," added Professor Rochester.
Contact Lynn Rochester about her research.
Find out more about:
- The Livewell project
Read more about helping healthy ageing.
