Barnes is an assistant professor with the School of Education’s Department of Kinesiology. She also heads the Barnes Lab within the Bruno Balk Biodynamics’ Laboratory, where she investigates potential risk factors and links for both cardiovascular disease and dementia.

Corkery is a graduate student studying exercise physiology with the Department of Kinesiology and works alongside Barnes in the Barnes Lab.

Their research examines how cerebrovascular function facilitates the connection between exercise and cognition, specifically applying this to Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia.

Barnes and Corkery note that exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness might be most important during the middle-aged years, as physical activity is associated with future cognitive ability.

They report that “the age-associated increases in blood pressure and impairments in vascular function may be attenuated or even reversed through lifestyle behaviors.”

Read their full report here.