ADHD research / Dementia research /Gary Peters named Griffin chair /

Ballenger legacy / Primeau honors Jack Kerouac / Department chairs

CMU researchers develop animal model to study ADHD

Central Michigan University assistant professor of psychology Mark Reilly and two of his graduate students have further validated a promising animal model for one of the most prevalent childhood disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, taking researchers a step forward in determining how to help children with ADHD.

This discovery was made by conducting research on the impulsivity of a species of rat that is spontaneously hypertensive. Like humans diagnosed with ADHD, spontaneously hypertensive rats are hyperactive and impulsive, exhibiting a strong preference for smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones.

Reilly’s research confirms the high level of impulsivity of this rat species by showing that it also has difficulty learning new tasks when rewards are delayed by 15 seconds.

“Animal models are extremely valuable for helping us better understand and treat the maladies that affect humans. Alarming numbers of children are currently taking powerful psychoactive drugs as a result of an ADHD diagnosis,” said Reilly. “A well validated animal model that captures the relevant behavioral symptoms of ADHD can be used to develop more effective therapeutic interventions than are currently available.”

Reilly, along with graduate students Dennis Hand and Andrew Fox, plan to conduct additional research on the genetic, physiological and environmental factors that produce impulsivity. Part of that research involves assessing and comparing various behavioral and pharmacologic interventions for their ability to reverse impulsiveness. Their research has sparked interest in the pharmaceutical industry and one company has already shown interest in having Reilly’s lab test a new compound developed for ADHD.

ADHD is just one research project for the Behavior Analysis Laboratory at CMU. Reilly’s research team of graduate and undergraduate students also have ongoing studies on gambling, developmental factors involved in the initiation of drug and alcohol consumption, and quantitative modeling of learning processes. All of these experiments are conducted using rats and pigeons and state-of-the-art behavioral testing apparatuses.

“The students that work in my lab learn about basic behavioral research, from designing and implementing experiments to analyzing data and communicating it to others,” said Reilly. “They also learn about the publication process and peer review. Students are involved in every part of the process of scientific discovery, and that is an excellent learning experience.”

Photo caption: Dr. Mark Reilly (left), junior Jhordy Lytle (middle) and junior Dusty Smith (right), place a rat into a noninvasive blood pressure system in the Behavior Analysis Laboratory at CMU. Reilly and his team have found that a strain of spontaneously hypertensive rats is a promising animal model for testing ADHD in humans.

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New book examines dementia care

Research shows that humanizing dementia care extends quality and possibly length of life

Through an intensive comparative study of two nursing home units using contrasting approaches to dementia care for elders with severely disturbed behaviors, Central Michigan University professor of anthropology Athena McLean has found that “humanizing” approaches to dementia care may not only extend quality of life for patients, but also their length of life.

In McLean’s recently published book, “The Person in Dementia: A Study of Nursing Home Care in the U.S.,” she discusses the dramatic contrasts in the outcomes of the two approaches to dementia care: a rigid task-oriented maintenance approach emphasizing disease progression and a flexible person-sustaining approach attentive to elders’ communication and individual needs.

McLean found dramatic differences between life quality of the patients at the two nursing units.

The patients at the unit that focused on “personhood,” or looking beyond physical and reasoning abilities to a person’s will and relationship with others, were found to be happier, had an overall improved quality of life and even lived longer. Those at the unit emphasizing disability and pathology tended to have their personal needs ignored, were heavily medicated and often failed to thrive.

“These findings address issues that medicine can’t answer,” said McLean. “They are valuable not only for improving the general quality of life for these elders, but also for the long-term outcome based on how they are treated and cared for. These elders require attention, time and a lot of caring interaction.”

McLean’s findings also demonstrated how relations among professional and administrative staff within a facility can significantly affect the quality of the dementia care elders receive.

“I want people to see that dementia need not evoke the terror that the term Alzheimer’s usually raises and that there is still hope in cases that many think are lost,” said McLean.

“Good caregivers are leaving the profession because they are underpaid and unappreciated. It needs to be understood by policy makers, family members and clinicians alike that money needs to be put into retaining quality caregiving staff, instead of only fancy facilities, which is currently the trend.”

McLean is a cultural and medical anthropologist who spent more than 10 years conducting full-time research before coming to CMU. Her studies of medicine and aging include examination of issues in international aging and the psychiatric consumer/survivor movement in the United States.

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Gary Peters named new Griffin chair

Former lottery commissioner eager to share knowledge of public service

Former Michigan Lottery commissioner Gary Peters will bring years of political and business experience to his new role as the Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government.

As chair, Peters will teach two political science seminars and organize two forums each year that address public policy and political issues throughout Michigan. Peters also plans to implement an electronic journal that will bring students, academics and practitioners together on public policy issues facing Michigan and the country.

“As a former state senator, city councilman and candidate for Michigan attorney general, I look forward to sharing my nuts-and-bolts knowledge of public service with students at Central Michigan,” Peters said. “I am also looking forward to hosting forums that will explore some of the public policy challenges we face in Michigan.”

Peters’ public service experience includes serving as a member of the Michigan Senate and the Rochester Hills City Council. His business experience includes positions as vice president of investments for UBS PaineWebber Inc. and assistant vice president at Merrill Lynch Inc., both in Rochester Hills. Peters also has served on arbitration panels for the National Association of Securities Dealers and the New York Stock Exchange. Peters served as a lieutenant commander and Seabee combat warfare specialist in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

As lottery commissioner, Peters was responsible for the overall management and operation of the lottery. The Michigan Lottery is a $2 billion-plus business, which last year generated a record $688 million for the state School Aid Fund. Under Peters’ leadership, the lottery set new records for three consecutive years. 

“Coming directly from the public sector, Gary will bring to this position a fresh perspective of what’s happening in Lansing today, as well as many new contacts,” said Jim Hill, director of CMU’s honors program and former political science faculty member.

Peters received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Alma College, a Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of Detroit Mercy, a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School and is currently a doctoral candidate in political philosophy at Michigan State University. He also has held teaching positions at Michigan State, Wayne State and Oakland University.

The Griffin Endowment was established in 1999 through private donations to fund the salary and associated costs of a government and public policy expert who serves as a faculty member in CMU’s political science department.

The Griffin program seeks to build interest and increased engagement in politics among young adults, faculty and the general citizenry. The endowment honors Robert and Marjorie Griffin, both distinguished CMU alumni.

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Ballenger leaves legacy of notable accomplishments

Although the Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government position at Central Michigan University is a three-year term, Bill Ballenger stayed four. The decision to extend the contract was based on his notable success as chair, which will not soon be forgotten.

Ballenger, the editor and publisher of Inside Michigan Politics, brought many positive things to his students, fellow faculty members and the entire CMU community. Among these include a day visit to the Capitol building in Lansing each semester and the creation of a Griffin Endowed Chair Web site.

“The most important thing Bill brought to his students was his enthusiasm for public service coupled with an incredibly extensive knowledge of Michigan government and history,” said Larry Sych, CMU political science faculty member. “He supercharged his classes, and his students time and again have told me that while he’s one tough professor, he is among the best they have had.”

As chair, Ballenger taught two political science seminars and organized two forums annually that addressed public policy issues. The forums covered many diverse topics, including threats to the Great Lakes, gambling, judiciary elections, Michigan’s economy, the 2004 presidential campaign, affirmative action, state elections and Michigan’s Constitution.

“The most rewarding part of my role as the CMU Griffin Endowed Chair was developing both an academic and personal relationship with some outstanding students and personalities who I am convinced will go on to really make something of themselves in coming years,” said Ballenger. “There is a lot of talent among the nearly 200 undergraduates I taught, and my life may grow dull without them.”

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Primeau joins discussion honoring Jack Kerouac

English professor Ron Primeau and several authors paid tribute to literary legend Jack Kerouac at the 50th anniversary of his publication “On the Road,” which is recognized as one of the classic novels of modern American literature.

William Least Heat Moon, author of “Blue Highways,” and Robert Houlton, author of “Kerouac’s Ragged American Journey,” among others, joined Primeau in a panel discussion in Kerouac’s hometown of Lowell, Mass. Novelist and Kerouac Writer in Residence David Daniel was the moderator.

“To be asked to be on the panel with Least Heat Moon and other scholars and writers on road literature is a great honor for me,” said Primeau. “We talked about the function of road literature in American life and culture and the reputation of Kerouac as an American writer. We also discussed the Beat movement as a social and political force in the modern world.”

The panel was held on June 17 as part of a weekend of events to kick off a summer of poetry readings, live jazz, public art, theatrical performances, animated tours of Kerouac’s city haunts, a waffle ball tournament and art exhibits, all of which were centered around an exhibit of Kerouac’s original “On the Road” scroll manuscript.

Primeau is the author of a book about American road stories entitled “Romance of the Road” and has done extensive research on literature about people who take modern-day pilgrimages across the country to discover themselves and define the nation. He also is director of CMU’s master of arts in humanities program.

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CHSBS welcomes new department chairs

The College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences is welcoming two new department chairs for the 2007-08 academic year.

Susan Knight was named chair for the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures beginning in the fall semester. Rick Kurtz will become chair of the Department of Political science beginning in January. The faculty and staff of CHSBS would like to thank James Jones and Del Ringquist for their notable service to their respective departments.

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