Whether she\u2019s on the road bringing health screenings to rural Washington or advocating for investment in research on the national stage, Hannah Rae Tjelle\u2019s passion for brain health is unmistakable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That passion recently earned the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences graduate student national recognition for her work to support people experiencing cognitive decline and promote healthy aging. Tjelle was selected as a finalist in the Alyse Gray Parker Memorial Student Video Challenge<\/a>\u202fhosted by The Science Coalition, an alliance of the country\u2019s leading research institutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tjelle\u2019s video<\/a> highlights her research with Assistant Professor Amy Kemp, PhD, CCC-SLP, in the Accelerating Research in Cognitive Communication Health (ARCCH) Lab<\/a> at the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. Tjelle studies how to best support adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a state between normal aging and dementia with subtle but measurable changes in cognitive function. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was brought to tears multiple times making this video,\u201d Tjelle said. \u201cThe video is centered around family and caring for those we love with a spectrum of diverse brains, which is the heart of why I wanted to become a speech-language pathologist.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many adults with MCI go on to develop Alzheimer\u2019s disease or related dementias\u2014an urgent economic and public health crisis for an aging population. Tjelle\u2019s mission is to increase awareness about the many ways<\/a> individuals can reduce their risk of dementia and protect their brain health. Modifiable risk factors include cardiovascular health, social-emotional well-being, nutrition, sleep, and other lifestyle factors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Her interest in the topic was first sparked by past experience providing respite care for older adults. That interest deepened through her educational and research experiences in WSU\u2019s Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences<\/a> program, which prepares graduates for careers as speech-language pathologists (SLPs). <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI fell in love with that work, and I chose this degree once I learned I could make a meaningful impact as an SLP and bring dignity and voice to those living with neurodegenerative diseases and their families,\u201d Tjelle said. \u201cThe excitement that Dr. Kemp brought to our neurogenic cognitive communication course only grew my interest.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n