In summer 2023, the Lifestyle and Parkinson’s Longitudinal Study recruited approximately 75 participants for the first time at Concordia University. Two years later, the study has expanded to serve more than 100 participants diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease from Orange County, providing opportunities for Concordia’s undergraduate students to work as research assistants. 

According to the study’s website, the “Lifestyle and Parkinson’s Longitudinal Study (LPLS) is a multi-year project at Concordia University Irvine assessing how a wide range of personal lifestyle choices–from diet to exercise–impact the progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD) among people with Parkinson’s living near Orange County.” 

Participants engage in surveys, interviews, physical tests and biometric assessments. Following the study, participants receive a health report that explains their data, which they can share with their physicians. 

“Each year we see individuals allows us to build a longitudinal profile of their disease severity and progression along with their modifiable risks. Overall, we hope to help build a picture of the extent to which individuals contribute to their disease through modifiable behavior. In other words, to what extent can individual behavior modify disease progression?” said Dr. Nathan Meier, Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Principal Investigator of the study. 

Meier launched this study alongside alumnus and Project Manager Oliver Di Martino, who graduated in May 2025 and is currently pursuing his master's degree in Philosophy. They both shared an interest in Parkinson’s disease. Initially, they began their study in collaboration with a local Rock Steady Boxing group, an evidence-based program designed to slow the progression of the disease. 

The LPLS  now collaborates with other schools, such as UC Irvine, and various organizations, providing further opportunities for students to get involved. In this past summer’s study, the research team consisted of 22 Concordia students, three students from the UC system, one student from San Diego State University, 12 high school students, seven recent Concordia graduates and two faculty members. 

“Being involved in these studies has been an extremely rewarding experience and has helped me see research as more than data and statistics. Each participant is an individual whose life is drastically affected by Parkinson's. My involvement has also helped me understand the challenges that researchers face when designing and executing studies and has given me skills such as organization, communication and project management,” said Britton Cheney, senior and Kinesiology major with an emphasis in Allied Health. 

The LPLS values the benefits it can bring to student researchers, allowing them to develop skills and gain experience that they can highlight and diversify on their résumés, ultimately gaining a competitive advantage for graduate and medical schools. Some of these skills include teamwork, communication, organization, patient bedside manner, leadership, mentorship, critical and analytical skills. While most student researchers are from kinesiology, biology, and behavioral sciences majors, the study is open to all students who are interested in participating.

According to the survey results from the 2025 LPLS Annual Report, student researchers reported gaining experience with hands-on research tools, statistical software, and survey administration. They receive training before data collection for the study, which includes human subject training, data entry, cognitive assessments and ensuring interrater validity with technology. 

Students also develop their communication skills and empathy, and learn to provide patient-centered care through their experiences. Many gained an improved understanding of working with vulnerable populations.

“I learned to be gentle, understanding and patient with the patients when helping patients onto the blood pressure beds and taking their blood pressures,” said a student in the LPLS survey. 

Another stated, “It was hard to see how much Parkinson’s was affecting some of our participants… it motivated me to care for them not only through the study but also relationally.”

According to the LPLS Annual Report, most students identified the study as a key component in confirming or advancing their interest in health professions, given their early clinical exposure from their experience. Students who were involved in the LPLS have been accepted into high-level programs following graduation, including PhD programs, master’s programs and medical schools.

“LPLS prepared me for my future goal as a nurse practitioner by improving my conversational skills… and also opened my eyes to the administrative responsibilities of those who choose to complete a research study,” stated a respondent in the survey. Cheney shared the sentiment, stating, “I hope to continue my involvement in research while I am in my Doctorate of Physical Therapy.” 

In addition to the LPLS, Cheney has been collaborating with RxBallroom Dance for further research on Parkinson’s disease. She won the 2025 President’s Academic Showcase for her study on “The effect of a six-month ballroom dance intervention on physical function and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease.” 

She has worked directly with the CEO of RxBallroom Dance to develop an IRB-approved six-month intervention, which will run until the summer of 2026. Cheney said, “We have just finished the pre-intervention data collection. We will reassess the same measurements in April after the participants have completed six months of the ballroom classes.”

“Part of my role is to recruit and train other student volunteers to help with data collection because there is no way I could do it alone! For each day of measurement, we traveled to a different site where the dance classes take place, ranging from Tustin and Mission Viejo to Oceanside and Rancho Bernardo,” Cheney explained. Being involved in the LPLS, as well as developing her intervention in collaboration with RxBallroom, has prepared her immensely for graduate education. 

Cheney’s involvement is one example of how the LPLS allows students to pursue their interests within clinical research. With various projects and collaborations within the LPLS, the study continues to offer numerous opportunities for Concordia students to get involved, acquire technical skills and establish a foundation for research and clinical work. For students interested in learning more details about the study, visit their page at https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/health-human-sciences/lifestyle-parkinsons-longitudinal-study. 

Tags: STEM, community, Orange County, Research

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