Hackney's Neurokinesiology Laboratory

Goals

1. Design optimal rehabilitative physical interventions (exercise and dance-based) for those with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and older adults with sensorimotor impairments to improve mobility and cognition.
2. Detect mechanisms underlying movement pathologies by characterizing motor patterns in challenging conditions, and investigating neural pathways of motor control and remediation/compensation through functional magnetic resonance imaging.
3. Investigate programs that promote wellness, and enhance or maintain motor and cognitive function for individuals with PD as well as older adults going through typical aging processes.

The programs that are currently being researched are an adapted Argentine Tango program (adapted tango), and the DREAMS program, an educational intervention designed to promote research participation by older adults, particularly those who are underserved. 

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults. The economic consequences of falls are significant and growing, and falls are expected to cost the U.S. economy as much as $101 billion by 2030. Falls are also preventable and represent a major source of modifiable morbidity, mortality, and health expenditures. Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) is an intervention to prevent falls among older adults developed by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Studies piloting the intervention have shown promising results; however, more evidence is needed to show that the intervention can be implemented cost-effectively on a larger scale in a real-world integrated health system. To this end, NORC at the University of Chicago in partnership with Emory University School of Medicine has contracted with the CDC’s Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the STEADI intervention. This study aims to answer the following research questions to fill the remaining knowledge gaps about STEADI:

1. Does STEADI significantly reduce falls among the target population compared to the standard of care?
2. Does partial implementation of some selected STEADI modules, also significantly reduce falls among the target population as compared to the standard of care?
3. Does the net present value of falls and resulting injuries averted by STEADI implementation exceed the net present value of the costs of STEADI implementation and the incremental costs that result from it? 

Using a mixture of the qualitative interview and quantitative performance measures, the study will also evaluate and describe this case of STEADI implementation within selected primary care clinics of Emory Healthcare. We have partnered with Emory University School of Medicine to implement different aspects of STEADI in a real-world primary care setting, document experiences implementing the intervention, measure implementation costs and compare the outcomes of the STEADI intervention compared to abridged versions of the intervention.

Parkinson’s disease (PD), an intractable condition impairing motor and cognitive function, is imperfectly treated by drugs and surgery. Two priority issues for a majority of people with PD are OFF-time and Cognitive impairment. We will perform a randomized, controlled trial in veterans and non-veterans with diagnosed PD to compare the efficacy of PDAE versus walking AE (WAE) for OFF-time, cognition, and neuroprotection. We will assess neuroprotection with novel neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI) and iron-sensitive (R2*) MRI sequences to quantify neuromelanin loss and iron accumulation in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) Our overall hypothesis is that PDAE – a cognitively engaging AE – is more effective at reducing OFF-time and improving cognition than WAE. However, similar to WAE, we believe PDAE is neuroprotective in PD. We will observe the following:

1. Examine the effects of Training and Maintenance phases of PDAE vs. WAE upon the patient experience of OFF times. Participants will be assessed with the UPDRS-IV.
   
2. Compare PDAE vs. WAE at 3 and 16 months on cardiovascular output, endurance, and behavioral and neural (fMRI) measures of spatial cognition.
   
3. Determine whether PDAE vs. WAE vs. leveraged data from non-intervention controls is a) neuroprotective and b) whether this neuroprotection is associated with OFF time (Aim 1), and cognitive (Aim 2) response to PDAE and WAE.

The DREAMS program is based on successful topics from both Part I (health education) and Part II (research advocacy) of the original DREAMS program, and the TeleDREAMS Research Advocacy program with a focus on PD-related health education and introducing clinical research. As such, DREAMS includes sections on understanding clinical research, health topics of relevance to people with PD (with evidence from clinical research interwoven throughout), and health disparities. Modules will also include actionable information to help educate diverse seniors on ways that they can stay healthy and get involved in the PD community.

Written copies of the recorded information will be given to participants. Each binder will contain 8 weeks of lesson plans, and participants are directed to complete one lesson (estimated time to complete: 1.5 h) via reading or listening per week for eight weeks. Each lesson includes 20-30 pages (14-point font, with pictures) of eighth-grade reading level accessible material, as well as related supplemental videos to watch and web-based resources. Participants receive weekly phone calls (20-30 minutes) from health student volunteers to ascertain progress and discuss each completed lesson.

Our overall objective is to: a) educate diverse older adults in Part I about current research opportunities within the greater Atlanta area, the value of research, and the importance of older adult participation in PCOR and b) train in Part II a group of older adults, the DREAMS Team (chosen from participants in Part I), to become research advocates within their communities. In order to achieve these objectives, we have the following specific aims:

1. We will identify potential barriers and facilitators to implementing the DREAMS Educational Program as well as identify needs specific to diverse older adults and clinical researchers. We will achieve this aim through focus groups conducted prior to Part I.
2.  Building on information gained from Aim 1, we aim to implement Part I of the DREAMS Educational Program and assess its feasibility and acceptability.  We will use qualitative and quantitative measures to assess outcomes before, after and 8 weeks after implementing the DREAMS program, including: participant satisfaction, attrition, knowledge retention on healthy aging-related research topics and research processes, attitudes toward clinical research/research participation, and the likelihood of participating in clinical research in the future.
3. Utilizing the information gained from Aims 1 and 2, we will a) develop curriculum for Part II of our educational program, modeled after curricula of other national organizations and actively engage participants as community advocates in research and b) determine the effectiveness of Part II curriculum for training and engaging community advocates in research (the DREAMS Team). We will assess the effectiveness of the training program before, after, and 3 and 6 months after initiating the program using a number of quantitative metrics.

For people with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD), treatment options to prevent declined function are extremely limited, because AD affects many areas of function. In early AD, people may have trouble physically doing things while also thinking, which is necessary for many activities in daily life. This problem might be helped by doing activities that challenge the mind and the body at the same time, so we have developed an ideal intervention. Partnered rhythmic rehabilitation (PRR), which targets fitness, cognition, mobility, and social engagement and may prevent future functional problems in AD. 

Goals: 

1. To determine acceptability, safety, tolerability, and satisfaction with PRR in pAD. Acceptability will be measured by identifying barriers/ facilitators to participation and beliefs regarding PRR as therapy through focus groups conducted prior to the trial. Safety will be confirmed by the absence of injurious falls during PRR classes, ie, while under the supervision of a PRR instruction; tolerability will be measured with attrition. H1: We expect PRR to be safe (0 injurious falls during the PRR classes), and tolerable (attrition will be ≤­15%). Participants in PRR will have significantly higher satisfaction ratings and better attitudes, as assayed by focus groups and questionnaires, concerning their assigned therapy for addressing functional performance compared to WALK participants.
2. To determine a) efficacy of PRR vs. WALK for improving motor-cognitive integration in pAD; b) to identify sensitive endpoints to power a future phase III trial. Our primary efficacy outcome will be the Four Square Step Test (FSST) collected at entry, three months, and 12 months. H3: a. Using an intent-to-treat approach PRR participants will exhibit significantly better motor-cognitive performance, as measured by faster performance speed on the FSST than WALK at 3 months and 12 months. b. We will include a set of other endpoints (volumetric hippocampal and cortical thickness and cognitive measures (executive function, visuospatial, and memory) with the intent to identify the most sensitive endpoint for the Phase III trial. We hypothesize FSST will be the most sensitive endpoint to power a future trial.
3. In addition to the stated aims above, we will explore potential mechanisms by which PRR affects pAD. These mechanisms include functional brain measures, vascular, and inflammation measures (arterial stiffness; cerebral perfusion, task fMRI (motor-cognitive and touch paradigms); inflammatory markers: cytokines and chemokines, endothelial adhesion markers. Our goal is to estimate the effect size of the intermediary measures and hence aid us in estimating sample size for a future trial that will definitively identify mechanisms. 

Sponsored by and in collaboration with MedBridge, a Healthcare Education & Patient Care Software company, the Fall Prevention Pathways (FPP) study tests a mobile web-based exercise program to reduce fall risks in older adults. The study will consist of baseline and post-program assessments of motor and cognitive abilities in-person, an 8-week period of using the program remotely, and remote follow-up assessments 3 and 6 months after the program. This study is actively recruiting for participants who are between the ages of 65 and 85 years, able to walk without assistance or with a single-point cane, and able to access a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet connectivity.

Contact project lead Ejew Kim for more information.

The MYSTIC study is a pilot intervention study aimed at using music/ dance-based tools to improve walking ability and mitigate motor and cognitive impacts of neurodegeneration in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The project combines innovative tools, including a library of music/ dance-based movement patterns, biomechanical assessment, and machine learning-based analysis to characterize movement ability in people with PD and evaluate therapeutic parameters. Students can work on clinical/patient-facing and/or analytical aspects of the project, with no pre-requisite experience required for either. This project includes daily classes and/ or clinical and biomechanical evaluations, offering students enriching hands-on experience and opportunities to hone versatile clinical skills by working closely with individuals with PD. If students are looking for experience in clinical/ biomechanical data management and analytics, we also have those projects available under MYSTIC, too.   

Project Lead: Wendy Wang 

This project looks to define the impact of high-volume (HV) exercise compared to moderate-volume (MV) exercise for adults with moderate PD. Exact combinations of frequency and duration (the product of which is volume) of AE need to be determined for optimal delivery of exercise for PD as AE volume is primed for evaluation for its effects on gait measures, and overall physical activity (PA). It will compare the impact of exercise volume on gait cadence (measured with inertial sensors), physical activity (measured with accelerometry and a self-report survey), inflammatory cytokine expression (measured serologically), vascular function and aerobic capacity. Participants are randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups and then receive 52 weeks of the prescribed intervention: PDAE at HV or MV, or to walk at HV or MV. MV classes meet twice-weekly for 65-minutes. HV classes meet 5 times a week for 90 minutes for three weeks at trial onset followed by one HV week every four weeks for a year. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline (before intervention), after three months of intervention, after eight months of intervention, and at 52 weeks (intervention end).

The APPROACH study aims to capture the impact tango dance has on the creative process, justice, community building between generations, and confidence in creative expression. This study also explores themes related to dance such as community building and justice as perceived by the Persons with Parkinson’s (PwP) disease and young adults before and after undergoing the AdapTango Performance Process (APP). The APP is a three-month biweekly choreographic process, culminating in a weekend performance workshop at the SGA designed to guide dyads consisting of one PwP and one young adult through the creative experience of Adaptango.

Before and after the APP, we assessed creativity, justice, and quality of life. Participants were interviewed as a dyad during the APP tenth choreographic class regarding the creative process, justice, and community building attitudes, beliefs and perceptions. These ideas were expanded upon after the completion of the APP during a 1.5 hour focus group as well as impressions of the workshop and performance class, beliefs before and after the APP, and views regarding the impact of the APP on the experience and comprehension of justice and intergenerational interactions.

Neuroscience Doctoral Student

Ali is a third-year PhD student in Emory's Neuroscience Program, where he primarily works on our HILITE study while supporting additional projects as needed. He leads the Wednesday walking group and assist with weekly tango classes and assessments. His research investigates the interplay between sleep and circadian rhythms in Parkinson's disease symptomology, with particular focus on how these factors may mediate exercise intervention efficacy.

Outside the laboratory, he enjoys spending time with his cat, cooking, playing basketball and swimming, exploring local trails, and discovering new restaurants throughout the area.

Clinical Research Coordinator II

Projects: FALL PREVENTION PATHWAYS, SPARX3

Ejew joined the Hackney Lab as a clinical research coordinator starting from September 2024. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BA in Psychology and a Neuroscience minor, and aspires to pursue research through higher education. Ejew is interested in using movement, sounds, and dance to facilitate the movement of people with neurodegenerative movement disorders such as Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease. At Dr. Hackney's lab, she leads the FPP study (see above), administers walk and dance interventions and motor, cognitive, and vascular assessments, and publishes research regarding caregiver experience for people with Lewy Body Dementia and the effect of side of PD onset on spatial cognition.

Clinical Research Coordinator I

Projects: HILITE, PAIRED/REPAIR, SPARX3

Haneul Kim is a Clinical Research Coordinator in Dr. Hackney’s lab, supporting interdisciplinary studies across Emory’s Department of Medicine and the Atlanta VA. She contributes to patient-centered, VA-funded trials including PAIRED, REPAIR, and HILITE, which examine the effectiveness of rehabilitative physical interventions for neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on reducing OFF-time and enhancing cognition and quality of life in veterans and non-veterans with Parkinson’s Disease. She holds a BS in Kinesiology from Augusta University and an MPH in Global Health from Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health, equipping her with a strong foundation in applied public health and clinical research. Haneul is currently focusing on strategic recruitment, rigorous qualitative data, and publication development to advance clinical research that drives meaningful PD health outcomes for individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease.

Visiting Fellow

Projects: DREAMS, PARTNER

Dr. Rafie earned her PhD in Motor Learning from Tehran University and completed a fellowship in Aging Biology before moving to the U.S. for a postdoctoral position at Arizona State University. She is currently a Visiting Fellow in the Hackney Lab at Emory University, where she leads NIH funded and other studies, including PARTNER and DREAMS, and collaborates on projects like PAIRED and MYSTIC. Her research concentrates on rehabilitative physical interventions for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, combining neuroimaging and vascular biomarkers to investigate underlying mechanisms. Dr. Rafie actively mentors students, supports data analysis, and co-authors publications across interdisciplinary teams. 

Clinical Research Coordinator II

Projects: HILITE, PAIRED/REPAIR, SPARX3

Jill is a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Hackney lab working primarily on exercise-based interventions for those with Parkinson’s Disease. She received her BS in Behavioral Neuroscience and Mathematics from Centre College and her MS in Neuroscience from Wake Forest University. In addition to her work administering motor, cognitive, vascular, and MRI assessments, she leads tango and ballet-based classes. She is the primary contact for the HILITE, PAIRED, REPAIR, APPROACH, and SPARX3 studies at Emory.

Manager, Program & Research

Projects: MYSTIC PD & IMPACT

Todd has been a medical librarian since 1999. He worked at the CDC library, was an Assistant Professor at Georgia State University, and the Library Director at Emory’s Crawford Long Hospital (now “Midtown”) and Northside Hospital.

Todd is Dr. Madeleine Hackney’s Lab Manager. He tries to do everything and avoid doing the things that others can do better than he can. He runs the lab, helps recruit and schedules our participants and interventions, recruits our students, and schedules their participation. He helps schedule Ubers and actually sprints down the parking lots when the Ubers can’t find us to deliver our participants. He edits, submits, and revises peer-reviewed papers and helps our visiting scholars present to our group and join our lab.

This team is always disseminating our research via scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals. Here is a recent citation: Ramos ME, Pothineni S, Ni L, Bay AA, Prusin T, Hackney ME. Qualitative Analysis of Attitudes, Knowledge, and Interest in Research of People with Parkinson’s Disease and Their Care Partners Receiving Accessible Research Education. Parkinsons Dis. 2023 Sep 11;2023:

Clinical Research Coordinator III

Project: STEADI program (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries)

The STEADI program is a public health initiative by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help clinicians address fall risks in older adults through screening, assessing, and intervening. STEADI AVATAR is an AI-powered virtual health assistant that delivers the CDC's STEADI fall prevention initiative to older adults. This mobile-based, conversational assistant offers a highly accessible and scalable solution for fall risk management, allowing older adults—including those with mild cognitive impairment—to receive personalized support from home. The avatar works 24/7, providing customized exercise programs and monitoring for fall risks, with human staff remotely overseeing the assistant to offer companionship and escalate urgent concerns to healthcare professionals. This comprehensive care model aims to improve health outcomes, enhance independence, and reduce fall-related healthcare costs for the aging population.

Neuroscience Doctoral Student 

Project: MYSTIC

Wendy is a Neuroscience PhD candidate in the Hackney lab. Her thesis focuses on the MYSTIC project about the neural mechanism of movement timing deficits in PD. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Emory in 2023, majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology, and is also an alumna of Oxford College of Emory University. Outside of lab, she enjoys watching horror movies, cooking, thrifting, and going to concerts. 

Robotics Doctoral Student

Project: ZEST-E

Matt is a fifth year robotics PhD student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He serves as the study lead for ZEST-E, a robotic platform for personalized physical therapy for people with Parkinson's disease. His research examines the role of socially and physically interactive robots for caregiving in clinical and home environments. With a professional background spanning mechanical engineering and computer science, Matt happily serves as a jack-of-all-trades engineer in Dr. Hackney's lab.

• Hackney ME, Kantorovich S., Earhart, G.M.  A study on the effects of Argentine tango as a form of partnered dance for those with Parkinson disease and healthy elderly. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 2007; 29(2): 109-127.
• Hackney ME, Kantorovich S., Levin, R., Earhart, G.M.  Effects of tango on functional mobility in Parkinson disease: A preliminary study. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 2007; 31:173-179.
• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. Tai Chi improves balance and mobility in people with Parkinson disease. Gait and Posture J. 2008; 28 (3):456-460.
• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. Backwards Walking in Parkinson Disease. Movement Disorders, 2009; 24(2):218-223.
• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. Short Duration, Intensive Tango Dancing for Parkinson Disease: An Uncontrolled Pilot Study.  Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2009; 17:203-207.
• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. Effects of Dance on Movement Control in Parkinson’s Disease: A Comparison of Argentine Tango and American Ballroom, Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2009;41:475–481.
• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. Health-related Quality of Life and Alternative Forms of Exercise in Parkinson Disease, Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, 2009; 15:644-648.
• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. The Effects of a Secondary Task on Forward and backward walking in Parkinson Disease, Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 2009; Aug. 12. doi:10.1177/1545968309341061.
• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. Social Partnered Dance for People with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness: a Pilot Study, Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 2010; 198(1):76-78.
• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. Effects of Dance on Gait and Balance in Parkinson Disease: A Comparison of Partnered and Non-Partnered Dance Movement, Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 2010; 24(4):384-392.
• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. Effects of dance on balance and gait in stage V Parkinson disease: A case study, Disability Rehabilitation, 2010; 32(8):679-684.
• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. Recommendations for implementing partnered dance classes for persons with Parkinson Disease, American Journal of Dance Therapy, 2010; 31(1):41-45.
• Hackney ME, Hall CD, Echt KV, Wolf SL. Application of Adapted Tango as Therapeutic Intervention for Patients with Chronic Stroke: A Case Study, Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 2012; 35(4):206-217.
• Hackney ME, Burridge AB, Hawley KS, Spiro A, Echt KV. Physical and cognitive function in older men: Is longitudinal study participation related to better functioning. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2012; 60(2):396-8.
• Hackney ME, Hall CD, Echt KV, Wolf SL. Dancing for Balance: Feasibility and Efficacy in Oldest-Old Adults with Visual Impairment. Nursing Research Journal, 2013; 62(2):138-143.
• McKee KM, Hackney ME. The Effects of Adapted Tango on Spatial Cognition and Disease Severity in Parkinson’s Disease. Journal of Motor Behavior, 2013; 45(6):519-529.
• McKee KM, Hackney ME. The Four Square Step Test in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease: Association with Executive Function and Comparison with Older Adults. NeuroRehabilitation, 2014; 35(2):279-89. doi: 10.3233/NRE-141122.
• Hackney ME, McKee KM. Community-Based Adapted Tango Dancing for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and Older Adults. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2014; 94, e52066, doi:10.3791/52066.
• Hackney ME, Hall CD, Echt KV, Wolf SL. Multimodal Exercise Benefits Mobility in Older Adults with Visual Impairment: a Preliminary Study. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 2015; 23(4):630-9. doi: 10.1123/japa.2014-0008.
• Chen T, Bhattacharjee T, McKay J, Borinski J, Hackney ME, Ting L, Kemp C. Evaluation by Expert Dancers of a Robot That Performs Partnered Stepping via Haptic Interaction. PLoS ONE, 2015; 10(5): e0125179. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125179.
• Hackney ME, Byers C, Butler G, Sweeney M, Rossbach L, Bozzorg A. Adapted Tango Improves Mobility, Motor-Cognitive Function and Gait but not Cognition in Older Adults Dwelling in Senior Independent Living Communities. 2015; Journal of the American Geriatric Society. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.13650.
• Renz E, Hackney ME, Hall CD. Foot clearance and variability in mono and multifocal intraocular lens users during stair navigation. J Rehab Res Dev. In press.
• McKay JL, Ting L, Hackney ME. Balance, body motion and muscle activity after high volume short term dance-based rehabilitation in individuals with Parkinson's disease: a pilot study. J Neurologic Phys Ther, in press.

Review Articles

• Hackney ME, Wolf SL. The Impact of Tai Chi Chu’an Practice on Balance and Mobility in Older Adults: an Integrative Review of Twenty Years of Research. J Geriatr Phys Ther, 2014; 37(3):127-35. doi: 10.1519/JPT.0b013e3182abe784.
• Hackney ME, Bennett, C. Dance therapy for Individuals with Parkinson's disease: Improving Health-related Quality of Life.  Journal of Parkinsonism and Restless Leg Syndrome, 2014; 4:17-25.
• Ting TH, Chiel H, Trumbower RD, Allen JL, McKay JL, Hackney ME, Kesar TM. Neuromechanical Perspectives underlying Movement Modularity and their Implications for Rehabilitation. Neuron; 2015 Apr 8;86(1):38-54. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.02.042.
• Nocera JR, Hackney ME. The Cognition-Exercise Interaction in Parkinson’s disease: A Perspective on Current Rehabilitative Approaches with Promise to Impact the whole Sequelae. J Gerontol Geriatr Med, 2015; 1:003.
• Hackney ME, Lim HL, Battisto J, Crosson B, McGregor KM. Context-dependent neural activation: internally and externally guided rhythmic lower limb movement in individuals with and without neurodegenerative disease. Frontiers in Neurology, 2015; 6:251. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2015.00251. PMID: 26696952

 Book Chapters

• Hass C, Stegemöller E, Hackney M, Nocera J. Lessons and challenges of trials involving ancillary therapies for the management of Parkinson’s disease. In: Parkinson’s Disease: Current & Future Therapeutics & Clinical Trials.Cambridge University Press. 2014
• Hackney M, Nocera J, Bowers D, Altmann L, Hass C. The Chronic Exercise-Cognition Interaction and Parkinson disease. In: McMorris, T. (Ed), Exercise-Cognition Interaction: Neuroscience Perspectives, New York: Elsevier, 2015.

Manuals, Videos, Computer Programs and Other Teaching Aids

• Hackney ME, Adapted Tango Teaching Manual, approved for 1.2 CECs by American Council on Exercise.
• Hackney ME, Blog: The Exercise Files: A Researcher’s Perspective.
• Hackney ME, PD Gladiators: Combating Parkinson's Disease with Vigorous Exercise, Ancient Martial Arts Proves To Be Modern Medicine for PD
• Hackney, ME, PD Gladiators: Comating Parkinson's Disease with Vigorous Exercise, The Exercise Files: Why Tango May Benefit Balance in Those with PD
• Hackney, ME, PD Gladiators: Comating Parkinson's Disease with Vigorous Exercise,  Exercise Bolsters Cognition for Those with Parkinson’s Disease

Recent Media Appearances 

• ​Tamara Newell, 6 Reasons to Start Pilates at any Age | AARP
• How Dance Promotes Brain Health | Brain and Life
• This type of exercise might be better for your brain than biking or jogging | CNN
• Movement, Mobility, and Cognition with Madeleine Hackney, PhD | Emory BrainTalk Live
• From Dance Floor to Lab Coat | Foundation for Atlanta Veterans Education and Research (FAVER)
• You Think, So You Can Dance?’ Science Is on It | New York Times
• Ballet is a Great Workout for an Aging Body | New York Times
• Robot-led exercise benefits people with Parkinson’s | VA Office of Research and Development News Brief

Archive: News Spotlights

• How dancing the tango may help people with Parkinsons Disease (Fox 5 Atlanta News)
• Interview with Madeleine Hackney at the Karolinska
• Hackney lectures on adapted tango at the Karolinska
• Community-based Adapted Tango Dancing for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults

Awards

• Madeleine Hackney nominated for Groundbreakers Award by Atlanta magazine

Madeleine Hackney, PhD
mehackn@emory.edu