Graduate Studies Reports Access
Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - GMS6756
Tracking Number - 3052
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Current Status:
Approved by SCNS - 2013-04-22
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: to GC 1/25/13. Elective MSMS - MNM Conc. To GC 1/25/13. GC approved 1/28/13. to Sys 1/28/13. to SCNS 2/6/13. Approved eff 4/1/13
Detail Information
- Date & Time Submitted: 2012-12-10
- Department: Deans Office
- College: MD
- Budget Account Number: 6108-000
- Contact Person: Michael J. Barber, D.Phil.
- Phone: 8139749908
- Email: mbarber@health.usf.edu
- Prefix: GMS
- Number: 6756
- Full Title: Brain Fitness Therapies
- Credit Hours: 3
- Section Type: C -
Class Lecture (Primarily)
- Is the course title variable?: N
- Is a permit required for registration?: Y
- Are the credit hours variable?: N
- Is this course repeatable?:
- If repeatable, how many times?: 0
- Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Brain Fitness Therapies
- Course Online?: C -
Face-to-face (0% online)
- Percentage Online: 0
- Grading Option:
R - Regular
- Prerequisites: None
- Corequisites: None
- Course Description: This course is designed to provide a detailed understanding of the neuroanatomical underpinnings of disease and important facets of long-term memory impairments and how to develop effective therapies to treat declining memory fidelity and dementia.
- Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Replacing Selected Topics with Permanent number; already listed in program
- What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? Metabolic Nutritional Medicine represents a new and evolving discipline in the medical sciences that deals with an integrative and functional medicine approach to healthcare and disease prevention The discipline combines evidence based medicine with new approaches to therapeutics and patient wellness. Nutrition and metabolism represent a critical approaches to understanding and controlling obesity The Metabolic Nutritional Medicine concentration currently has 110 registered students and approx 14 registered for the first course offering.
- Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 1 time
- What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) None
- Objectives: The course objectives include:
Exploration of the important process involved in how the brain learns.
Discussion of the primacy-recency effect in memory management.
Discussion of the effects of medium chain triglycerides, ketone esters and ketogenic diets on brain metabolism.
Discussion of how stress and the HPA-axis affect brain function, fitness and memory function.
Compare and contrast the function of the male and female brains.
Define the concept of brain fitness.
Examine the characteristics of the various types of intelligence.
Discussions on the role of toxins, exercise and nutrients in brain function.
Defining the characteristics of Alzheimers disease and exploring preventive approaches to retard disease progression.
- Learning Outcomes: At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:
•Discuss the results of clinical trials on nutrients that help preserve cognitive function
•Examine how good sleep hygiene helps maintain memory
•Understand the role that exercise and physical activity have in preserving memory
•Discuss which nutritional deficiencies can lead to memory loss
•Recognize potential future neuroprotective therapies for neurodegenerative disorders and stroke
•Develop creative engagement and how it helps support resilience and neuroprotection
•Describe a road map for healthy brain aging
•Discuss how cardiovascular risk factors and cerebrovascular disease burden is associated with memory loss including hypertension, obesity, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, depression, and hyperhomocysteinemia
•Discuss new treatment modalities to prevent and treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in relationship to memory maintenance
•Acquire knowledge on the effect that head injury, alcohol, and environmental toxins have on memory
•Discover preventative measures and treatments for patients with head injuries, excessive alcohol intake, and exposure to environmental toxins
•Identify optimal foods for patients to eat that help with brain fitness
•Discuss the role that excitotoxins play in memory loss and how to prevent exposure
•Describe brain exercises to maintain and improve memory
•Discuss the role that excessive sugar intake has on the genesis of cognitive decline
•Explore the part that allergies may play in memory loss and how to treat them effectively
•Identify medications that can cause cognitive decline and how to decrease their side effects
•Discuss the role that stress plays in memory loss and new therapies to help the patient manage stress
- Major Topics: The major course topics include:
How the Brain Learns: New & Exciting Findings.
Medium Chain Triglycerides, Ketone Esters & Ketogenic Diets.
How Stress & the HPA-Axis Affect Brain Function, Fitness & Memory.
The Male & Female Brain.
Brain Fitness & the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
Brain Fitness: The Role of Toxins, Exercise & Nutrients.
The Gut-Brain-Microbiome Axis: Leaky Gut & Leaky Brain.
Bats in the Belfry.
Hacking the Brain: Harnessing Neuroplasticity.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease.
A Historical Perspective in Breakthroughs.
Insulin Resistance & Alzheimer’s.
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth Three Pounds of Cure.
- Textbooks: •Gardner, H., "Frames of Mind". 3rd Ed. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2011. – ISBN: 978-0465024339
•Sousa, D., "How the Brain Learns". 4th Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2011. – ISBN: 978-1412997973
- Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: Additional and appropriate readings will be identified and posted on Blackboard.
- Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: The course requires the completion of 3 case study research papers 15% each 45% of grade. Comprehensive midterm exam 23% of grade. Comprehensive final exam 23% of grade. 5 webcasts 9% of grade.
- Assignments, Exams and Tests: The course requires completion of 4 unit self-assessment quizzes, 3 case studies research papers, a comprehensive midterm exam, a comprehensive final exam and 5 webcasts.
- Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,
http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)
Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)
In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.
- Policy on Make-up Work: For documented student absences, such as for illness, students will be allowed to make up any missing case reports or exams. Students will be required to abide by USF policy on academic integrity as described in course syllabus.
- Program This Course Supports: M.S in Medical Sciences- Metabolic & Nutritional Medicine concentration.
- Course Concurrence Information: None
- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.