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Candace S. Brown (Dace), PhD, serves as an Assistant Professor at University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health. She is also affiliated with the Interdisciplinary Program in Gerontology and Department of Sociology at Charlotte; and, works with the Motivated Cognition and Aging Brain Lab (MCAB Lab) (PI: Greg Samanez-Larkin) at Duke University. Her teaching efforts at Charlotte are focused on health and aging among all populations. Her research interests lie in aging and motivation to exercise using mixed methodologies. Dr. Brown currently uses her knowledge in sociological and psychological motivation and physical exercise to conduct individual research. She assists in the MCAB Lab research studies through learning how to recognize neuroscience processes related to motivation, and those methodological skills that will enhance her neuroscience research repertoire.
Areas of Research Interest
Gerontology
The study of gerontology is gaining interest as the number of people, in the world, age. It is increasingly more important for industries to understand how to effectively demonstrate their support of those who are midlife and older. I especially love the study of gerontology because it can be intertwined into any discipline or interest because everyone is aging- until you are not.
Diversity and representation
Research related to aging, exercise, and motivation (in the United States) has mainly focused on those of the majority. I prefer to conduct research with those who can create a more diverse representation of the melting pot our country really is. Besides, doing research with the same mindset as others is so bland to me. I like flavor- and to think outside the box.
exercise
Exercise is a subset of physical activity and one I engage in through the sport of triathlon. Research has established how exercise can improve one’s social, psychological, physical, mental, and spiritual well being. My research goal is to create a model which bridges various research fields to change behaviors and increase engagement in exercise.
INTER-MULTIDISCIPLINARY science
Gerontology is a multi-interdisciplinary science. It’s perfect for me because I am unable to stay focused on one thing. I was once told this would make my research agenda more difficult. It hasn’t. If anything, it’s allowed me to be enriched by others. Aging is not discipline specific- as all things intertwine with each other. So why should my research be?
motivation
Motivation is at the heart of every choice that we make. Whether it is internal or external, motivation helps to move us through life. How motivation affects participation to exercise is part of my research interests. I believe understanding how one is motivated to exercise can either change or regulate life choices we make to engage in exercise activity.
Psycho, social, neuro behaviors
The three main disciplines I use in my research are psychology, sociology, and neuroscience. They individually have deep roots in their connection with aging, exercise, and motivation. However, I am fascinated by the many ways they are interconnected. It is through these three disciplines that I will create a model which will increase exercise engagement.
FUNDED RESEARCH
1) UNC Charlotte's Health Risk Assessment Community Outreach Program
Funding: The Sharon
Collaborators: Dr. Trudy Moore-Harrison (PI) & Dr. Yinghao Pan (Co-I)
2) A Multifaceted Digital Health Platform to Advance Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Monitoring, Safety, Care and Research
funding: Nia
Collaborators: Mr. Jon Corky (PI) & Dr. Colby Ford (Amissa, LLC)
3) Musculoskeletal Injury, Mental Health, and Treatment Seeking among Active Duty Service Members on Limited Duty: A Mixed-Methods Assessment
funding: department of defense, navy cip
Collaborators: Capt. Michael Franks (NMRTCC: Portsmouth) & Dr. Robert Cramer (Charlotte) (PIs), Dr. Matthew C. Hoch & Dr. Nicholas R. Heebner (University of Kentucky), Dr. Michelle Hilgeman (VAMC: Tuscaloosa)
4) The Effect of Exercise During a Pandemic
funding: unc charlotte
Collaborators: Dr. Katherine Ramos (Duke University), Dr. Franck Diaz-Garelli (Medtronic Diabetes), Dr. Colby Ford (Amissa, LLC), Kira Chiles & Joseph Thompson (Charlotte)
5) The Effects of Aging on Episodic Memory-Dependent Decision Making
funding: nih
Collaborators: Dr. Greg Samanez-Larkin & Dr. Roberto Cabeza: (PIs) (Duke University)
“If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little, and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.”