Visit us on Facebook Visit us on Linked In Visit us on Twitter Visit us on Instagram View our RSS Feed 
Apr
27
Posted by Michele Spatz on April 27th, 2020
Posted in: All of Us, Citizen Science, Health Literacy, News From NNLM PNR, Public Libraries
Tags: All of Us, citizen science, consumer health, health literacy, public library
Stall Catchers is an easy online game developed to help accelerate Alzheimer’s research. The game was created by the scientists at Cornell University to support their EyesOnAlz research project. According to the SciStarter.org project description, Stall Catchers focuses on one aspect of Alzheimer’s Disease: reduced blood flow in the brain. This symptom of Alzheimer’s has been known about for years, but, until now, nobody knew why reduced blood flow happens in the brain. Scientists are now finding a connection between blood flow and memory and they are testing that connection by inviting ordinary people to help by playing a simple game called Stall Catchers. When blood flow is stuck, the scientists call that a “stall” thus the name of the game, “Stall Catchers.”
How does it work? Stall Catchers’ participants watch videos of mice brains and “catch” blood flow stalls. Not a neuroscientist or animal biologist? No worries, participants are taught how to score blood vessels as “flowing” or “stalled.” Responses are shared with the EyesOnAlz scientists who use this data to help them fully understand how stalls are contributing to Alzheimer’s. The goal is to use this knowledge to uncover potential treatment targets in the brain. To play, participants, need a Smartphone (or computer) and an internet connection. This citizen science project is important, easy and fun!
So, who’s ready to advance scientific discovery from the comfort of their living room and help Alzheimer’s research? Stall Catchers, that’s who!
ABOUT Michele Spatz