Ordered by weight (if set) and creation date.
Research Summary
Dr. Shune’s research program is aimed at mitigating the deleterious effects of both healthy and pathologic aging on the eating process. Under- and malnutrition, weight loss, dehydration, and declines in the rates of social interaction and social network size are prevalent and debilitating concerns for older adults. The shared mealtime provides a particularly potent opportunity to address the complex relationships between social interaction and health-relevant biopsychosocial symptoms and outcomes. Dr. Shune is focused on integrating the physiologic components of swallowing with a more comprehensive view of the mealtime process (e.g., cognition, communication, socialization/social relationships). Ultimately, she is interested in translating this research into clinical practices that can improve both safety and quality of life for patients and caregivers across the lifespan.