Honors Thesis Defense: Shannon Carey

“Brain, Gut, and Body: Understanding the Impact of Gut Microbiome Composition and Dance/Movement Therapy on ALS Progression.” My thesis aims to gain a new perspective on the relationship between neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, and gut microbiome composition. My research combines ALS mutant strains of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans and bacteria found in lower concentrations in the gut microbiome of ALS patients to distinguish differences in overall physiology. Additionally, this thesis navigates Dance/Movement Therapy as a form of therapy to relieve the physical and psychological stressors of ALS.