This is a hybrid event, which will be delivered on the University of Bradford campus (Richmond Building, Room E59) and online via Teams.

Estimating impaired Activities of Daily Living through Degenerative Joint Disease to identify disability in a skeletal sample

Bio
Jess Gavin is a passionate, budding, disabled scientist. She was diagnosed with a neuro-muscular disability called Dystonia at the age of 5 and now takes pride in sharing her disabled experience throughout her work. Her current research interests include biological and forensic anthropology – focusing on challenging conventional thought patterns and looking at creating innovative systems and methods of understanding life. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in archaeology, anthropology and psychology, a Bachelor of Health Science Honours degree in Forensic Science and a Master of Science through Wits University. As of 2024, she is a PhD candidate in the School of Anatomical Sciences. Jess Gavin is affiliated with the Human Variation and Identification Research Unit and the Human Decedent Identification Unit at Wits. At present, she enjoys exploring disabled narratives of individuals from the past and retelling these life stories that have been long forgotten.

Abstract
Degenerative joint disease (DJD) is often used as an indicator of age, yet these changes also reflect the living experience of individuals as they progress through life. This study set out to assess the impact of DJD in a sample of modern southern African skeletal remains and the subsequent effects on their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). A novel scoring system was created, translating DJD scores into ADL limitations – by quantifying DJD severity and frequency in specific joints and relating it to limitations in completing respective ADLs. A sample of 150 individuals was assessed for signs of DJD in all major joint regions. Results indicated that the shoulder often (43%) presented with the most severe DJD score across the sample. For the axial skeleton, the lumbar vertebra was most affected with 81% showing signs of DJD. Generally, females presented with higher severity scores for DJD across all appendicular joints, whereas males presented with a higher severity frequency across the lumbar vertebra (34%). Subsequently, the most moderate impacts were in transferring (53%), walking (51%), and eating (41%) ADLs for all individuals. This study highlights the value of understanding trends in joint pathology and resulting activity limitations within past and present populations.