Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
Dr. Colón-Semenza participated in a press conference on April 16th, 2026, at the Capitol in Hartford where she spoke on Parkinson's disease, the importance of exercise and physical therapy, and the need for legislators to increase funding to assess the specific needs of individuals living with Parkinson's disease in CT, as a member of the Connecticut Parkinson Disease Coalition.
To access the press release, click here.
To access the press conference, click here.
Paria Darbandsari, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Kinesiology, received second place in the FRAME contest for her photograph, “Light moves.” The image captures a participant with Parkinson’s disease performing large-amplitude, high-velocity movements during a long-exposure photography session, creating abstract patterns of light. This work is part of the rehabilitation project “Movement, Creativity, and Community: Improving Gait and Quality of Life in People with Parkinson Disease through Photography and Collective Experience,” which explores how integrating creativity and personal agency into physical therapy can improve gait and overall well-being for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Learn more about Paria's work here.
Jessah Doctor, a third-year DPT student, presented his poster, “Examining the Perceptions and Understanding of Physical Therapy Among Individuals Who Are African American or Black: A Qualitative Study” at the Health Equity Symposium. This event brings together researchers, students, and community members to share work aimed at addressing health disparities and advancing equitable care. His research emphasizes the importance of understanding diverse perspectives and lived experiences to help inform more inclusive and effective physical therapy practices.
On February 12, 2026, Dr. Colón-Semenza attended the APTA Combined Sections Meeting where she received an award for Excellence in Advancing Belonging and Culture in Physical Therapy Research from the Academy of Research.
On February 14, 2026, Paria Darbandsari attended the APTA Combined Sections Meeting where she presented her award winning poster on the Effect of Telerehabilitation in Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.