Clinical Research Directory

Aquatic Power Training Dosing Strategies and Creatine Supplementation in Older Adults

This randomized controlled trial will investigate the effects of different aquatic power training dosing strategies and creatine supplementation on functional and multisystem adaptations in community-dwelling older adults. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of five parallel groups: (1) aquatic power training regulated according to rating of perceived exertion during the first repetition (RPE-1) plus placebo; (2) aquatic power training using a conventional time-based dosing strategy plus placebo; (3) time-based aquatic power training plus creatine supplementation; (4) sedentary control plus placebo; or (5) sedentary control plus creatine supplementation. The intervention will last 16 weeks. Aquatic training will be performed three times per week for approximately 60 minutes per session. Participants allocated to creatine supplementation will receive 3 g/day of creatine monohydrate, whereas the corresponding placebo groups will receive a visually indistinguishable placebo following the same supplementation schedule. The primary outcomes will assess body composition, muscle strength, and functional capacity. Additional outcomes will examine bone health, cardiometabolic health, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, immune function, neurobiological and cognitive function, quality of life, sleep quality, psychological status, fatigue, and affective state. Assessments will be performed before and after the 16-week intervention.

TCM Formula vs. HMB in Pre-Frail Elders: Muscle Strength and Bone Status

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of a standardized Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula versus beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) on muscle strength and bone health in pre-frail older adults . Pre-frailty is a critical stage where functional decline may still be reversed through proper intervention. The study will enroll 90 participants aged 65 years or older who meet the criteria for pre-frailty. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the TCM group (receiving a standardized herbal powder formula) or the HMB group (receiving nutritional supplement tablets) for 24 weeks . The primary objective is to evaluate the change in handgrip strength from baseline to Week 12 . Researchers will also assess changes in skeletal muscle mass, bone mineral density, and overall physical performance . The goal is to determine if the TCM formula is an effective alternative or complementary intervention for managing geriatric frailty.

PET Imaging in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA)

Background: Some people experience cognitive decline as they age. That is, they lose memory, problem-solving, and other mental abilities. Amyloids are groups of proteins that develop in the brain and increase in number as people age. Researchers want to use imaging scans to track amyloids in people s brains over time. Their goal is to find out if any changes are related to cognitive decline or other medical issues. Objective: To learn how amyloids may affect brain structure and function as people age. Eligibility: People aged 55 years and older who are enrolled in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Design: Participants will have imaging scans and other tests every 1 to 4 years, depending on their age. Those 80 and older will be scanned yearly. These scans will be done during regular BLSA visits. The scans will be positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET CT). Participants will be given fluid through a tube inserted into a vein in their arm. The fluid is a tracer that will cause the amyloids to light up in the images. Then they will lie on a bed with their head inside a PET CT scanner. They will lie still for about 30 minutes. Participants will have tests to assess their memory and other mental skills. They will answer questions about their mood and daily life. These tests will take about 40 minutes to complete; they may be done in person or by phone. Participants will give a contact number for someone who can answer questions about the participant s daily routine. These questions may be answered in person or by phone. Participants will be in this study for 5 years....

OPTIMAL Motor Learning in Table Tennis: A fNIRS Study

This study investigates how OPTIMAL theory influences table tennis backhand learning in young, healthy older, and mild cognitively impaired older adults. Meanwhile, we investigate the neural mechanisms of motor skill acquisition across different ages. This study utilizes functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor brain activity. Beyond immediate performance, the research focuses on Retention (sustained skill over time) and Transfer (application to novel tasks) as critical indicators of true motor learning. To ensure objective results, a double-blind design is employed, where both participants and data analysts remain blinded to group assignments during behavioral and fNIRS data processing to minimize bias.

Effect of Animation-Based Digital Education on Risk Knowledge and Frailty in Older Adults

With the global aging trend, the management of geriatric risks faced by older adults and the effectiveness of health education for this population are gaining increasing importance. Literature indicates that health education for older adults, when delivered through methods that support individual engagement and the use of digital tools, yields more effective results in terms of learning and behavior change. This doctoral study aims to evaluate the effect of a digital education model, structured based on the Health Belief Model and developed using branching scenario animation technique, on geriatric risk knowledge level and frailty status among older adults residing in nursing homes. The study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial in three nursing homes in Istanbul, with measurements at baseline (T0), immediately post-intervention (T1), 1-month follow-up (T2), and 3-month follow-up (T3). Based on power analysis, 66 participants will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups (33 per group) using block randomization. The intervention group will receive scenario-based digital animation education developed on the Vyond platform and structured according to the theoretical components of the Health Belief Model. The control group will receive standard care during the study period and will be offered the same digital animation education after completion of all assessments (post 3-month follow-up). The primary outcome is geriatric risk knowledge level, assessed using an interactive digital game called "Knowledge Wheel." Secondary outcomes include frailty status, measured by the Edmonton Frail Scale, and technology acceptance. Changes in knowledge and frailty levels measured through assessment tools will reveal the short- and medium-term effects of the education. Thus, the model's impact on health-related behavior change in older adults will be comprehensively evaluated. The unique aspect of this study is that it will be one of the first experimental studies to implement an interactive scenario-based digital education model in older adults. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of age-friendly health education models.

Evolution and Adaptation to Caregiver of a Socio-geriatric Evaluation

With the COVID-19 pandemic, elderly people (EP) living at home have seen their health deteriorated, thus increasing their needs in support and care. Indeed, while it was estimated that before the pandemic120 000 unattended living at home EP required care and services (taking bath, access to medication and food, etc.), the number doubled after COVID-19. Therefore, the waiting list for socio-medical services for unattended vulnerable clientele without a family doctor grew from 1300 à 1715 EP in a couple of months during the pandemic. With these numbers, it becomes clear that an intervention is needed. Truly, the Institut National d'Excellence en Santé et Services Sociaux (INESSS) conclude that it was pivotal to first identify the most vulnerable EP and second re-orient them according to their needs. Thus the investigator developed the Évaluation et orientation SOcio-GÉRiatrique (ESOGER) questionnaire available on a secure digital plateform enabling both a rapid evaluation and intervention to asses EP needs and provide the adequate ressources. Investigator's previous research has demonstrated that ESOGER is one of the rare clinical tools of first contact in telehealth while being global, multidimensional, and equitable. For this study, the investigator aims to evaluate the effect of ESOGER on EP physical and mental health, loss of autonomy, social isolation, quality of life and ressources consumption.

Passive Limb Movement: A Tool to Assess Vascular Health and Guide Rehabilitation

Brief Summary: Current U.S. Veteran demographics reveal an aging population with significant cardiovascular dysfunction. This ultimately manifests as mobility limitation, inactivity, and a subsequent worsening of cardiovascular disease (CVD) that often leads to death. However, despite this clear negative cycle of events, there is not a single clinically accepted, and therefore routinely utilized, method of assessing vascular health. As nitric oxide (NO) is anti-atherogenic and cardioprotective, identifying an in vivo bioassay of NO bioavailability has significant worth in this arena. Fueled predominantly by the VA Merit Award prior to this renewal application, single passive leg movement (sPLM) and the subsequent blood flow increase, measured non-invasively by ultrasound Doppler in the common femoral artery, is emerging as a method by which vascular endothelial function and therefore NO bioavailability can be determined. However, although this work has yielded an initial characterization of sPLM and established this method to be a novel, valid, and a clinically relevant approach to determine vascular health, further understanding of the sPLM response with advancing age and, ultimately, its implementation and assessment in both rehabilitation and clinical arenas is still necessary. With the growing interest in personalized medicine, the development of tools, such as sPLM, that allow individualized assessments to guide the physician, the patient, and the rehabilitative team, are essential. Therefore, two specific aims are proposed that will address the Central Hypothesis that the sPLM paradigm provides a clinically meaningful assessment of endothelial function. First, cardiac rehabilitation will be assessed by sPLM in the elderly, and, coupled with studies in the young, will elucidate the predominant pathways responsible for the change in endothelial function with aging and rehabilitation. Second, the CVD diagnostic value of the sPLM assessment of endothelial function will be evaluated relative to classic measures and markers of subclinical disease in order accelerate the inclusion of endothelial dysfunction as a CVD risk factor. The proposed studies aim to catalyze the transition of the assessment of endothelial function by sPLM from research to clinical practice.

Passive Heat Therapy for Lowering Systolic Blood Pressure and Improving Vascular Function in Mid-life and Older Adults

This study aims to determine the effects of \~12 weeks of repeated hot water immersion ("heat therapy") vs. thermoneutral water immersion on blood pressure and vascular function in late middle-life to older (≥40 years) adults. The study also aims to determine the effects of \~12 weeks of heat therapy on fluid cognitive and cerebrovascular function.

Aging and Disease Course: Contributions to Lifespan Neurobiology of Schizophrenia

The 2020 NIMH Strategic Plan for Research calls for investigations targeting neurobiology of mental illness across the lifespan. Growing evidence suggests that lifespan neurobiology of schizophrenia (SZ) incorporates two distinct dimensions: aging and disease course. However, their clinical correlates, associated biomarker trajectories, and implications for treatment are unknown. This study will investigate differential aspects of SZ neurobiology captured by aging and disease course, in order to develop specific biomarkers which may offer actionable targets for SZ stage-dependent intervention. The study is predicated on a novel mechanistic Model of SZ Trajectories across the Adult Lifespan, positing distinct biological fingerprints within the anterior limbic system for aging and disease course in SZ: (1) alterations in the circuit's function and structure that occur earlier in the lifespan and are larger in magnitude than the alterations expected with normal aging (accelerated aging dimension); and (2) regionally-specific anterior limbic "hyperactivity" in early SZ, with a subsequent transformation into "hypoactivity" in advanced SZ (disease course dimension). In a sample of SZ and matched healthy controls (n=168, 84/group) aged 18-75 years the investigators will ascertain a broad panel of biomarkers \[via multimodal brain imaging: optimized 1H-MRS, high-resolution task-based fMRI, perfusion (Vascular Space Occupancy) and structural MRI\], along with comprehensive cognitive and clinical assessments. All measures will be acquired at baseline and repeated at 2-year longitudinal follow-up. Using cutting-edge computational approaches, the study will examine (i) effects of aging and SZ course on anterior limbic system biomarkers; (ii) lifespan trajectories for different biomarkers; (iii) patterns of limbic system biomarkers in age- and SZ course-based subgroups (e.g., Younger vs. Older, Early-Course vs. Advanced SZ), as well as in data-driven subgroups (e.g., those with vs. without accelerated aging profiles); and (iv) associations between biomarkers and cognitive and clinical outcomes. This research will advance the field by providing novel biomarkers that capture unique neurobiological contributions of aging and disease course in SZ, and will motivate future studies on SZ mechanisms across the lifespan and development of precision treatments.

Wild Blueberries and Cardiovascular Health in Middle-aged/Older Men and Postmenopausal Women

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Aging is the primary risk factor for CVD, in large part due to adverse modifications to the arteries. These modifications include vascular endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness. Vascular endothelial dysfunction is an initiating step in atherosclerosis, and is primarily caused by reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability secondary to excessive superoxide-driven oxidative stress and inflammation. Endothelial dysfunction leads to arterial stiffness and the development of hypertension (HTN) which further increases CVD. Greater than 2/3 of the US population has elevated blood pressure or stage 1-HTN. As such, interventions that improve vascular endothelial dysfunction by increasing NO bioavailability and mitigating excessive oxidative stress and inflammation are needed. Blueberries are rich in bioactive compounds including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and pterostilbene. These compounds and their metabolites have been shown to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation. The primary goal of this study is to assess the efficacy of blueberries to improve reduce blood pressure and improve vascular endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness in middle-aged/older men with elevated blood pressure or stage 1-HTN.

Association of Leucocyte Telomere Length With DPAS Score in Skin Aging

The goal is to know the profile of photoaging based on clinical examination, Dermoscopic Photoaging Scale and leucocyte telomere length The main questions of Research are: * what is the profile of photoaging based on clinical examination results in skin aging * what is the profile of photoaging based on DPAS Score in skin aging * what is the profile of leucocyte telomere length in skin aging Participants are female and male with the age of 29-31 years old and 59-61 years old. They will be examined by dermatovenereologist and will be photographed in 5 positions, they will get dermocopy on forehead, right cheek , left cheek, and chin, and their blood will be drawn about 10 mL in order to get the profile of leucocyte telomere length

Combination Gerotherapeutic Interventions for Healthspan Improvement

This study is a 90-day interventional, randomized, controlled pilot trial exploring multi-modal gerotherapies and their impact on longevity-related outcomes. In this proof-of-concept phase, a small sample size of up to 30 subjects (10 subjects in each arm) will be randomized into one of the three arms: 1) Control, 2) Multi-therapy (B12, Naltrexone, Metformin, and NAD+), or 3) Comprehensive Therapy (Rapamycin, Naltrexone, Metformin, B12, NAD+, GSH, and Infinite Supplement).

Emotional Well-being and Measures of Healthy Aging

This randomized control study is designed to understand the role of a positive psychology intervention (PARK: Positive Affect Regulation sKills) in biological aging and well-being. PARK provides a series of positive emotion skills in a self-guided online format, making the program accessible and convenient. Our main aims are: Aim 1: To explore the effects of PARK on psychological well-being (e.g., depression, anxiety, positive affect). Aim 2: To explore the effects of PARK on biological age as defined by DNA methylation (DNAm) GrimAge and electrocardiogram-age (ECG-age), as well as physiological well-being in adults (e.g., cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal functioning, etc.).

Effect of HMB Supplementation and Vivifrail Exercise on Body Composition, Handgrip Strength and Physical Performance in Women Over 60 Years of Age

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether taking a daily supplement of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) while following a structured exercise program improves body composition, muscle strength and physical performance in older women. The main question it aims to answer is: does HMB (3 g per day) combined with the Vivifrail multicomponent exercise program improve handgrip strength more than the same exercise program combined with maltodextrin without HMB? Researchers will also compare body composition and physical performance between groups. Participants will take the assigned supplement every day for 12 weeks, attend three supervised Vivifrail exercise sessions per week at the Casa Club de la Tercera Edad (DIF Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico), and complete evaluations at baseline, week 6 and week 12.

Intergenerational Interaction Program for Nursing Home Residents and Nursing Students

This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effect of a 6-week intergenerational interaction program, conducted between older adults living in a nursing home and nursing students, on joy of life and loneliness in older adults and on ageism in nursing students. Older adults living in Istanbul Darülaceze will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. In the intervention group, each older adult will be paired with a nursing student, and the same pair will meet once a week for about 2 hours over 6 weeks. The pairs will jointly decide on activities such as games (e.g., backgammon, dominoes, puzzles), reading and cultural sharing, creative work (e.g., drawing, collage, life-story albums), and sharing skills and experiences. Each session will end with a structured, mutual reflection. Older adults in the control group will continue their usual daily routine and will be offered the same program after the study ends, if they wish. Joy of life and loneliness in older adults, and ageism in nursing students, will be measured before and after the program.

Ageing and Health. Spanish Longitudinal Study

Ageing with Health is a longitudinal cohort study aimed to examine trajectories of health, disability and wellbeing and their determinants for Spanish ageing population. The data that makes up the baseline was collected from a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized adults as part of the "Collaborative Research on Aging in Europe (COURAGE in Europe)" project between July 2011 and May 2012. The second wave was carried out as part of the "Age with Health" project between December 2014 and June 2015, and three years later, in 2018, the third wave was carried out. In 2019-2021, a new cohort of participants were brought in (2019 cohort), some of whom were interviewed again by telephone during the first Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, in early 2020. In 2022, the fourth wave of the 2011 cohort was evaluated, and in 2023, the second wave of the 2019 cohort was evaluated. Finally, in 2025, the fifth wave of the 2011 cohort and the third wave of the 2019 cohort were evaluated, which are the last follow-ups in this study.

Precision Microbiota Interventions for Senoreduction Trial

People with HIV who drink alcohol are at increased risk for accelerated aging biology, including increased immune senescence. This randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial evaluates two generally recognized as safe (GRAS) microbiota-targeted interventions on immune senescence biomarkers.

Cerebello-Cortical Connectivity and Balance Adaptation in Younger and Older Adults

This study will investigate how communication between the cerebellum and cerebral cortex contributes to balance control and adaptation in younger and older adults. The study will enroll healthy younger adults ages 21-35 years and older adults ages 65-95 years. Participants will complete a single testing session that includes clinical balance assessments, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and reactive balance testing using an instrumented treadmill. Cerebello-cortical connectivity will be measured before and after reactive balance testing using cerebellar brain inhibition (CBI) and the cerebellar TMS-evoked potential P80. The study will examine how these measures relate to cortical activity, balance recovery, and adaptation across repeated perturbations, and whether these relationships differ between younger and older adults.

Iterative Design Trial to Assess Dietary Supplements and Other Aging-targeted Therapies

This is a multi-cohort, open-label, adaptive trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and biological effects of dietary supplements and other aging-targeted therapies. Cohort 1 is a single-arm, open-label, intrapatient dose-escalation study evaluating the effects of escalating doses of spermidine in 10 participants. Patients will have baseline blood drawn and subsequently start daily administration of spermidine. They will receive capsules for three consecutive 28-day courses with escalating doses of 40mg, 120mg, and 400mg. Subsequent cohorts will evaluate additional agents.

China Healthy Aging and Fitness Longitudinal Study

The China Healthy Aging and Fitness Longitudinal Study (CHALF) is a nationwide prospective observational study designed to investigate how physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness are associated with health and aging among older adults in China. The study plans to recruit approximately 8,960 adults aged 60-79 years from 14 provinces and provincial-level regions across China. Participants will complete questionnaires about their physical activity, exercise habits, lifestyle, nutrition, and health. They will also undergo standardized physical fitness assessments and blood tests. Participants will be followed over time to track changes in physical fitness and health. Follow-up assessments will examine how physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness are associated with physical function, chronic diseases, and other health outcomes. The findings will help improve understanding of healthy aging and provide evidence to support physical fitness monitoring and exercise guidance for older adults in China.

Effects of Different Amounts of Plyometric Exercise Without Jumping in Physically Inactive Older Adults

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether different amounts of plyometric exercise without jumping can improve lower-limb muscle strength, power, and muscle and tendon mechanical properties in sedentary and/or physically inactive older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does performing a higher amount of plyometric exercise without jumping lead to greater improvements in functional muscle strength and power than performing a lower amount? Do different amounts of exercise produce different changes in the mechanical properties of muscles and tendons? Researchers will compare three groups: a high-volume exercise group, a low-volume exercise group, and a control group that will not receive the exercise intervention. This comparison will help determine how the amount of exercise influences physical function and muscle and tendon properties. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Complete physical assessments before and after the eight-week study period, including tests of lower-limb strength, power, and muscle and tendon mechanical properties. If assigned to an exercise group, participate in supervised plyometric exercise sessions without jumping twice a week for eight weeks. If assigned to the control group, continue their usual daily activities without participating in the exercise program during the study.

Brain Activity During Complex Walking in People With Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes

Every-day life means being part of a complex environment and performing complex tasks that usually involve a combination of motor and cognitive skills. However, the process of aging or the sequelae of neurological diseases such as atypical Parkinson's disease (APD) compromises motor-cognitive interaction necessary for an independent lifestyle. While motor-cognitive performance has been identified as an important goal for sustained health across different clinical populations, little is known about underlying brain function leading to these difficulties and how to best target these motor-cognitive difficulties in the context of rehabilitation and exercise interventions. The challenge of improving treatments of motor-cognitive difficulties (such as dual-tasking and navigation) is daunting, and an important step is arriving at a method that accurately portrays these impairments in an ecologically valid state. The investigators aim therefore to explore brain function during complex walking in healthy and APD by investigating the effects of age and neurological disease on motor-cognitive performance and its neural correlates during three conditions of complex walking (dual-task walking, navigation and a combination of both) using non-invasive measures of brain activity (functional near infrared spectrometry, fNIRS) and advanced gait analysis in real time in older healthy adults and people with APD.

Systemic and Topical Geroprotective Rejuvenation Assessed by START/REST Aging Clocks

This study tests whether certain medicines and a skin treatment can slow down or partly reverse the body's aging process. As people age, the activity of their genes changes in predictable ways. Researchers can now measure a person's "biological age" from these gene-activity patterns in skin and blood. This study uses that measurement to see whether treatment can lower a person's biological age compared with their own starting point. Adults in the study take geroprotective ("age-protecting") agents by mouth or by injection. A separate skin serum containing small anti-aging peptides is applied to certain areas of skin, and those treated areas are compared with untreated areas on the same person. Skin and blood samples are taken at set times to measure biological age and markers of cell aging before, during, and after treatment. The main goal is to find out whether treatment lowers measured biological age in skin and blood. The study also looks at whether the treatments are safe and well tolerated.

The Effects of Cosmetic Acupuncture

The study recruited 40 subjects and divided them into an intervention group and a waiting list group in a 1:1 ratio using a randomized controlled trial. The changes in skin health and aging-related indicators before and after TCM cosmetic acupuncture treatment were analyzed. The subjects are of all genders and aged between 30 and 60 years old. The TCM cosmetic acupuncture treatment is arranged twice a week for a three-week course. The study will conduct a skin test before and after the TCM cosmetic acupuncture, and use the Antera 3D smart skin detector to comprehensively evaluate the subjects' skin condition. Antera 3D Skin Detector can detect multiple skin indicators, including wrinkle depth, skin tone uniformity and subtle changes in the skin surface, melanin, red pigment, etc. After the treatment, the subjects' acceptance and satisfaction with TCM cosmetic acupuncture were collected.