Clinical Research Directory

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) to Slow Biological Aging

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate if multi-dose fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) capsules can safely and effectively slow down biological aging and reduce chronic low-grade inflammation in adults aged 45 to 80 with metabolic neglect. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can oral FMT capsules significantly slow the biological pace of aging as measured by the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock? * Can FMT successfully reduce chronic systemic inflammation (measured by markers such as suPAR, IL-6, and hs-CRP)? Researchers will compare participants receiving the active product to those receiving a matching placebo to see if the microbiome intervention improves metabolic health and cognitive function via the gut-brain axis. Participants will: * Undergo a short-term preparation phase involving targeted antibiotics and standard bowel cleansing. * Receive an 2 initial induction doses of active product (or placebo) followed by 5 regular booster cycles administered approximately every 4 weeks. * Attend periodic clinical visits for physical examinations, blood draws, stool sample collection (at home), and cognitive testing using the CANTAB platform and MoCA scale. * Maintain a participant diary to record adverse events (AE), product administration, stool sample collection, and dietary habits.

Intervention Program for Psychological Well-Being in Institutionalized Older Adults Through Virtual Reality

This randomized controlled trial (N = 60) evaluates the acceptability and efficacy of an immersive virtual reality (IVR) intervention designed to enhance psychological well-being in older adults without cognitive impairment living in long-term care facilities. The intervention protocol consists of 12 sessions combining guided reminiscence, relaxation, and virtual cultural experiences. In addition, the study analyzes participants' speech and prosody during the sessions to evaluate emotional responses elicited by the virtual environments.

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.).

Evaluation of the Effect of Seasonality on Biological Age in Adults

This research aims to provide insights on how seasonal variations influence biological age and enhance the design and analysis of long-term lifestyle interventions targeting biological clocks. Aging is a gradual decline in cellular and organ functions, significantly increasing the risk of non-communicable and infectious diseases. Recent research has focused on identifying aging biomarkers that can better predict functional capability in healthy individuals. Biological age clocks, which can be measured from samples like blood or saliva, are emerging as valuable tools for assessing the pace of aging and calculating age acceleration-the difference between chronological and biological age. These clocks utilize molecular and clinical data, including DNA methylation and plasma proteomics, to predict future health outcomes, such as disease risk and mortality. Various DNA methylation-based clocks have been developed, with the Dunedin Pace of Aging (PoAm) offering a more precise modeling of physiological changes over time. Lifestyle factors, including diet and physical activity, can influence age acceleration, suggesting that lifestyle interventions may impact biological aging. Current evidence indicates that three specific epigenetic clocks-PhenoAge, GrimAge, and Dunedin PACE-are particularly effective in detecting beneficial effects on aging trajectories. However, the stability of these clocks during long-term lifestyle interventions remains unclear, as they can exhibit variability over short periods and may be affected by factors influenced by seasonal changes, such as Vitamin D levels, climate, and white blood cells composition. To investigate these seasonal effects on biological age, a proposed observational study will track changes over a 12-month period in middle-aged and older adults.

Aging Well Together - 'Getting to Know You Better': Characterization of Health FACTors in People Advancing in AGE

In order to implement effective actions to prevent the loss of autonomy in older adults, which has become a major issue, a crucial first step is to identify the conditions that influence it. Current approaches to health increasingly rely on a comprehensive and multidisciplinary vision, in line with so-called "socio-ecological" approaches, which argue that health is influenced by a wide range of interacting factors. However, these interdependencies and interactions are still poorly understood. It therefore seems necessary to move beyond the isolated analyses of risk factors carried out to date and adopt a holistic/systemic vision by examining both individual and environmental factors, as well as their interactions, which together can contribute to functional decline or the development of pathologies in older adults and those aging. The aim of this study is to identify the relationships between intrapersonal and environmental factors, and their cumulative, moderating, and mediating effects on the health of older adults and those experiencing aging. To this end, participants will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires and perform tests on various health-related dimensions. The evaluation criteria are: health, autonomy and quality of life, individual factors (health practices (e.g., physical activity), psychological characteristics (e.g., personal beliefs), socioeconomic status, etc.) and environmental factors (accessibility, living environment).

Physical and Cognitive Aging Study in Older Adults

Hispanic Americans are the fastest growing older adult group in the United States, disproportionally increasing the risk of an Alzheimer's disease and related dementias diagnosis. Efforts to reduce this risk and mitigate the related cognitive/physical declines are critical. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of enrolling older adults into an aging trajectory cohort, while generating preliminary data on associations of physical and cognitive aging trajectories. Our secondary objective is to generate preliminary data on the association of standard measures of physical activity and physical function with cognitive status. This study fits within our longitudinal research goal to reduce dementia incidence by understanding the mechanisms that drive the cognitive-physical aging trajectory.

Long-Term Engagement and Motivation Through Innovative Strategies in Adapted Physical Activity

Aging is associated with progressive declines in physical, functional, and psychosocial capacities, leading to reduced autonomy, increased risk of falls, chronic diseases, and decreased quality of life. Physical inactivity is a major aggravating factor, despite strong evidence that regular physical activity helps prevent age-related decline. Adapted Physical Activity (APA) has demonstrated beneficial effects on physical function, mental health, pain, and healthcare utilization. However, long-term adherence to APA programs among older adults remains low, with fewer than 20% meeting World Health Organization recommendations. Therefore, innovative strategies are needed to improve sustained engagement in physical activity. This multicenter, randomized, single-blind interventional study aims to compare the effectiveness of different APA strategies on long-term engagement in physical activity among adults aged 60 years and older. A total of 600 participants will be randomized into four groups combining two key factors: (1) autonomy-based vs. non-autonomy-based approaches, and (2) classical APA vs. TEMPA-based APA programs. Each intervention consists of a 12-week program including 24 supervised sessions, with some groups incorporating a progressive transition toward autonomous practice. The primary outcome is long-term physical activity engagement assessed using the QAPPA questionnaire at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Secondary outcomes include: Objective and self-reported physical activity levels (questionnaires and wearable devices) Functional capacities (muscle strength, endurance, gait speed, balance, cardiorespiratory fitness) Motivational and perceptual factors (e.g., enjoyment, fatigue, perceived effort, motivation) Quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) Biological markers (inflammatory, metabolic, metabolomic, and epigenetic profiles) to identify predictors of adherence and physiological response Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio) Statistical analyses will be conducted using mixed linear models for repeated measures to evaluate time, group, and interaction effects. Additional analyses will include descriptive statistics, group comparisons, longitudinal trends, and economic evaluations. This study aims to identify effective and sustainable APA strategies to improve long-term physical activity engagement and inform public health policies for older adults.

Personalized Approach to Promote Healthy Aging

The goal of this clinical trial study is to evaluate the impact of a personalized lifestyle intervention on improving healthspan. The primary questions of interest are whether the personalized intervention will result in improvements in muscle function, immune function, and cognitive function in adults aged 50-85 years. Participants will complete baseline assessments, receive an individualized intervention plan for approximately 3 months, and then complete post-intervention assessments. The intervention includes an exercise plan, nutrition recommendations, and general lifestyle goals that will be personalized to each participant.

Safe-Age Study: A Safety and Tolerability Study of a Nutritional Supplement in Healthy Older Adults

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the nutritional supplement Youniqor in healthy older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is Youniqor safe and well tolerated when taken daily by healthy adults aged 60 to 80 years? Are there any adverse events or clinically relevant changes in vital signs or laboratory parameters during the study period? Participants will: Take Youniqor daily for 8 weeks Attend scheduled study visits for safety assessments, including vital signs, blood and urine tests, and electrocardiograms Report any adverse events during the study period

Circadian Health Regulation and Optimization for Rejuvenation Outcomes

In this single arm intervention trial, the investigators will assess the impact of a personalized lifestyle plan, centered on supporting biological rhythms, on blood sugar levels, physical, cognitive and immune function in older adults with a habitual eating window of 12 hours or more, and elevated blood glucose levels. All participants will be provided with a personalized circadian rhythm optimization plan (CRO) centered on improving (1) diet, (2) exercise (3) sleep habits based on their body's natural rhythms. The study includes a 2-week screening/baseline assessments, with follow-up health assessments at 2-months.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Action Observation for Healthy Aging

Aging is associated with a decline in muscle strength and the functionality of the perceptual structures involved in proprioception. This decline results in a gradual loss of autonomy in daily activities. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been shown to be an effective technique in limiting the decline in strength. Action observation (AO) is a cognitive technique, which has been shown to improve motor performance, especially when combined with peripheral stimulation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a self-administered, home-based intervention combining NMES and AO improves upper limb muscle strength and proprioceptive abilities in healthy elderly individuals. Participants within the age range of 65-85 years will be recruited for this study. The intervention is scheduled to span a duration of four weeks, encompassing three treatment sessions per week. Participants will be randomly divided into three groups: NMES, AO, and AO-NMES. Assessments will be performed before and immediately after the intervention. They will include muscle strength evaluation (handgrip strength, maximal isometric force of the biceps, bench press power), and perceptual evaluation (weight discrimination during an AO task, weight judgment tasks). This study may suggest an original approach, cost-effective approach to mitigate the effects of physiological aging on muscle and sensorimotor function, with potential applications for frail populations, unable or unmotivated to perform conventional physical activity.

Study of Healthy Aging and Physical Function With Elamipretide

This study will utilize a daily dose of elamipetide for 4 weeks and will screen a sufficient number of subjects for 30 subjects to enroll in the study. The planned duration of the study includes baseline measurement, followed by 4 weeks intervention period, a midpoint (2week ±3days) check-in phone interview, and post intervention visits that mirror the baseline visits. After the last injection, subjects will enter the 2-week follow-up period, concluded by the end-of-study contact.