Aging Clinical Trials

The goal of this observational study is to develop online, self-paced mindfulness (iMBSR) and lifestyle education (iLifeEd) programs for adults with cognitive concerns. Participants will engage in focus groups to discuss healthy living, web-based behavioral interventions, intervention content/format and ideal outcomes after engaging in behavioral interventions that promote healthy living. Additionally, participants will provide feedback on the protocol and online platform for either iMBSR or iLifeEd. This feedback will be used to refine the iMBSR and iLifeEd protocols for future use in the randomized controlled trial portion of the parent project. Read Less

This study is following up on previous studies that have demonstrated that geriatric subjects respond different to ultraviolet B (UVB) light than young subjects. The treatment of geriatric skin with dermal rejuvenation therapies (dermabrasion, fractionated laser resurfacing) restores the appropriate UVB response. Ongoing studies have tested the ability of fractionated laser resurfacing (FLR) to assess how long this wounding effect lasts-and have found that this appears to be a durable response which lasts for at least two years. The findings that FLR protects geriatric skin at two years is the impetus for this study. This study is an interventional study to assess if FLR treatment of one forearm of geriatric subjects with multiple actinic keratosis will result in the short-term removal of actinic keratosis, and the long-term decrease in levels of future actinic keratosis and other non-melanoma skin cancers in comparison to the untreated arm. Study length and visit: The first part of the study is completed in 1 day then there are follow up visits at 90 days and every 6 months for 5 years. Read Less

This study does not involve any particular diagnosis. The goal of this research study is to explore the effects of artificial sunlight (ultraviolet B radiation; UVB) on the skin of young adults versus geriatric adults. Sunlight exerts many effects on the body. There is evidence that in response to ultraviolet B radiation (UVB), which are the burning rays of sunlight, young adult skin responds differently than geriatric skin. In fact, researchers feel that this difference in how the skin reacts to UVB is why skin cancers are found in older skin. Researchers believe that a major difference between young adult and geriatric skin is that young skin has a lot of a protein called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), whereas geriatric skin has very little. The current study will test how young adult versus geriatric skin responds to UVB, and if geriatric skin treated with an injection of small amount of IGF-1 drug will then act like young skin. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to determine if the Fractionated Laser Resurfacing (FLR) procedure can protect one forearm/wrist from precancerous actinic keratosis (AKs) as well as prevent skin cancer in older subjects with active AKs. This study builds on a similar study ongoing at the Dayton Veterans Administration dermatology clinic. This study is also testing if a photograph of the skin can be used to predict where the AKs and an skin cancers will form. Read Less

This study proposes the novel use of a bedrail-affixed technology-based patient hand hygiene system with verbal and visual reminders to improve hospitalized older adults' self-management of hand hygiene practice, which in return reduces harmful germs found on older adult's hands that lead to infections. Read Less

This study will test the Dementia Advance Care Planning (AD ACP) Toolkit intervention to usual care in facilitating goals of care (GOC) discussions between People Living with Dementia (PLwD) and primary care team members over an 18-month period. The primary outcome is to assess the frequency and quality of GOC discussions with PLwD. Secondary outcomes include the identification of preferred surrogates, assessment of decisional capacity, and the completion of portable ACP orders. This randomized clinical trial aims to determine if the AD ACP Toolkit can enhance ACP practices and improve care planning outcomes for PLwD compared to the standard care approach. Read Less

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), including mild cognitive impairment (MCI), are becoming among the most prevalent causes of disability, death and healthcare costs worldwide. Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances are common among individuals with MCI as well as their spouses/ partners and may increase risk of the development of ADRD in both patients and partners. This is the first study to systematically investigate sleep as a shared health behavior within couples in which one member has MCI, and the degree to which sleep and circadian disturbances impact both partners health and well-being, including cognitive decline and risk for ADRD. Read Less

The primary objective of this study is to identify and characterize frailty and pre-frailty in persons age 50 and older living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) followed by the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Infectious Diseases Specialty Clinics (IDSC). Read Less

Age-related balance and walking issues increase fall risks, leading to injuries, higher healthcare costs, reduced quality of life, and increased morbidity/mortality rates. Preserving functional ability is a crucial public health priority, with the potential to reduce healthcare costs and enhance older adults' quality of life. Declines in balance and walking ability threaten independence. These declines are attributed to spinal network impairments and may be mitigated by targeted interventions aimed at addressing age-related spinal cord impairment to enhance functional outcomes. However, there is a lack of research into how the aging spinal cord affects balance/walking. In older adults, the spinal cord is less excitable, conducts signals more slowly, and is subject to neural noise. Intervening on age-related impairment of the spinal cord to improve balance/walking ability is a very promising but untapped area of research. A therapeutic approach that combines dynamic balance training with non-invasive electrical spinal stimulation may be effective in preserving functional abilities. This study tests whether electrical stimulation of the spinal lumbar regions is more beneficial than sham stimulation. Read Less

This is a pilot clinical trial to test the efficacy of intermittent treatment with the flavonoid compound fisetin for improving vascular endothelial function and reducing aortic stiffness in older adults. This trial will also determine the potential mechanisms by which fisetin may improve vascular function, including by decreasing mitochondrial oxidative stress, cellular senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors in circulation. Lastly, safety, tolerability and adherence of fisetin treatment will be assessed. Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) with a family-augmented version of HELP (FAM-HELP), that includes family members and care partners, for the prevention of delirium in older patients during hospital admission. The main objectives of the trial are the following: 1. To compare the effectiveness of FAM-HELP and HELP in reducing both the incidence of delirium and its severity. 2. To compare the effectiveness of FAM-HELP and HELP in improving patient- and family-reported outcomes. 3. To explore the implementation context, process, and outcomes of the FAM-HELP program in diverse hospital settings. Read Less

More than 60% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients are adults ages 60 and older, who are at high risk for ICU-acquired cognitive impairment. After ICU discharge, ICU survivors often experience sleep disturbances and inactivity, and almost 80% of ICU patients experience disturbances in circadian rhythm, which may affect cognitive function. Understanding the optimal, chronotherapeutic timing of cognitive interventions is crucial to promote circadian realignment and cognitive function, and may improve intervention feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy. Specific Aim 1 will determine feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effect sizes for: 1) a morning session of a computerized cognitive training intervention \[COG\]; and 2) a late afternoon/early evening session of the COG intervention; compared to 3) standard inpatient care/usual care \[UC\]. Specific Aim 2 will examine circadian rhythm parameters to determine the optimal timing of the daily COG intervention. Exploratory Aim 3 will explore if the effects of the COG intervention on cognitive function are mediated by daytime activity, and explore if selected biological and clinical factors moderate intervention effects on cognitive function. Read Less