Aging Clinical Trials

The proposed studies will assess 1) the mechanisms for the age-related increase in fatigability during dynamic exercise (Aims 1 and 2) and 2) the effectiveness of high-velocity resistance training coupled with blood flow restriction (BFR) in improving muscle power output and fatigability in older adults (Aim 3). The first two aims are cross-sectional studies comparing young (18-35 years old) and older adults (≥60 yrs old) to test our central hypothesis that the greater accumulation of metabolites and increase in fatigability in older adults is due to either age-related impairments in skeletal muscle bioenergetics (Aim 1) and/or vascular dysfunction (Aim 2). These two aims will integrate techniques to assess whole-muscle bioenergetics (31P-MRS) and in vivo vascular function (near infrared spectroscopy; NIRS and doppler ultrasonography) with in vitro assessment of single fiber bioenergetics (epifluorescence microscopy) and vasoreactivity of isolated skeletal muscle arterioles (video microscopy). We will then determine whether bioenergetics, vascular function and fatigability are altered in older men and women in response to 8 weeks of resistance exercise training of the lower limb both with and without blood flow restriction (Aim 3). Read Less

This study will measure the oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of known compounds from a standardized Withania somnifera botanical dietary supplement in healthy older adults. Read Less

Preclinical data indicate that very low carbohydrate ketogenic diets (KD) may prevent progression of age-related sarcopenia (skeletal muscle decline) but also may disturb bone metabolism. The investigators will pilot test a randomized trial comparing the effects of short-term adaptation to a well-formulated ketogenic diet and Mediterranean diet on markers of bone metabolism and muscle function in older adults. The expected results will help inform the benefit-risk assessment for older patients considering longer term use of KD therapy. Read Less

Both fuel metabolism and circadian rhythms have emerged as important targets to improve cellular and mitochondrial health and ultimately affect function in older adults. Thus, the purpose of this study is to develop minimally invasive measures that will allow us to accurately assess and detect changes in fuel metabolism and circadian rhythms in older adults following time-restricted eating. Read Less

This trial will examine whether interrupting 3.5 hours of sitting every 30 min with 6 min high intensity interval training (HIIT) breaks compared to light intensity interval training (LIIT) will improve brain health in cognitively normal older adults. This trial will test the feasibility of HIIT breaks to sitting. It will also address several important but unanswered questions: (1) Does interrupting sitting with short HIIT breaks improve frontoparietal function? (2) Can interrupting sitting with HIIT breaks improve cognitive functions? Read Less

This randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial will test the efficacy of a probiotic/prebiotic combination ("synbiotic") on the skeleton in older women. Read Less

The investigators aim to use the new PET radioligand, 18F-MK-6240, to detect tau pathology in cognitive healthy and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) elders. The investigators will then examine the interactions between differential tau burden and performance on cognitive tasks, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neural activation patterns, and other cognitive and behavioral measures. By investigating these relationships, the investigators hope to understand the cognitive and behavioral outcomes of tau deposition found in specific brain regions in cognitively normal/mildly cognitively impaired adults. Furthermore, the study aims to examine how the presence of tau may contribute to the risk of subsequent cognitive decline, neurodegeneration, and dementia. Read Less

The purpose of the bpMedManage study is to rigorously test the efficacy of a smartphone technology to help improve high blood pressure medication adherence among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a 16-week randomized controlled trial. A total of 100 older adults will be recruited. There will be two treatment arms, bpMedManage-S and bpMedManage-P with 50 participants in each arm. Participants randomized into the bpMEDManage-S intervention arm will use a smartphone application with medication reminders plus receive education with standardized information on hypertension and antihypertensive medications on the education portal. Participants in the bpMedManage-P group will use a smartphone to receive education with standardized information on hypertension and antihypertensive medications on an education portal. Both groups will complete baseline assessments followed by 4 weeks of medication adherence monitoring. At the end of the adherence monitoring period, participants will be randomized into one of the two treatment arms. Immediate outcomes on primary and secondary measures will be assessed 4 weeks after beginning of the intervention. Follow-up outcomes will be assessed 12 weeks after the beginning of the intervention. Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if mindfulness meditation can improve outcomes in older adults with and without cognitive impairment. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How does mindfulness impact thinking and memory? 2. How does mindfulness influence brain function and structure? 3. How does mindfulness affect daily function and quality of life? Researchers will compare all outcomes to one other groups. In one group, individuals will participate in a mindfulness class intervention; in the other group, individuals will not engage in any active interventions immediately, but will be placed on a waitlist for the mindfulness intervention. Researchers will compare all outcomes between the groups groups to determine whether the mindfulness interventions leads to greater improvement compared to no intervention (waitlist group). Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to participate in the mindfulness intervention, or no immediate intervention (waitlist) * Complete paper-and-pencil cognitive testing, surveys, computerized tasks, and neuroimaging measures (EEG and MRI) before and after the intervention Outcomes will be assess at baseline, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months. Read Less

The current study will test whether age-related cognitive and mood changes in older adults and those will be affected by near infrared (NIR) stimulation. The overall hypothesis, drawn from previous literature, is that exposure to NIR stimulation will have positive effects on brain health and will result in better cognitive and mood performance. Read Less

More than 80% of individuals with chronic kidney disease have concomitant hypertension and the majority fail to achieve blood pressure control \<130/80 mmHg, leading to high risk of cardiovascular diseases and end-stage kidney disease. A stepwise combination of lifestyle modifications and drug therapy is recommended to lower blood pressure; however, adherence to time-intensive lifestyle interventions such as aerobic exercise in patients with chronic kidney disease is poor. This clinical trial seeks to establish the efficacy of high-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training, a novel time-efficient lifestyle intervention, for lowering systolic blood pressure and improving endothelial function in midlife and older adults with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease and inadequately controlled hypertension, and to use innovate translational assessments to understand the mechanisms involved. Read Less

The purpose of this research is to understand how chronic inflammation affects muscle function and responses to exercise in older adults. Read Less