Clinical Research Directory

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.