Clinical Research Directory

Neuromodulation and Fatigue

In this project, we aim to determine any potential effects of a weak electrical current applied to the neck or thoracic area on functional capacity and muscle activation. Healthy individuals will participate in one familiarization followed by up to 6 experimental sessions. Fatigability and motor function will be assessed in each test session.

Plant-based Diets and Healthy Aging

This prospective study investigates the health effects of vegetarian and plant-based diets in middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan, specifically, recruiting 5000 Tzu Chi volunteers. Previous Tzu Chi cohorts found vegetarian diets were protectively associated with incidences of diabetes, stroke, gout, cataracts, insomnia, and gallstones, while reducing healthcare costs. The study also aims to clarify dietary patterns-particularly plant-based and vegetarian diets-and determine how potential deficiencies or excesses of various nutrients influence common aging-related health issues, including healthy cognitive decline, sarcopenia, and the risk of age-related diseases, in order to inform dietary and lifestyle recommendations that promote healthy aging and maintain physical function.

Effectiveness of Intensive Tutoring vs. Flexible Self-Learning on Digital Health Literacy and Self-Efficacy for "My Health Bank" App Use Among Adults Over 50: A Randomized Controlled Trial Using AI-Co-Created Materials

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of two different educational models in improving the use of the "My Health Bank" App (a Personal Health Record system in Taiwan) among adults aged 50 and older. As Taiwan's population ages, digital health management has become essential, yet older adults often face a "digital divide." Participants will be randomly assigned to either a "Intensive Guided Learning group" (receiving one-on-one human instruction) or a "Flexible Self-study group" (using self-learning materials co-created with Generative AI). The study aims to compare the outcomes of these two groups in terms of enhancing digital health literacy, self-efficacy, and actual App usage behavior to identify more effective and scalable digital health education strategies.

The Effect of Urolithin A (Mitopure®) Supplementation on Muscle Strength in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults

This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study to assess the effects of Urolithin A (Mitopure®) supplementation on muscle strength and performance in healthy middle-aged adults. Participants will be randomized to consume Mitopure® (500 mg), Mitopure® (1000 mg), or placebo once daily for 6 months.

Impact 360 for Healthy Agers

The Impact 360 study will evaluate the effects of a combined intervention of exercise, mindfulness, and nutrition on 8 key indicators of health and the mechanisms that drive these changes. 60 subjects aged 50 to 75 without a current diagnosis of a brain disorder will be recruited. This study will follow a partial crossover design. All participants will receive the intervention. Participants randomized into the intervention group after their baseline screening will receive the 6-month intervention. Those randomized into the waitlist group will complete another assessment at the end of the 6-month care as usual phase before receiving the intervention.

Uncovering the Cognitive and Neural Mechanisms Underlying Cognitive Time

Time processing, the ability to process and encode temporal information, is essential for cognitive functioning and for a large number of daily life activities. In particular, the processing of durations of several seconds is central to cognition, impaired in several pathologies, and has been associated with cognitive changes with advancing age. While behavioral studies have been conducted to specify the neural bases of temporal cognition and their association with other cognitive functions, the mechanisms underlying age-related changes, and individual differences, remain unknown. The project will characterize ageing effects on timing mechanisms and their neural underpinnings. Building on recent advances from neuroscience and age-related cognitive changes, the project focuses on the precision of duration processing, that declines with age, and the associated neural bases. Participants will perform a duration judgement task while (a) electroencephalography, and (b) functional magnetic resonance imaging activity are simultaneously recorded to investigate age effects on structural and functional network connectivity. In addition, striatal dopamine will be measured using a FDOPA PETscan. Evaluation of other temporal cognition processes and general cognition will also be performed. This combination offers a unique opportunity to accurately specifying the neurophysiological underpinning of aging effects on time processing changes. This project will further our understanding of the variability of cognitive performance with advancing age, and contribute to identifying new measures of temporal impairments.

Study Evaluating the Effect of Humiome® Post LB on Stress, Anxiety, and Cognition in Aging Adults

To assess the effect of 3 months of daily consumption of a postbiotic (inactivated lactic acid bacteria) Humiome® Post LB on stress measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) adjusted on baseline in study participants when compared to placebo

Combined Exercise Trial

The number of older Americans will double in the next 4 decades to nearly 90 million, placing an unprecedented financial and resource burden on the health care system. Exercise has clear and demonstrable physical benefits, but a more precise understanding of how exercise supports cognitive function is essential. Demonstrating definitively that exercise as recommended by public health entities has benefits for cognition would have enormous public health implications, encourage the public to adapt more active lifestyles, and stimulate the development of effective exercise delivery programs.

Arlington Longitudinal Optimal Healthy Aging Study (ALOHA)

The Arlington Longitudinal Optimal Healthy Aging (ALOHA) Study is a community-based research project led by the Marymount University Center for Optimal Aging (MCOA). The study is designed to help older adults in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area maintain independence, mobility, wellbeing and brain health as they age. Adults aged 50 years and older will receive a comprehensive health assessment at the study site, Center for Optimal Aging- ALOHA Lab at Marymount University (MU) Ballston Campus in Arlington, Virginia. The assessment includes physical and cognitive testing, health and medical history, lifestyle surveys, and biometric measures such as blood pressure, grip strength, body composition by the InBody system, balance and gait speed. Participants will receive their results in a personalized "Health Passport," which summarizes findings and provides tailored recommendations to help manage modifiable health risk factors-such as those linked to Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, frailty syndrome, and depression. Participants will return annually for up to 5 years to repeat assessments and receive updated health and wellness recommendations. The study will track changes in health over time and explore the impact of the Health Passport on health behaviors, functional independence, and quality of life. ALOHA will also evaluate the cultural appropriateness of the Health Passport for diverse populations in Northern Virginia. The program incorporates an interprofessional research model, engaging researchers from multiple health professions to work alongside older adults, supporting both participants' wellness and optimal aging.

Collagen Peptides and Cellular Aging

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if daily collagen peptide supplementation can stabilize or lengthen telomeres and improve related markers of cellular aging in adults aged 50-70 years with overweight and low-to-moderate physical activity (healthy volunteers without major chronic disease). Main questions it aims to answer are: Does six months of collagen peptides stabilize or extend telomere length and increase telomerase activity compared with placebo? Are any telomere-related changes associated with lower inflammation, healthier body composition, and better functional health? Researchers will compare collagen as an intervention to a placebo group to see if collagen will influence aging markers. Participants will take collagen peptides or a placebo daily for 24 weeks. They will attend three study visits: one before starting the intervention (T0), one at 3 months (T1), and one at 6 months (T2). At each visit, blood samples will be collected to measure telomere length, telomerase activity, and inflammation/redox markers. Participants will also undergo body composition assessments using bioelectrical impedance, complete functional tests of muscle strength and mobility, and fill out questionnaires on health and vitality.

Digital Accessible Remote Olfactory Mediated Health Assessments for Preclinical AD

The goal of this study is to objectively test one's sense of smell, called olfaction, in participants with Subjective Cognitive Concerns (SCC), Mild Cognitive Impairment, Mild Behavioral Impairment (MBI), and age-matched controls. The main question it aims to answer is whether the AROMHA Brain Health Test could serve as a predictive biomarker of neurodegenerative disorders. This understanding will aid in the development of a noninvasive, cost-effective diagnostic tool that reliably and specifically distinguishes disease and normal aging populations. Participants will take the approximately 45-minute AROMHA Brain Health Smell Test where they will peel and sniff labels on the physical smell cards and answer questions on the web-based app relating to what they smelled. Participants will undergo tests for odor intensity, odor identification, odor discrimination, and episodic olfactory memory, but will not be provided the results of these tests.

Swallowing Impairments in ICU Survivors and Community-Dwelling Adults

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which consists of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial problems, is a pervasive complication for older intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and contributes to detrimental health outcomes and significant reductions in quality of life. Yet, little is known about the relationship between PICS, swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), and other ICU-related negative outcomes such as frailty and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). The primary purpose of this research study is to determine the prevalence and severity of dysphagia, risk factors for dysphagia development, recovery patterns of dysphagia over time, and the impact of dysphagia on health outcomes, quality of life, and care partner burden in adult ICU survivors with PICS.

iVS-1 Probiotic Intervention Targeting Biological Aging in Midlife Adults

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate the effects of Bifidobacterium adolescentis (iVS-1) supplementation on biological aging markers, metabolic health, and functional health outcomes in midlife adults. The study explores whether modulation of aging-related biological pathways through the gut microbiome may influence health-related outcomes.

The Physiological Chronobiome Modified by Age, Sex and Under Evoked Conditions

The investigators piloted the characterization of the human chronobiome. Now, this line of research is extended to explore physiological chronobiome modulated by sex, age and under evoked conditions.

CUHK Brain Health Longitudinal Study

The goal of this study is to develop a large longitudinal cohort of individuals diagnosed with or at high risk for brain diseases (both neurological and psychiatric in nature), in order to identify risk factors that contribute to neurological and psychiatric diseases over time. The investigators seek to capture relevant information from medical records, electronically administered questionnaires and follow up phone-based interviews. The investigators expect to eventually have sufficient power from our dataset to examine risk factors for a variety of brain disorders, both individually and in aggregate. Our ultimate goal is to offer scientifically validated ways to preserve and promote brain health by working with our patients' needs and tracking their progress over time.

An Aging Healthy Intervention for Older Adults Delivered by Community Health Workers in Senior Centers: A Clinical Trial

The aCT Study will develop, implement and evaluate a community health worker (CHW) integrated model of care delivery for older adults that is senior center based. CHW services will be available for older adult participants at three centers, 4 hours per week for 4 months. Three centers will continue usual services. Researchers will compare blood pressure, physical activity levels, fruit/vegetable consumption and psychosocial outcomes across groups before and after the intervention.

TMS for Cognitive Decline in Aging and Preclinical AD

In this research study we want to learn more about the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on motivation, memory, and brain-network function in cognitively unimpaired older adults and individuals with preclinical Alzheimer's disease. This study will use a form of non-invasive brain stimulation called repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS). rTMS will slightly alter activity in an area of your brain that controls cognition. Changes resulting from this stimulation will be measured with behavioral tests, as well as by taking brain images with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Participants will come in for one baseline visit followed by 10 days of daily rTMS study visits (Monday through Friday) and an evaluation visit. Then, there will be a 2-week break. After this break, they will return for another baseline visit, an additional 10 days of rTMS, and a final evaluation visit.

Exercise to Improve Brain Health in Older African Americans

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effects of different types of exercise on brain health and Alzheimer's risk in older African Americans. Specifically, the main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * What is the effect of a Cardio-Dance Fitness (CDF) vs. a Strength, Flexibility, and Balance (SFB) intervention on a cognitive marker of Alzheimer's risk, generalization? * What is the effect of the CDF vs. SFB intervention on a fMRI biomarker of Alzheimer's, neural flexibility, and do improvements in neural flexibility mediate improvements in generalization? * Do ABCA7 genotypic variations moderate the efficacy of the CDF vs. SFB intervention for reducing Alzheimer's risk? Participants will undergo-- at baseline and post-test-- health assessments, cognitive tests, and structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and a blood-draw to assess Alzheimer's risk biomarker levels.

Digital Technology for Active and Healthy Ageing in Taiwan

Taiwan is entering a super-aged society in 2025, with more than 20% of the population aged 65 years or older. This rapid demographic shift, combined with increasing rates of chronic diseases, frailty, and dementia, has created growing challenges for healthcare and caregiving systems. Yunlin County, particularly its coastal region, has been one of Taiwan's earliest super-aged areas, showing higher rates of diabetes (10.5%), hypertension (28%), hyperlipidemia (26%), dementia (8%), and depression (12%) compared with national averages. Lifestyle factors such as tobacco (30%), betel nut (8%), and alcohol (15%) use are also more prevalent among local residents. From 2022 to 2024, health screenings at CMU Beigang Hospital revealed a 36.1% abnormality rate among 12,222 visits, while another 5,965 assessments from the county's ICOPE program showed similarly high rates. Many older adults, particularly retired agricultural and fishing workers, experience sedentary lifestyles and polypharmacy-related risks, which worsen frailty, insomnia, depression, and cognitive decline. Low general and digital health literacy further limits their ability to adopt preventive behaviors, forming a vicious cycle between poor health and aging. To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health and Welfare launched the "Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan." In alignment with this initiative, this project-led by CMU Beigang Hospital in collaboration with the National Health Research Institutes-aims to develop a wearable- and mobile-based health promotion model for rural older adults. The study will integrate research-grade actigraphy (Geneactiv), a mobile health platform ("iMED"), and the in-bed sensor iCue to monitor behavior, promote active aging, and enhance health and digital literacy. Ultimately, this project seeks to establish Taiwan's first integrated digital aging database and identify digital biomarkers for predicting cognitive and functional decline in older adults.

Language and Lewy Body Diseases: Sentence Comprehension Problems and Modifying Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Treatment

Lewy body diseases (LBDs) represents a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the abnormal accumulation of aggregates of α-synuclein protein leading to the formation of Lewy bodies (LB) and Lewy neurites resulting in cell death. LBDs consists of two major clinical entities - Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with LB (DLB). Vast majority of patients with LBDs either already have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at the time of the diagnosis or will develop it during the course of the disease. Language dysfunctions in LBDs patients with MCI are often unrecognized, which are difficult to treat, but even subtle changes might lead to impairment of social and occupational functioning with profound effect on their quality of lives. Current pharmacological or surgical strategies are effective for tackling the motor issues of LBDs with very limited effects on other symptoms such as language dysfunctions. Therefore, non-pharmacological approaches are gaining more attention. One of these non-pharmacological strategies is the use of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques that are able to modulate the brain functions with the effects on human nervous system plasticity. In this proposed project the investigators aim to first describe specific alterations in the language domain in LBDs patients with MCI as compared to healthy controls (HC) and identify the neural underpinnings of these changes using novel combination of advanced multimodal imaging techniques and various analytical methods. Secondly, the investigators aim to use NIBS as a supervised and individualized home-based therapeutical approach to tackle the language dysfunctions.

Accuracy of Prediction Equations to Calculate Maximum Strength

Resistance exercise training (RT) is a key component of health related exercise programs. However, an accurate specification of RT load prescription is essential for effective and safe achievement of training aims. Proper specification of exercise intensity might be the most critical issue when designing RT protocols for adults. One repetition maximum tests (1RM) have been considered the "gold standard" of dynamic maximum strength evaluation. Although the argument of increased risk of injuries and adverse effects with 1RM testing in older people has been rejected by several studies , limited motivation to lift maximum loads, requirement for high test effort, time constraints, and interruption of the continuity of the training process aggravate the frequent application of 1RM tests particularly in non-athletic RT. 1RM prediction equations that use the load and number of repetitions completed to fatigue (RTF) to predict repetition maximum might be a reliable and feasible option to 1RM testing. Thus, the primary aims of this study were to evaluate the predictive accuracy of current RTF equations and to develop an equation that more accurately predicts 1RM from RTF tests.

Group-based Resistance Training for Adults With Down Syndrome

The investigators are interested in Resistance Training as a physical exercise intervention for adults with Down syndrome. Resistance Training (or RT for short) is a popular form of physical exercise, which focuses on improving muscle strength and endurance using weighted or resistance-based exercises. RT can involve 'lifting weights', doing resistance band movements or performing bodyweight exercises. Researchers have developed a tailored programme of RT exercises (called RESID), which are suitable and safe to implement for individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. RT has been shown to help people improve thinking skills and overall quality of life. RT has been associated with better brain health in older adults with memory problems. The investigators want to run the RESID exercise programme with adults with Down syndrome who do not have memory problems but who the investigators know are at much greater risk of developing memory problems as they get older. The investigators are hoping this programme will support brain health and healthy ageing in adults with Down syndrome. The investigators want to see this programme can be successfully run with people with intellectual disabilities. The investigators want to see if participants enjoy this programme and engage well with it. The investigators want to see if there are any barriers to participating in this programme. The investigators also want to see how much it will cost to run this programme again in the future. The investigators also want to see if this programme helps these adults to feel better about themselves, to have better memory skills, to have better day-to-day skills, and to have better strength and mobility. The investigators will measure study outcomes using self-report scales, a memory assessment, strength test, mobility tests, blood pressure/heart rate test and by getting information from caregivers. The investigators will use the same measures with a similar group of adults who initially do not take part in this programme. They will be called our services as usual control group. During the first group, these adults will attend usual weekly services. However, they will be offered a place on a RT programme after the first experimental group have finished. The investigators will decide the order of who takes part in which initial group (Experimental or Control) by drawing names out of a hat so that it will be as fair as possible. However, all participants in this study will eventually take part in the RT programme. The investigators hope this study will tell us a lot about running a RT programme for people with intellectual disabilities. The investigators hope the results of this research study will show that adults with Down syndrome enjoy and engage well with this programme and that RT has benefits for adults with Down syndrome who do not memory problems. The investigators hope to show that RT can support the healthy ageing of adults with Down syndrome.

FAXAGE: Fasting And Exercise To Slow Aging In Humans

FAXAge is a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of fasting and exercise on human aging. 240 participants over the age of 65 will be divided into 4 groups - an exercise group, a fasting group, a combined exercise and fasting group and a control group. The intervention will last for one year, and tests of biomarkers of aging will be performed at baseline, after 3 months, 6 months and at the end of the intervention. A reference group of participants over the age of 20 equally distributed by age and sex will be used to train an algorithm for determination of biological age. The study will include both physical, molecular and digital biomarkers including DNA-methylation, VO2max, body composition and face- and voice-age. The main outcome of the project is DNA-methylation age at week 52. Secondary outcomes are the rest of the tested biomarkers at week 52. It is hypothesised that the intervention groups will have similar superior benefits after the 52 weeks of intervention.

Comparative Effects Of Exergaming And Otago Exercise On Anticipatory Postural Control And Sensory Integration In Older Adults

This study explores whether non-immersive, interactive Exergaming using Xbox Kinect can go beyond conventional exercise by actively training the brain and body to react faster, balance smarter, and move more confidently. Through dynamic games like Reflex Ridge and 20,000 Leaks, we aim to stimulate internal perturbations and real-time Sensory Integration, something Otago doesn't directly target. In this randomized controlled trial, 36 older adults (aged 55+) will be assigned to either the Exergaming or Otago group. Both groups will receive 6 weeks of supervised balance training (3x/week, 30 mins/session). Primary outcomes include Sensory Integration, measured using modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (mCTSIB) and Anticipatory postural control assessed through Limits of Stability (LOS) test. Timed up and Go (TUG) will capture functional mobility, which will serve as the secondary outcome in this study. Both mCTSIB and LOS will be administered using the Postural Stability System of Biodex, a reliable and valid computerized platform designed to objectively quantify postural control under varying sensory conditions. With evidence-based outcome tools and rigorous analysis, this project doesn't just aim to compare two programs, it's about challenging tradition, modernizing rehab, and making balance training smarter, safer, and more engaging for the elders we serve. This research could be a leap forward in community-based fall prevention and a step toward a more responsive, personalized future in Neurological Rehabilitation.