Clinical Research Directory

Computerized Cognitive Training in Healthy Older Adults and Mild Cognitive Impairment

The overall objective of this study is to assess the effect of an adaptive computerized cognitive training program for executive functions (CogniFit platform) on improving these functions in older adults, both healthy and with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), as well as to examine the potential transfer effects of this training on memory. Additionally, determine the impact of the intervention on the emotional symptoms, behavioral disorders, or quality of life of the participants.

Sheba Healthspan Research Population (SHARP) Trial - Sheba Longevity Center Diagnostic and Intervention Protocol to Lower Biological Age in Older Adults

Background: Population aging is accelerating rapidly in Israel and worldwide, necessitating adaptation of the healthcare system and considering new approaches that serve the needs of older adult populations. Working hypothesis and aims: We hypothesize that a personalized health and behavior intervention program will decrease the biological age as assessed by several biological aging clocks and improve functional and cognitive performance among older adults. Methods: We propose to conduct a randomized study among healthy community-dwelling elderly subjects (\>50 years old). The study will include an extensive aging assessment and imaging protocol (baseline assessment), including comprehensive physical, functional, sensory, cognitive, and mental assessment. Each participant in the intervention group will receive a personalized intervention program based on an integrative systems approach analysis. In addition, a uniquely developed application will track compliance and monitor physiological data through a provided wearable device. The control group will be assessed at baseline without receiving an intervention program. Each participant will visit the center aging after 6 months for a blood test and after 12 months for a second extensive diagnostic protocol, similar to the baseline assessment protocol. About 1,500 subjects will be recruited to participate in the study. Expected results: Obtaining data at two points will allow us to examine efficiency and compliance with a personalized intervention program based on integrative systems analysis models. We expect biological age, general well-being, and various clinical and psychosocial outcomes in the intervention group will decrease and improve compared to the control group. Study importance and relevance: The obtained results may help establish evidence-based healthy aging diagnostics protocols and an effective personalized intervention program that might be applied, with proper modifications, to national healthcare organizations for the general older adult population. In addition, to provides a scientific basis on which policymakers and intervention programs can rely to develop national guidelines for promoting extended health.

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.

Exoskeleton-Assisted Mobility in Aging and in Parkinson's Disease

This study will evaluate whether a wearable robotic exoskeleton can improve mobility, balance, and walking in healthy older adults and in individuals living with Parkinson's disease, populations at high risk of falls and mobility limitations. Participants will attend two laboratory sessions. The first session includes clinical assessments, fitting and familiarization with the exoskeleton, and interviews to explore user perceptions. The second session involves performing functional mobility tasks (e.g., walking, standing, turning) with and without the exoskeleton and under different assistance levels, while movement is measured using wearable sensors. The study will assess the immediate effects of the exoskeleton on mobility, compare assistance levels, identify which participants benefit most, and explore user experience and acceptability. Findings will help inform the development and implementation of assistive technologies to support mobility in healthy aging and in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Postprandial Inflammation and Nuts (PIN) in Older Adults

The aging population is rapidly increasing, and it is important to identify dietary factors that can prevent disease and promote health in this group. Legumes, such as peanuts, are a plant-based food high in protein and unsaturated fat making this a healthy choice, but are not consumed frequently enough in older adults. Studies have shown that regular nut consumption is associated with lower adiposity and reduced weight gain and inflammation. Given these findings, this study will examine the postprandial effects of meals with 2 levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) on metabolic endotoxemia, inflammation and satiety, using a randomized cross-over design. The low SFA meal includes peanuts that are high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and this will be compared to a high SFA meal. The results of this study have the potential to provide valuable insights into the role of peanuts in promoting health and preventing disease in at-risk older adults.

Swallowing Impairments in Adults With and Without Alzheimer's Disease

This research study is investigating whether people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience more changes to swallowing than their healthy age-matched peers. The prevalence of swallowing impairments in moderate-severe AD is high (85-93%), yet little is known about how swallow function evolves throughout the disease course in people with AD. The overall objective of this study is to evaluate swallowing function in adults with and without Alzheimer's disease. The investigator will also be involving the primary caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's that are enrolled in the study to better understand the impact of swallowing impairments on the primary caregivers of those with Alzheimer's Disease. Healthy adults and individuals with Alzheimer's disease will: * undergo tests of cough and swallow function * undergo tests of grip and tongue strength * complete questionnaires Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease will also complete questionnaires.

Effect of Hypoxic Conditioning on Cerebrovascular Health in the Elderly

In line with the ever-growing aging of Western populations, the development of preventive strategies to slow down the effects of aging on cardiovascular health represents a major challenge in order to preserve functional capacities and a sufficient quality of life in the elderly. The alteration of vascular function (at the cerebral and systemic level) with aging is an important feature in the clinical picture including a decrease in physical and cognitive capacities. Although physical activity is recognized as an essential means of combating the effects of aging, optimizing its effects by defining the most effective strategies of practice remains a key objective. Offering alternative interventions to exercise training is also necessary for people who are unwilling or unable to engage in a physical activity program. In this context, hypoxic conditioning, alone or in conjunction with rehabilitative exercise training, is a new therapeutic modality with strong preclinical validity, in particular from a cardiovascular standpoint, and used in other pathologies to improve cardiovascular function and exercise performance and quality of life. Our aim is, therefore, to investigate the effect of hypoxic conditioning (alone or in conjunction with exercise training) on cerebrovascular health in the elderly.

Evaluating the Effects of tDCS on Sleep and Cognition in Healthy Older Adults

The goal of this interventional study is to learn if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a gentle, cost-effective and non-invasive brain stimulation technique can improve sleep brain activity during an afternoon nap. Since these sleep brain patterns are linked to better memory, attention, and thinking skills, this study aims to find out if improving sleep in a nap can also enhance these cognitive skills in healthy older adults (aged 60+). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can a short (20-minute) tDCS session before a nap improve sleep patterns during the nap? * Since these sleep patterns are linked to memory and attention, can tDCS also improve thinking skills after the nap? * Are two tDCS session more effective than one for improving nap sleep and thinking skills? Participants will: • Be required to come to the university for testing over four days. During each session they will: * Complete computer based-tasks to assess memory and thinking. * Receive a 20-minute session of either real (active) or fake (placebo) tDCS. * Take a short, monitored nap while researchers measure sleep activity (using polysomnography - a gold-standard, non-invasive sleep monitoring tool). * Complete an easy-to-use sleep test at home on the nights after the naps. * Wear a lightweight watch (called an Actiwatch) throughout the study period to track sleep and movement. * Complete daily sleep diaries. By taking part, participants will help researchers understand whether tDCS can improve sleep during naps and, in turn, support memory and thinking skills. This research could lead to better treatments for sleep problems, help protect brain health, and reduce the risk of dementia as people age. The brain stimulation in this study may also help improve their sleep and cognition.

RUSS-AGE: Creating of a Biological Age Calculator and Study of Aging Phenotypes in the Russian Population

This is a multi-center, cross-sectional, observational study aimed at developing biological age calculators specifically for the Russian population investigating various aging phenotypes. Aging is a complex process that varies greatly between individuals, meaning that chronological age does not always reflect one's biological health status. The primary goal of this study is to identify and analyze a comprehensive set of markers (including socioeconomic factors, lifestyle, physical parameters, cognitive function, and laboratory biomarkers) that best reflect the aging process. Using this data, researchers will create a mathematical model to estimate a person's "biological age." The study plans to enroll at least 3,500 male and female volunteers aged 18 years and older from across Russia. Participants will be divided into 5-year age groups (e.g., 18-24, 25-29, up to 90+ years) to ensure broad representation. Participation involves a single visit to a clinical center. During this visit, participants will undergo: Interview and questionnaires (assessing health history, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, diet, sleep, and quality of life). Physical examination and anthropometric measurements (height, weight, blood pressure, grip strength). Functional and cognitive tests (e.g., walking speed, balance tests, memory and attention tasks tailored to age). Collection of biomaterials: blood (50 ml), urine, and stool samples for extensive laboratory analysis, including routine tests and specialized aging biomarkers. Part of the biomaterials will be biobanked for future scientific research. Instrumental examinations for a subset of participants: Depending on the center's capabilities and the study protocol, some participants may also undergo additional assessments such as densitometry (bone density scan), bioimpedance analysis (body composition), and brain MRI. The results are expected to lead to the creation of a validated biological age calculator for the Russian population. This tool could help identify targets for interventions to promote healthy aging and, in the future, potentially predict the risk of developing age-related chronic diseases.

Kinematics of Movements Provoked by an Augmented Reality App

Introduction: Home-based rehabilitation has the potential to reduce healthcare costs. However, due to less supervision in the home situation, it is possible that movements are made incorrectly. Therefore it is important to gain insight in which movements are made with a home-based rehabilitation system and what effects instructions could have on these movements. The current study investigated these movements made by the Rehabilitation Gaming System (RGS) app, this app uses augmented reality to provoke upper limb movements. Methods: 16 healthy elderly and 16 stroke survivors participate in this study. Each participant was invited to the rehabilitation clinic for a one time measurement of 1.5 hours. During this measurement, four therapy exercises and four games on the RGS-app are performed. Each game should provoke a similar movement as one of the therapy exercises. Participants start with performing the therapy exercises for two minutes each. Thereafter they receive a video instruction on how to perform one of the games of the RGS-app, and they will play this game for 2 minutes. Thereafter the group is randomized into two conditions. The first group receives the same video instruction, while the second group receives a personalized live instruction based on the first two minutes of playing. After the new instruction, participants will play the game for two minutes again. This is repeated for all four games. Both the order of the therapy exercises and RGS-app games are randomized. During the study, participants wear Inertial Measurement Units (IMU's).

African Americans (AA) Communities Speak

African Americans are less likely to receive quality end-of-life (EoL) care. Addressing disparities in EoL care will need efforts to support a better understanding of African American patients' EoL cultural values and preferences for EoL communication and the impact of historical and ongoing care delivery inequities in healthcare settings. Our proposed "Caring for Older African Americans" training program is designed to empower clinicians to improve goal-concordant EoL care delivery by using community-developed storytelling videos to create empathy with experiences of racism in EoL care, guidelines for culturally concordant EoL care delivery, and an implicit bias recognition and management training to mitigate bias in goals of care communication.

Functional Neuroimaging in Parkinson's Disease

The study uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to better understand changes in the brain underlying motor symptoms affecting upper and lower limbs in Parkinson's disease.

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.

Online Grammatical Reasoning Training for Older Adults

The START study will investigate the impact of playing a Grammatical Reasoning brain training task on overall brain function (cognition) and day-to-day function in people over 50. .

Developing an Artificial Intelligence System to Detect Cognitive Impairment

Alzheimer's disease dementia (AD) is a debilitating and prevalent neurodegenerative disease in older adults globally. Cognitive impairment, a hallmark of AD, is assessed through verbal tests that require high specialization, and while accepted as screening tools for AD, general practitioners seldom use them. AD can be diagnosed with expensive, invasive neuroimaging and blood tests, but these are usually conducted when cognitive functioning is already severely impaired. Thus, finding a novel, non-invasive tool to detect and differentiate mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD is a prime public health interest. Self-figure drawings (a projective tool in which individuals are asked to draw a picture of themselves), are easy to administer and have been shown to differentiate between healthy and cognitively impaired individuals, including AD. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) (a type of deep neural network, applied to analyze visual imagery) has advanced to assess health conditions using art products. Therefore, the proposed study suggests utilizing CNN-based methods to develop and test an application tailored to differentiate between drawings of individuals with MCI, AD, and healthy controls (HC) using 4,000 self-figure drawings. This

The Role of GABA-mediated Inhibition in Multisensory Temporal Processing & Postural Control in Older Adults

In recent years evidence has accumulated on the association between age-related decline in multisensory temporal processing and postural control. This proposed project aims at examining GABA-mediated inhibition as the potential mechanism behind this link. Our overarching hypothesis is that changes in the excitatory-inhibitory balance with a reduction of GABAergic inhibition is a common mechanism underlying age-related multisensory and postural deficits potentially mediated by age-related reduction in network segregation. To test this hypothesis, we will assess the relationship between age-related multisensory/postural deficits and age-related reduction in GABA concentration in related brain areas and probe the role of GABA-mediated inhibition using cognitive training that specifically targets inhibitory functions. Our multimodal approach is innovative, and findings from this study has the potential to lead to the development of safe and effective rehabilitation protocols for older adults with impaired multisensory temporal integration and postural control.

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.

Feasibility of Improving Glycemia With Heat Therapy to Prevent AD

The investigators will determine if heat therapy can improve blood (Aim 1) and brain (Aim 2) glucose metabolism in cognitively healthy older adults (65+) who are at risk for AD. The investigators will also examine the degree to which changes in blood and brain glucose metabolism track together and explore several additional potential mechanisms that are critical to understanding the brain benefits of heat therapy (Aim 3). These aims will provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of heat therapy on whole body metabolic function and brain health.

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

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.

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.

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.