Clinical Research Directory

Holistic Integration for Healthy Longevity and Aging in Place

Background: Taiwan is experiencing rapid population aging, with a growing prevalence of chronic diseases and functional impairments among older adults. Existing Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) programs focus primarily on screening but lack sufficient follow-up and intervention. In response, the HI-HOPE Project was developed to establish a community-based, multidisciplinary intervention model to enhance intrinsic capacity and promote healthy aging in rural elderly populations. Survey and Screening: The study will be conducted in 30 community centers across Yunlin County, targeting older adults aged ≥55 years. Participants will undergo biannual screenings over two years, assessing cognitive function, depression, mobility, vitality (nutrition), hearing, vision, osteoporosis, polypharmacy, urological health, and social participation \& welfare. Intervention: Participants will be randomly assigned to either: HI-HOPE Integrated Care Group: On-Site Community Interventions: Exercise training, mindfulness, social activities, oral and swallowing rehabilitation, hearing and vision training. Telehealth \& Remote Education: Digital health monitoring, remote consultations, and health education. Referral Services: Access to specialized medical care, transportation assistance, and follow-up support. Control Group: Standard community care services without additional structured interventions. Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes include changes in intrinsic capacity of functional health metrics, including abnormalities of I-COPE components (mobility, cognitive status, depression, hearing, vision, vitality) . Secondary outcomes assess quality of life, activities of daily living, hospitalization, emergency visits, falls, and mortality rates over two years. Significance: This project integrates digital health technologies, interdisciplinary care, and community-based interventions to improve elderly health outcomes. The findings will guide the future scalability of integrated aging care models in Taiwan and beyond.

Visual Involvement in Giant Cell Arteritis

This observational study aims to enhance the description of the different ways Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) affects vision. The latest technology and knowledge are used to improve how we diagnose and predict patient outcomes. GCA is the most frequent vasculitis, an inflammation of vessels, in older adults. It involves large and medium-sized arteries and causes ischemic alterations such as stroke and blindness, through damage of extracranial arteries. The primary objective is to compare the frequency of the various ocular findings between the main alterations of arteritic and non-arteritic aetiology, such as Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (A-AION) Vs. Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NA-AION) or Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) from GCA Vs. from other causes, through a comprehensive clinical and instrumental evaluation.