View clinical trials related to Aging.
Filter by:In the elderly a chronic basal systemic inflammation prevails - which is evident by enhanced CRP or IL-6 plasma concentrations - and by compromised defense mechanisms against invading microbes. These alterations belong to the physiological ageing process of the immune system (immunosenescence) and are regarded as an inflammatory response towards lifelong antigen stress ("inflammatory/pathogen burden"). This lifelong antigen stress evokes an age-dependent basal inflammatory activation of innate immunity as well as a wasting of specific immunity: it is supposed that in the course of life-time due to a multitude of infectious/inflammatory events ("multiple hits") an inflammatory stress prevails or "inflammatory/pathogen burden" accumulates, which substantially contributes to an enhancement of the inflammatory parameters of natural immune response. Such enhanced inflammatory parameters characterize persons at increased risk of degenerative diseases like atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease. The risk is the higher, the higher the "pathogen burden". An impact of the inflammatory load on cardiac ageing has not yet been described. "CARDIAC AGEING", REFLECTED BY A NARROWING OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY: The physiological ageing process of the heart goes along with a narrowing of heart rate variability as shown by various groups, including our own. Arguments in favour of a causal relationship between inflammation and cardiac ageing come from an experimental study with healthy human volunteers who had received a low dose of endotoxin: such a proinflammatory stimulus leads to a reversible narrowing of heart rate variability (7). Also in senescence heart rate variability steadily declines, paralleled by a steady increase of basal inflammatory activity. The reduction of heart rate variability also is regarded as a sensitive parameter of autonomic dysfunction, which contributes to the compromise of cardiac reserve in old age. Apart from typical morphological features and functional deterioration, e.g. diastolic dysfunction, the senescent heart is typically characterized by a narrowed heart rate variability. Efforts have been made to estimate the cardiac age of an individual by this compromised heart rate variability, which may be divergent to the biological age. In recent years diverse approaches were proposed to measure cardiac age on the basis of heart rate variability. The published mathematical formulae were mostly validated with small patient groups and have presently not entered clinical practice. Still heart rate variability is an accepted surrogate parameter of cardiac ageing and is amenable by therapeutic measures, e.g. beta-blockade. The interaction between autonomic nervous system and inflammation is bilateral: thus vagal stimulation can improve heart rate variability and at the same time evoke anti-inflammatory action: this "cholinergic anti-inflammatory" reflex could make the basis for pharmacological interventions to confine overwhelming inflammatory response syndromes. The afferent vagal nerve, on the other hand, can be stimulated by inflammatory mediators and toxins (endotoxin, Interleukin-1), thus activating the efferent vagus to release acetylcholine, which can bind to a nicotinergic acetylcholine receptor on macrophages and thus interrupt cytokine release and limit the rise in the blood levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-6). The biological meaning of this reflex is to localise inflammatory reactions in the organism and prevent a spill of cytokines to the circulation. A functioning autonomic nervous system is thus mandatory to prevent overshooting of inflammatory response to infection and non-infectious stimuli. The link between cardiac ageing and autonomic dysfunction gives another argument in favour of the notion that autonomic dysfunction and pathogen/inflammatory load could be factors promoting cardiac ageing. This, on the other hand, implies the chance of slowing down the cardiac ageing process by successfully modulating the extent of autonomic dysfunction and the scope of "pathogen/inflammatory burden". THE NEED FOR A TRIAL: A possible causal relationship between basal inflammatory activation and cardiac ageing has not been established. This is the issue of the project proposal. In this trial the investigators strive to lower the "pathogen/ inflammatory load" by simple and safe measures. The investigators therefore chose treatment with statins, standardised physical training (both parameters of heart function and heart rate variability could thus be improved) and vaccinations against influenza and pneumococci to prevent a further enhanced "pathogen/ inflammatory burden".
The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the effects of exercise and cognitive training on improving brain function in healthy older adults who may be at risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease.
The objective of this study is to provide insight into the effects combined training frequency has on improving fitness, ease of physical activity, and maintenance of a high total energy expenditure. Such information is critical to our understanding of ways to improve well-being, quality of life, and independence of an aging population. 105 participants will be enrolled in this study. The length of time for your involvement in the study will be 32 weeks. You will undergo the procedures listed in this consent form on 3 separate occasions-initially at your entry, at 16 weeks and again at 32 weeks.
The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a DVD-delivered, home-based, six-month physical activity intervention for older adults. A comparative effectiveness study of the FlexToBa DVD exercise program will be conducted in 2014.
The purpose of the Taste Perception Study is to assess variations in the ability to taste and perceive sensations from various stimuli in younger (18-49 years) and older (50-85 years) volunteers. The study's goal is to determine how these sensations influence what one likes to eat, and what one chooses to eat, and whether there is an association with dietary intake, body composition and chronic disease. Another objective of the study is to determine the association between variations in oral sensations and genes mediating sensory perception and dietary behaviours.
In older, normal-weight women (60-75 yrs, BMI=18-28 kg/m2), an acute bout of higher-intensity (60% of maximum effort) aerobic exercise, in comparison to an isocaloric bout of lower-intensity (45% of maximum effort) exercise (caloric expenditure of 3.5 kcal/kg body weight for both), will result in differential: 1. decline in non-exercise activity calorie expenditure in the subsequent 48 hours after exercise; 2. increase in resting metabolic rate 48 hours after exercise; 3. increase in serum free triiodo-L-thyronine (free T3) concentrations immediately following exercise; 4. decline from pre-exercise in plasma leptin and serum free T3 concentrations 48 hours after exercise.
This is an experimental research study. The subjects were randomized into two groups: Experimental group (EG; n=58, age: 67 ± 6 old) and Control group (CG; n=40; age: 70 ± 6 old). All were physically active without strictly obeying in regularity of the program of physical activity. The functional autonomy was evaluated by the amount of tests of Group Development of Latin American Maturity (GDLAM). It consists of hiking ten meters (C10m); standing up from the sitting position (SSP); to stand up from the ventral decubitus position (SSPVD); to stand up from a chair and be able to walk around your home (SCWH); and to be able to wear and remove a t-shirt (DTS). These tests have showed similar results in indice of GDLAM (IG). The intervention took place three times a week, with intensity that has varied between fifty five to seventy five per cent of the frequency maximum from heart.
The purpose of this study is to see if exercise can improve brain function in older adults
This proposal is a randomized control trial using innovative interactive health technologies to promote and sustain walking behavior among elderly patients. The technology uses an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA), a computer character that simulates face-to-face conversation. The trial will be block randomized by literacy status and include an intensive two-month, daily contact intervention via a Tablet PC ECA in the subject's home, an automated telephone program, and then an in-clinic, kiosk-based ECA for an additional 10 months, to promote maintenance of walking behavior. The study will occur in 2 phases, a pilot phase in which 20 subjects will be enrolled for the purpose of pre- testing the intervention and all data collection instruments, and a main study phase in which an additional 264 subjects will be enrolled.
Autologous platelet rich fibrin matrix will release growth factors which could increase the production of dermal proteins or affect the vascularity and status of neighboring tissues. This study is designed to evaluate the histologic and biochemical effect of injection of platelet rich fibrin matrix into the skin.