View clinical trials related to Aging.
Filter by:Buccal Fat Pad provides volume to the middle third of the face and occasionally may cause deepening of the nasolabial fold and relaxation of the mimetic muscles, both associated with aging. Bichectomy is the surgical procedure in which the buccal fat pad is remove in order to achieve a youthful and aesthetic appearance, getting harmony in facial contour. The purpose of this study was to compare the usual technique with an alternative method, using hydrodissection to facilitate the dissection of the Buccal Fat Pad making this procedure safer, efficient and more pleasant for the patient.
Ageing is generally perceived as a biologically-determined process. There is growing literature, however, that discusses the role of psychological factors in the ageing process. In particular, age-related stereotypes, which reflect the images that people have about the ageing process, seem to have a strong influence on health and life satisfaction, through self-fulfilling prophecy mechanisms. According to the stereotype embodiment theory, mindful changes in these images will promote a change in both the mind and the body, resulting, for example, in a rejuvenation and in a higher quality of life. The project aims to investigate whether changes in mindsets (i.e., addressing one's age-related stereotypes) can change the ageing process. The psychological components of ageing, as well as how these could be reverted, will be investigated. In other words, the study aims to provide a first answer to the question: "can the mind be used to become younger?" To answer this question, the project will test the efficacy of an intervention labeled "counterclockwise", based on an original, yet un-replicated, pilot study by Ellen Langer, at Harvard. A group of older adults (aged 75+) will take part of a residential role-play game, in which they will relive their previous self, acting as if they were in the year 1989. The whole residential program, which will last one week, is designed to enhance this perception, including a retrofitted environment and social activities that will prime participants to relive that period. The counterclockwise intervention will be tested against an active control group and a no-treatment group, with a randomized controlled trial. People in the active control group will spend a week in the same location of the counterclockwise intervention, mirroring the same activities, without any kind of time manipulation. Participants in the no-treatment group will only receive the assessment. Ninety participants will be randomly allocated to one of these three groups. Every participant will be assessed for medical, cognitive, psychological, and age appearance, four times: at the recruitment, after the intervention (i.e., after a week for the no-treatment group), and again after 6 and 12 months. Expected results will be able to promote a mindset-shift not only in the participants but in the general population. The communication plan, which is integrated into the project plan, includes the presentation of the results to communities and associations of older adults, using the experiment as a proof of concept. It will demonstrate that challenging rigid, culturally driven, age-related stereotypes can result in health and well-being improvement. This is expected to lead to a significant improvement of empowerment and perceived control, with the potential to become viral in social communications.
The research proposed here will evaluate whether a web-based recreation intervention, called ArtontheBrain, has positive health benefits to older adult users. ArtontheBrain incorporates three basic activities; learning (history of the artwork), play (telling stories, solving puzzles) and socializing with other users, either in person or online. It can be used alone, with another person, or in a group. It is modeled after participatory arts-based interventions which studies have shown are associated with health benefits in older adults, such as improved sense of well-being, physical health, decreased risk of dementia, and reduced need for health services. Our study will test ArtontheBrain at research sites and health agencies in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. with older adults with and without cognitive decline. The study will also examine how well that app can support different user play modalities and whether it can effect positive health outcomes similar to face-to-face arts interventions.
The current study will test whether age-related cognitive and mood changes in older adults and those with Parkinson disease will be affected by near infrared (NIR) stimulation. The overall hypothesis, drawn from previous literature, is that exposure to NIR stimulation will have positive effects on brain health and will result in better cognitive and mood performance.
Impairments in postural control are linked to low back pain and reductions in physical function in the elderly. Unfortunately, many techniques to assess the neural control of movement are not feasible, or directly applicable, to the trunk musculature. In a prior pilot study, we developed and optimized innovative approaches to study these muscles. We will continue to develop a reliable, fMRI protocol that investigates the activity of the motor cortical networks of selected trunk muscles (specific aim 1). We will also continue the development a reliable muscle functional MRI (mfMRI) protocol to assess the spatial muscle activation patterns of the deeper lumbopelvic muscles (specific aim 2). We will examine the test-retest reliability of these approaches in four distinct target populations: healthy adults, adults with chronic low back pain, older adults, and older adults with high levels of trunk muscle control (i.e., individuals with expertise in Pilates). By enrolling groups of various levels of trunk muscle control, pathology state and age, we will be able to not only determine the intra-individual reliability, but also the inter-individual reliability as we expect the variability of the measures to be influenced by physical ability, pain state and age. Lastly, in an exploratory aim we will examine the association of our novel neurophysiological measures from Aim 1 and 2 with classic biomechanical and muscle function measures (e.g., trunk extensor strength and trunk extensor steadiness). Successfully developing reliable techniques of this nature will result in new and improved research tools for conducting rigorous studies of therapeutic approaches, such as spinal manipulation and yoga, within the context of trunk muscle control and function.
The loss of mobility during aging impacts independence and leads to further disability, morbidity, and reduced life expectancy. The study objective was to examine the feasibility and safety of conducting a randomized controlled trial of yoga for older adults at risk for mobility limitations. The investigators hypothesized that sedentary older adults could be recruited for the study, would attend either yoga or a health education control, would complete assessments, and that the interventions could be safely delivered.
An observational study of physical activity patterns in 150 older adults with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED)
The objectives of this study are to examine the usability and efficacy, for diverse older adults, of a new tablet-based dynamic system: the Fittle Senior System (FSS) that will provide: (1) personalized behavior-change programs for improved diet and increased physical activity and (2) online social interaction and support from small teams pursuing similar goals. The proposed study involves a two group randomized trial where participants will be randomized to the Fittle Senior System or to a paper-based psycho-educational control condition following a baseline assessment. The duration of the intervention phase will involve an active 12-week intervention phase followed by a 12-week maintenance phase. We will recruit and randomize 180 community dwelling adults aged 65+ years, who live alone and are at risk for social isolation. Participants will be assessed at baseline, 3 months post active intervention and 3 months post maintenance (6 months following active intervention) on measures of health and health behaviors, and indices of social support.
This purpose of this study is to assess the impact of consuming wolfberry on cardiovascular risk in Singapore's middle-aged and older adults. The investigators hypothesize that consuming wolfberry with a healthy eating pattern diet will contribute to improvements in cardiovascular health when compared to a similar diet without wolfberry.
Background: Dynamic balance keeps the vertical projection of the center of mass within the base of support while the center of mass moves. The age-related decrease in dynamic balance is a risk factor for falls. Dynamic balance tests are used to predict the risks for falls and eventual falls but the psychometric properties of most tests assessing dynamic balance are unsatisfactory and comprise no actual loss of balance while walking. Objectives: Using beam walking distance as a measure of dynamic balance, we will determine the psychometric properties, lifespan and patient reference values, the relationship with selected 'dynamic balance tests', and the accuracy of beam walking distance to predict falls. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study will examine healthy adults in 7 decades (n=432) at 4 centers. Center 5 will examine patients (n=100) diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and balance disorders. At Test 1, all participants will be measured for demographics, medical history, grip and leg strength, short physical performance battery, static balance on a force platform, and dynamic balance using beam walking (4m-long, 4, 8, and 12 cm wide) under single (beam walking only) and dual task conditions (beam walking while concurrently performing an arithmetic task). In addition, cognitive function (global cognition, attention, executive function, processing speed, memory) will be assessed. Patients and healthy participants age 50+ will be additionally measured for fear of falling, history of falls, miniBESTest, functional reach on a force platform, timed up and go, and reactive balance. At Test 2, 7-10 days after Test 1, healthy adults young and age 50+ (n=40) will be re-tested for reliability of beam walking performance. All participants age 50+ will be re-called to report fear of falling and fall history 6 and 12 months after Test 1. Conclusion: The investigators expect to find that beam walking performance vis-à-vis the traditionally used balance outcomes predicts more accurately fall risks and falls.