View clinical trials related to Ageing.
Filter by:United Kingdom (UK) physical activity guidelines for older people state that "All older adults should minimise the amount of time spent being sedentary (sitting) for extended periods" and "there is sufficient evidence to support a recommendation to reduce sedentary behaviour in older adults, but it is not currently possible to suggest a specific time limit." The aim of this study is to identify key physiological and psychological outcomes influenced by acute periods of inactivity and what older people feel after these acute periods of inactivity. The investigators' main objective is to determine, through direct measurement and self report, the acute functional and cognitive effects of differing periods of sitting time. A secondary objective is to inform older people, professionals and organisations working with older people and policy makers on what duration of sedentary behaviour will lead to adverse outcomes in older people. The investigators will recruit ambulatory men and women aged 70 y and over who will be studied on three separate occasions, approximately one week apart to complete sedentary bouts of 1 h, 2 h and 4 h in a randomised crossover design. The investigators will explore the relationship between sitting time and changes in lower limb explosive power(primary outcome) measured before and after each bout. Secondary outcomes will include timed chair rise; Timed Up and Go; blood pressure; perception of musculoskeletal comfort/pain, vitality; mood and cognitive function. The investigators will also measure the stress hormone cortisol in samples of saliva taken at the start of the sitting session, 1 h, 2h and 4 h later. Characterising the acute effects of sitting time in older adults will enable the design of interventions to reduce sedentary time as well as inform professionals and policy makers on what duration of sedentary behaviour will lead to adverse outcomes.
Objective of the study is to determine the influence of dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on skin conditions. 33 healthy female subjects will be randomly assigned to a placebo group, a low-dose (LD) group receiving 50 mg CoQ10/day and a high-dose group (HD) receiving 150 mg CoQ10/day (11 subjects per group). A water-soluble form of CoQ10 with improved bioavailability (Quvital syrup with Q10vital®, Valens Int. d.o.o., Slovenia) will be used. Various skin parameters will be evaluated before the supplementation (the baseline), after 6 and after 12 weeks of supplementation. To evaluate the photoprotective potential of CoQ10 the minimal erythema dose (MED) will be determined before (the baseline) and after 12 weeks of the supplementation.
Objective of the study is to determine the influence of the cream with Silver fir wood (Abies alba) extract (Belinal) on the skin parameters and functions in comparison to the placebo cream. 10 healthy female subjects will use the test cream on one half and placebo cream on the other half of the face and of the gluteal part twice a day for 12 weeks. Various face skin parameters will be evaluated before the cream use (the baseline), after 6 and after 12 weeks of the cream use. To evaluate the photoprotective potential of Belinal the minimal erythema dose (MED) will be determined before (the baseline) and after 12 weeks of the cream use at the gluteal area.
The reason chronic constipation (CC) becomes commoner with age is not fully understood. New studies suggest that bowel contraction patterns, dietary fibre and gut bacteria are important and may differ in older people. Since CC reduces quality of life and is a major reason why elderly are admitted to hospitals and residential care, there is a need to understand how these factors change with age. Currently, placing a pressure sensing catheter inside the large intestine (pancolonic manometry) is the gold standard way to measure how well it contracts. However this involves a camera test (colonoscopy) which is invasive with risks of bowel perforations (~80/100,000). The risk is higher with age (64-80yr: ~90/100,000; 80+yrs: ~120/100,000), making it unethical for elderly. A technique called the 3D-Transit System has been developed, involving a small ingestible capsule, containing a 'trackable' electromagnet. By tracking movements of the capsule swallowed by participants, it provides precise detailed information on the capsule progression inside the whole gut and large bowel's contractile activity in real-time. It is minimally-invasive and radiation-free, making it possible to assess elderly for the first time. This study aims to assess how bowel contraction patterns, dietary fibre intake and gut bacteria differ between young and older adults (with and without CC), to better understand why CC is more common in elderly. It is a pilot, 4 arm, single centre, observational study involving 60 women aged 18-40 years and 70-90 years (15 non-constipated and 15 with CC for each age group). The study lasts 3 weeks, containing 2 weeks of run-in period and 1 week of study period. The four groups participants will be asked to: swallow 2 capsules to assess their large bowel's contractile function using the 3D-transit system; provide stool samples to analyses their gut bacteria; and complete questionnaires to assess their gastrointestinal symptoms.
Nitric oxide (NO) is an essential molecule in the body that decreases with aging and causes reductions in vascular, movement ("motor") and cognitive functions. This study will determine if daily oral supplementation (3 months) with a compound that increases NO in the body, i.e., sodium nitrite, improves vascular, motor and cognitive function in older adults. The project also seeks to provide insight into the biological reasons (mechanisms) by which supplementation with sodium nitrite improves physiological function in older adults. Overall, this research will provide scientific evidence supporting the use of sodium nitrite for preserving physiological function and preventing clinical disease and disability with aging.
Photoaging is caused by the superposition of chronic ultraviolet (UV)-induced damage on the intrinsic aging process, and accounts for the majority of age-associated changes in skin appearance. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in UV-induced skin damage and diminish skin matrix protein levels, leading skin aging. Strategies utilizing endogenous skin antioxidants as well as plant-derived or synthetic compounds have been examined. Astaxanthin mainly from marine algae and crustaceans is a kind of carotenoids which were well-known photo-protective agents with strong antioxidant activity. Several studies have revealed that supplementation of astaxanthin effectively protect skin against UV damage through free radicals. In addition, matrix metalloproteinase-1 induced by UV irradiation is an important step toward skin aging. Recently, many studies pointed out that phytoestrogens exhibit agonistic and antagonistic estrogen activities, suppressing activity of MMP-1 in skin. Isoflavone is a kind of phytoestrogen from soybean and mainly act on skin and bones, inhibiting MMP-1 effectively. The present study is designed to take isoflavone combined with astaxanthin to maximize their anti-aging ability and objectively measure the effects of the mixture on facial wrinkles, hydration, and elasticity.
This is a single-center, observational study design. Enrolled participants will be typically, healthy older adults. Participants will complete daily computerized measures, in addition to continuously wearing an Actiwatch device. The study period will last 2 weeks. The objectives of the study are to examine the impact of sleep, pain, and circadian rhythm on practice-related learning in older adults at their preferred versus nonpreferred times of day.
Rationale: Mediterranean style diets and diets rich in green leafy vegetables protect against the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a wide range of cardiovascular disease. These diets are rich in nitrate. Numerous studies have shown that nitrate from the diet can have a wide range of beneficial effects. These include relaxing blood vessels and improving their function. It has been shown that following a meal with added nitrate, blood flow to the stomach increases more than would be expected if the same meal is given without nitrate. This is because when we eat nitrate the body concentrates it and recycles it through the digestive system. As it cycles through it is converted into nitrite and nitric oxide which cause blood vessels to relax. The nitrite and nitric oxide also seem to protect against infection from food sources such as E.coli. What we do not know is whether this nitrite and nitric oxide has any effect on the small intestine and the liver. Some nitrite reaches the small intestine and may have the same effect on blood flow there as it does in the stomach. This could be very important because the small intestine releases hormones called incretins which we now know play a very important role in controlling blood sugar every time we eat. These incretin hormones regulate insulin release and the body's sensitivity to insulin. When we eat blood containing the substances we have absorbed from the gut, such as sugars and fats, goes to the liver for processing. The blood then leaves the liver and enters the circulation. This means the blood supply to the liver will have much higher concentrations of nitrite than the blood circulating in the rest of the body. High concentrations of nitrite appear to cause blood vessels to open up. This means more blood vessels in the liver should be opened after a nitrate rich meal. It seems likely that this will help the liver to control blood sugar more effectively. Purpose To find out if supplementation by inorganic nitrate as found in beetroot or green leafy vegetables increases liver (hepatic) microvascular perfusion and increases incretin secretion. Plan of investigations: We will recruit 16 individuals for each of the three groups (Young adults, older adults and individuals with type 2 diabetes). Participants will be recruited from a database of volunteers who have consented to being contacted for research studies which are held by the NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility. This is a double blind, placebo controlled crossover design study (nitrate rich beetroot juice vs a placebo, nitrate depleted beetroot juice). Three visits will be required for participants to complete this study. Visit 1. Screening and consent. The experimenter will explain to the participant what the study is designed to test. If the participant is completely clear on the study and understand what they are agreeing to, they will sign a consent form. In addition a standard medical history and clinical examination will be undertaken by a research nurse and or Anthony Shepherd. A venous blood sample will be taken using standard aseptic procedures. Following consent participants will be assigned a study number. Study numbers will be previously assigned (by a research statistician) to a randomisation order to begin either the beetroot juice or placebo arm of the study first. Visit 2. Visit 2 will require the participant to fast over night from 10pm. Only water will be admissible from this time. The following morning participants will arrive at the laboratory in a fully hydrated and rested state at ~ 7.30am. This visit will take ~ 5 hours and will require 4 MRI scans. Participants will have the first MRI scan after a short acclimatisation period. Participants will then be provided with a concentrated 140 mL nitrate drink or placebo with a standardised breakfast (2 slices of toast with butter). Three subsequent MRI scans will be required (one per hour for three hours). Venous blood samples taken from cannulas will be sampled, in order to assess glucose, insulin, incretins and nitrate/nitrite prior to each scan. Visit 3. Visit 3 will take place after a minimum washout period of 7 days from Visit 2. Visit 3 will be identical in nature to visit 2; however, it will be with the opposite supplement (either nitrate rich or placebo beetroot juice). Impact: Dietary nitrate appears to offer a simple, low cost means of modifying cardiovascular risk. This study will deepen our understanding of the role of the nitrate/nitrite/nitric oxide pathway in normal physiology. By understanding what effect inorganic nitrate from the diet has on hepatic perfusion and other pathways involved in glucose homeostasis this may lead to a range of simple, low cost therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes.
In this study the investigators aim to investigate whether the sympathetic stimulation of BAT, as assessed with a 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine single-photon emission computed tomography computed tomography scan, differs between young and elderly subjects, as an explanation for the diminished metabolic brown adipose tissue activity in the elderly. The investigators hypothesis is that sympathetic nervous system activity in the elderly is diminished as compared to their younger counterparts as an explanation for the diminished metabolic brown adipose tissue activity in the elderly.
Photoaging is caused by the superposition of chronic ultraviolet (UV)-induced damage on the intrinsic aging process, and accounts for the majority of age-associated changes in skin appearance. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) likely contribute to this process. Strategies utilizing endogenous skin antioxidants as well as plant-derived or synthetic compounds have been examined. Cocoa beans fresh from the tree are exceptionally rich in polyphenols, such as flavanol, and have a higher antioxidant capacity. The present study is designed to investigate the effects of long-term intake of a product rich in cocoa flavanols on facial wrinkles, hydration, elasticity and photosensitivity.