View clinical trials related to Healthy Aging.
Filter by:The objectives of this study are to investigate the effect of fruit consumption on the gut microbiota and their collective fecal and plasma metabolomes, vascular and cardiometabolic functions, cognition, and motor control.
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.
The number of older people living with cognitive impairment or dementia has increased the need for simple, inexpensive interventions to improve the quality of life for such individuals and their families. Policy-makers sensitive to issues associated with mental health challenges in aging have embraced social prescribing, and a wealth of research has flourished to study non-pharmacological forms of preventative intervention. Can music-therapy(MT) be one of them? Different studies demonstrated that music stimulates a range of cognitive and social functions. However, scientific studies assessing the value of MT for those who need support in later life are limited, and rigorous research is required to generate robust scientific evidence. The focus of this study is on developing novel forms of intervention for older adults who are healthy or experiencing mild-to-moderate cognitive decline, aiming at [i]understanding whether MT could be used in preventive programs to support cognitive functions, [ii]identifying the best match between types of MT and levels of cognitive decline. Moreover, recent developments of Robotic-Assistance-Technologies offer opportunities to explore how such technologies may be used to contribute to older adults wellbeing when integrated within care routines to facilitate MT delivery. Spanning across three-studies, the investigators will examine psychosocial benefits of 5-month MT interventions (one2one vs small-group MT) in healthy older adults and impaired older adults in care homes, compared to standard care. This latter group will receive MT afterwards. Further, researchers will investigate whether Robotic-Assistance-Technologies may enrich MT interventions and have additional benefits for the participants and translatability for community-based services. In order to measure these effects, psychological (cognitive functions, wellbeing, quality of life) and physiological (hormonal, cardiovascular & brain activity) measures will be compared before/after the intervention. The study will elucidate relationships between different types of MT and benefits to participants wellbeing, cognitive functions & social engagement, as well as the impact of robotic assistive technologies in public health services and social care.
People with cognitive impairments such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), often experience difficulty performing everyday routine activities. Further, normative age-related changes in cognition often lead to deficits on previously learned skills and impede new learning such as learning of new technology systems. This is of great concern, given population aging, the increasing number of older adults with cognitive impairments, and the continual deployment of new technologies in everyday contexts. The objectives of this SBIR Phase II study is to build on a previous Phase I SBIR project and refine and further evaluate a novel integrated computer-based functional skills assessment and training (CFSAT) program that provides training on everyday tasks critical to independent living (e.g., financial and medication management) with non-impaired older adults (NC) and adults with MCI.
L-citrulline is found naturally in watermelon. Recently interest has increased for this amino acid due to potential health benefits. Notably, L-citrulline has the potential to lead to dilation of blood vessels due to its involvement in the production of nitric oxide. The study will be an acute single blind, randomised controlled, crossover intervention study in healthy, young volunteers. Participants receive either the test watermelon drink or control drink (water). Blood samples and vascular measures (by a single-cuff based method) will be measured at baseline. Vascular measures will be repeated at 15-minute intervals between 0-2 hours and a second blood sample will be drawn at 1.5 hours to coincide with the estimated peak plasma L-citrulline. Citrulline, arginine and nitric oxide metabolites will be measured in the blood samples.
This project develops an innovative screening system and prediction model to detect preclinical symptoms of cognitive impairment and predict the potential development of mild cognitive impairments and dementia in older adults. The earliest possible detection of preclinical symptoms is prerequisite to improve the efficacy of subsequent preventative non-pharmacological, life-style and exercise related, personalized treatment interventions.
The investigators piloted the characterization of the human chronobiome. Now, this line of research is extended to explore physiological chronobiome modulated by sex, age and under evoked conditions.
This study is a validation study to evaluate efficacy of a neuroplasticity-based, computerized cognitive training program INHANCE (Improving Neurological Health in Aging via Neuroplasticity-based Computerized Exercise) to improve neurological and neuropsychological health in older adults.