Aged, 80 and Over

Researchers are evaluating the AGIL Barcelona program to help frail older adults improve their physical abilities and delay disability. This study focuses on adapting and expanding the program across different community health centers in Barcelona. It aims to measure improvements in physical performance using a simple test SPPB and assess how well the program can be implemented in various neighborhoods. The program includes up to 10 weekly group exercise sessions led by a physiotherapist, emphasizing strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance. Participants receive personalized exercises supported by easy-to-understand materials. The program also offers advice on healthy habits like the Mediterranean diet, sleep improvement, and managing swallowing or memory issues. Medication reviews are conducted to ensure safe and appropriate treatments, and support is provided to connect participants with local activities to reduce social isolation. Participants will be involved in assessments of their physical performance, quality of life, cognitive function, social engagement, diet adherence, medication use, and any adverse events at the start, three months, and six months. The study uses a stepped approach to introduce the program at different sites gradually. Researchers will also gather qualitative feedback on participants experiences and program implementation. The total participation duration includes baseline and follow-up visits over six months.

The 100-Year Human Aging Study is a long-term observational research project enrolling adult participants to undergo detailed multi-system health screenings and follow them throughout their lives until death. The study aims to identify which health measurements taken at enrollment and repeatedly over time can predict overall mortality, cause-specific death, serious diseases, and functional disability. It addresses the current lack of validated longevity measures by generating data on how various physiological and cognitive functions relate to aging outcomes. Participants undergo a comprehensive clinical screening that includes tests of cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, mobility, neurocognitive performance, sensory functions, and metabolic health. Structural imaging assessments like DEXA scans, echocardiography, electrocardiography, spirometry, retinal photography, and vascular ultrasound are performed. Laboratory tests and detailed medical, social, and environmental histories are also collected. The study allows participation from single tests up to a full two-visit screening, with repeat testing encouraged to track health changes over time. Throughout the study, participants receive individualized reports with investigational estimates of biological age and predicted mortality risks, which are being evaluated against actual health outcomes. Researchers collect data continuously on mortality, disease occurrence, disability, and health behavior changes. The study involves ongoing follow-up with periodic assessments and aims to preserve all collected data for future analyses, with participant involvement potentially spanning their entire lifespan.

Researchers are evaluating how a combined program of aerobic and resistance exercises along with cognitive training affects brain function in older adults aged 60 and above. The study focuses on people who are sedentary and may or may not have cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, conditions known to impact memory and attention. This trial aims to compare the effects of physical exercise alone versus combined physical and cognitive training on thinking skills and brain health. The trial includes three groups one group will do both cognitive and physical training, another will do only aerobic and resistance exercises, and the third group will perform stretching and toning exercises as an active control. Each group participates in three sessions per week for 46 weeks, with options to train at home or at a center. The physical exercise sessions include warm-up, moderate to vigorous aerobic activity monitored by heart rate, and resistance training, while cognitive training involves computer-based memory and attention tasks. Participants will undergo assessments at the start and after 12 months to measure changes in general cognition, processing speed, executive functions, and memory. Brain imaging and blood flow measures will also be evaluated to observe changes in brain structure and function. Throughout the study, participants will be monitored for exercise intensity and adherence. The total study duration covers 12 months, with safety and cognitive outcomes closely tracked to understand the impact of these interventions.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS on working memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairments MCI compared to cognitively healthy older adults. This mechanistic, randomized, double-blind crossover study aims to understand how acute tDCS influences brain function and working memory performance, using advanced neuroimaging and machine learning methods. The study will enroll 110 adults aged 60 to 95 years to explore brain structure, cognitive function, and neural plasticity during stimulation. Participants will receive two types of stimulation active tDCS and sham tDCS. Active tDCS involves applying a 2.0 mA electrical current for 12 minutes using electrodes placed on the scalp over specific brain regions. Sham stimulation mimics the sensation of tDCS but delivers only 30 seconds of current to prevent brain stimulation. Each participant will perform working memory tasks before, during, and after stimulation in a crossover design with sessions separated by at least two weeks. During the study, participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging MRI to assess brain structure and function linked to working memory. Cognitive performance will be measured using N-back tasks at multiple time points. Researchers will monitor changes in working memory accuracy with active versus sham stimulation. The trial includes multiple visits for stimulation sessions and assessments, with participant involvement lasting until study completion in 2029. Safety and adherence will be monitored throughout the study.

Researchers are studying a new approach to reduce unnecessary screening mammograms in women aged 75 and older. This trial focuses on decreasing overuse of mammography, which may cause more harm than benefit in older women due to factors like shorter life expectancy and risks from follow-up procedures. The study aims to test a multilevel strategy involving patients, providers, and healthcare organizations to better align mammography use with current guidelines and patient needs. The study compares two groups one receiving enhanced usual care with organizational support such as provider education and consensus-building task forces, and another receiving this plus additional provider and patient interventions. Providers in the intervention group receive educational newsletters, and patients receive a brochure encouraging discussions with their providers about the appropriateness of continuing mammograms. Organizational components apply to all participants across selected clinics. Participants will be monitored for 18 months to assess screening mammography overuse, provider ordering behavior, and mammography screening discussions. Data will be collected through scheduled primary care visits and healthcare records. The study involves a cluster randomized controlled design at the provider level and includes diverse older women. Safety and study outcomes will be tracked throughout the trial period.

Researchers are evaluating a combined sleep promotion and cognitive training intervention to help improve cognitive function in older survivors of intensive care units ICU. This study focuses on adults aged 60 and older who are at high risk for delirium and cognitive decline similar to mild Alzheimers disease after ICU discharge. The study aims to assess whether these interventions can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimers disease and related dementias by addressing sleep deficiency, inactivity, and circadian rhythm disturbances common in ICU survivors. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups a combination of nighttime sleep promotion using earplugs and eye masks plus daily 30-minute computerized cognitive training sessions cognitive training alone sleep promotion alone or an active control group receiving educational modules on brain health. The interventions last up to seven days following ICU discharge, with cognitive training sessions scheduled based on individual circadian rhythms measured by a wearable sensor. During the study, participants will be monitored using body temperature sensors to optimize the timing of cognitive training. Researchers will assess cognitive function, including executive function and working memory, at several time points within seven days after hospital discharge, and at one, six, and twelve months follow-up. The study also examines how sleep and activity may influence cognitive outcomes, with safety and ongoing care monitored throughout the study period, which concludes in May 2027.

Researchers are evaluating a new 360-degree dual-task training to improve cognitive function in elderly people with subjective memory complaints or mild cognitive impairment. The study aims to develop an interactive and realistic rehabilitation program and test its effectiveness in these two groups. This research explores non-drug approaches to support brain health in early stages of cognitive decline. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups receiving the 360-degree media training or treatment as usual TAU. The training includes two phases first, supervised sessions in hospital using a head-mounted display then, unsupervised sessions at home using a tablet with a non-immersive version of the program. Both memory complaint and mild cognitive impairment groups will be evenly divided between these treatments. During the study, participants will undergo cognitive and motor function tests immediately after completing the training. The hospital sessions are supervised by therapists, while home sessions are done independently. Researchers will measure changes in brain function and physical abilities using a full neuropsychological battery. The total study period includes in-hospital and at-home rehabilitation phases to assess the trainings impact on cognitive health.

Researchers are investigating how a combination of brain stimulation and aerobic exercise can improve thinking skills, mobility, and brain function in older adults with cognitive frailty. This trial compares different types of theta burst stimulation, including intermittent theta burst stimulation iTBS primed with continuous theta burst stimulation cTBS, non-priming iTBS, and sham stimulation, to understand their effects on brain structure and function. The study aims to identify how these treatments impact cognition and movement and the brain mechanisms behind these changes. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups receiving different theta burst stimulation protocols three times a week for three months cTBS followed by iTBS, sham cTBS followed by iTBS, or sham cTBS followed by sham iTBS. After each stimulation session, all participants will take part in 60-minute aerobic exercise sessions for a total of six months. The brain stimulation will be delivered using a special coil guided by MRI scans to target specific brain areas. During the study, participants will undergo tests at the start, three months, and six months to assess their cognitive abilities, mobility, and brain activity. These include memory and attention tests, physical performance measures like gait speed and balance, and brain imaging scans. Researchers will also monitor physical activity levels, mood, fatigue, and daily functioning. The total involvement includes 39 stimulation sessions and ongoing exercise, with comprehensive evaluations throughout the study period.

This research investigates how aging affects motor control, focusing on healthy elderly individuals and patients with mild cognitive impairment. Researchers aim to understand differences in upper limb motor adaptation and to develop interventions that improve motor function and cognitive abilities through multisensory rhythmic skill training. The study also uses artificial intelligence to classify grasp patterns among young adults, elderly, and those with mild cognitive impairment. Participants are assigned to one of three groups virtual reality-based rhythmic skill training using VR headsets and controllers for 35 minutes, rhythmic skill training with visual feedback via a computer interface for 35 minutes, or an upper limb strengthening exercise program supervised by a therapist. These interventions include various exercises and sensory stimulations designed to enhance motor planning, execution, and cognitive processing. Throughout the study, participants undergo assessments at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks to measure changes in grip behavior, sensory perception, manual dexterity, and cognitive function using tests like the Mini-Mental Status Examination and Purdue pegboard test. Researchers monitor motor adaptation and cognitive improvements, with the overall goal of preserving independence and quality of life for the elderly. The study is randomized and double-blind, lasting up to 16 weeks.

Researchers are evaluating a new psychosocial program called the Hopeful and Healthy Living HHL intervention to help adults aged 50 and older who have serious mental illness. This study aims to see if the HHL program can improve social connections, reduce loneliness, and increase participation in healthy lifestyle activities compared to usual treatment. The study also looks at changes in cognitive and psychosocial functioning over time. The HHL intervention includes weekly 90-minute group sessions for 16 weeks, focusing on social skills training and cognitive self-management strategies. Each session covers topics like building social connections and healthy routines for eating, exercise, and sleep, with activities practiced both during class and at home. Participants assigned to the intervention will continue their usual treatment alongside the HHL program, while the comparison group receives treatment as usual without HHL. Participants complete interviews and assessments at the start of the study, then again at 4, 8, and 12 months to track changes. These assessments include cognitive tests, measures of loneliness, social support, physical activity, diet, and sleep quality. Feedback on the HHL program is also gathered at 4 months. Throughout the year-long study, researchers monitor how the intervention affects social and health outcomes in older adults with serious mental illness.