Psychomotor Slowing

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 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 chronic pain in older adults, focusing on those with knee or hip osteoarthritis. This trial evaluates a mobile, remotely delivered behavioral intervention aimed at increasing physical activity and improving diet to reduce pain and enhance quality of life. The goal is to see if this approach can increase daily steps, reduce pain interference, lower body weight, and improve physical function over 6 months, with a follow-up maintenance phase lasting 12 months. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will join weekly group sessions with peers and receive individual coaching calls to encourage moving often throughout the day and adopting healthier eating habits to lose weight. They will use an activity monitor and a mobile app for feedback and goal-setting. The comparison group will receive an activity monitor and a wireless weight scale but no behavioral intervention. After 6 months, all participants enter a 12-month no-contact period to maintain their progress independently. During the study, participants will be assessed on daily steps, pain interference, body weight, physical function tests like the 30-second chair stand and gait speed at baseline, 6 months, and 18 months. Researchers will monitor changes in these areas to measure the interventions effectiveness. Participants will attend virtual testing appointments and complete questionnaires, with the total study duration being 18 months including follow-up.

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.

Maintaining the ability to perform daily activities is crucial for the quality of life, health, and independence of older adults. This research focuses on improving how functional impairments and frailty are identified and managed among older Veterans in primary care settings within the Veterans Health Administration VHA. The study aims to increase the use of standardized, low-burden tools to measure functional status, which has been challenging to implement widely due to the complexity of current methods. The initiative aligns with national VA priorities to support aging Veterans and improve healthcare planning. The study evaluates a patient-centered intervention called the PACT Function Initiative, which includes routine, standardized functional status measurement, nursing screening with primary care follow-up, electronic tools for documentation, educational sessions for staff, and tailored reports on functional status. Initially, all participating sites will use a standard bundle of implementation strategies such as champions and system-level audit and feedback. Sites with lower uptake after three months will be randomized to receive either continued standard implementation or an enhanced bundle that adds technical assistance and clinician-level audit and feedback. The study includes phases of pre-implementation, implementation, crossover allocation, and sustainment. Participants, who are older Veterans seen in VA primary care, will be part of assessments over 24 months. Researchers will measure changes in reach, clinical effectiveness, adoption, fidelity, patient experience, sustainability, and functional status using electronic health records and screening data. The study collects data at multiple time points to evaluate the impact of implementing the intervention. This ongoing monitoring will help inform strategies for better managing functional impairment and frailty in this population.

Researchers are investigating how hearing aids might affect cognitive function in older adults with age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis. This study focuses on individuals aged 60 to 85 and aims to understand whether improving hearing ability can slow down the decline in memory and cognition associated with hearing loss. The research is being conducted at a single center and plans to follow participants for several years to assess changes over time. Participants are divided into two groups one group receives hearing aids and the other does not receive any intervention. Those in the hearing aid group will use the device continuously for five years. Follow-up visits occur every six months, during which various tests are performed, including hearing assessments, cognitive tests, and brain imaging. The study uses a double-blind, randomized design to compare outcomes between the groups. Throughout the study, participants will have their cognitive functions measured using tools like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment MoCA and the Mini-Mental Status Exam MMSE every six months. Hearing ability will also be evaluated regularly through audiometry tests. Researchers will monitor the effects of hearing aids on cognitive decline and hearing improvement over the five-year period. Safety and adherence to the hearing aid intervention will be tracked as well.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of six months of aerobic exercise on older adults aged 65 years or older who have mild cognitive impairment MCI or probablepossible mild Alzheimers disease AD. This Phase II mechanistic Sequential, Multiple Assignment, Randomized Trial SMART aims to assess how aerobic exercise influences aerobic fitness, brain white matter changes, and patient-centered outcomes. The study also seeks to identify the best exercise approaches to improve aerobic fitness and understand how exercise impacts memory mechanisms in early AD. Participants are assigned to one of several exercise programs moderate intensity continuous training MICT cycling for 30-50 minutes three times a week, chair-based stretching for 30-50 minutes three times a week, a combination of MICT followed by high-intensity interval training HIIT cycling for 40 minutes three times a week, or MICT followed by strength-building exercises three times a week for three months. The study includes an initial 3-month exercise phase with possible adaptation based on fitness response, lasting up to six months. During the study, participants will undergo cognitive testing and exercise assessments five times over one year, brain MRI scans three times in the same period, and monthly follow-ups discussing health and wellness. Researchers will measure peak oxygen consumption and white matter hyperintensity volume at baseline and six months, along with memory, physical function, behavioral symptoms, caregiver burden, quality of life, and blood biomarkers over one year. The trial includes safety monitoring and aims to improve understanding of exercise effects on early Alzheimers disease.

Researchers are evaluating whether donanemab slows the progression of cognitive decline, which affects thinking, learning, memory, attention, and decision-making, as well as functional decline impacting daily activities. This study focuses on adults aged 55 to 85 who have early cognitive decline along with Lewy Body Dementia features and confirmed brain amyloid and alpha-synuclein pathology. The trial is a phase 2 treatment study sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company, lasting one and a half years per participant. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either donanemab or a placebo, both given as intravenous infusions. Donanemab is being studied to assess its effects compared to placebo in this population. The treatment period lasts for 52 weeks, during which participants receive regular infusions under medical supervision. During the study, participants will undergo various assessments including cognitive and functional tests such as the Clinical Dementia Rating - Sum of Boxes CDR-SB, Integrated Alzheimers Disease Rating Scale iADRS, and Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale ADAS-Cog13. Brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis will also be performed to measure amyloid plaque levels and alpha-synuclein pathology. Safety and drug levels in blood will be monitored throughout, with participants being followed closely for one and a half years total.

Apathy, characterized by loss of motivation and withdrawal from activities, is common after stroke and significantly affects quality of life for survivors and their caregivers. This study investigates whether a new, accelerated form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS targeting the medial prefrontal cortex mPFC can be safe and helpful for people experiencing apathy after stroke. The trial is a double-blind, randomized controlled phase III study focusing on improving apathy symptoms in chronic stroke survivors. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation iTBS rTMS targeting the left dorsal medial prefrontal cortex or a sham stimulation. The active treatment involves high-dose rTMS delivered in 12 sessions per day over six treatment days within two weeks, totaling 43,200 pulses. Sham treatment mimics the active procedure without delivering therapeutic stimulation. Brain imaging with MRI will help guide treatment targeting and will be performed before and immediately after the treatment period. During the study, participants will undergo clinical assessments at baseline, immediately after treatment, and one month post-treatment to measure changes in apathy symptoms, cognition, depression, and treatment acceptability. Researchers will monitor safety through treatment-emergent adverse events after each session. The primary outcome is the change in apathy measured by the Lille Apathy Rating Scale and the Apathy Evaluation Scale. The total participation duration includes treatment over two weeks and follow-up assessments up to one month post-treatment.