Zhutian Township

Researchers are studying adults aged 18 years and older living in Taiwan to develop and validate personalized disease risk prediction models. The goal is to understand how hearing ability, lifestyle factors, and data from wearable devices relate to the progression from health to chronic diseases. The study uses machine learning to combine data from questionnaires, hearing tests, wearables, and medical records to better predict disease risk compared to using a single data source. Participants will complete a detailed questionnaire about their demographics, health history, and lifestyle habits such as exercise and sleep. They will undergo a pure tone hearing test and wear a smartwatch for two weeks to gather continuous data like heart rate and physical activity. Study staff will help set up the devices and apps to ensure data quality. With participants' permission, researchers will also collect long-term health records from national health insurance and medical databases to track health outcomes over time. During the study, participants will be assessed through questionnaires, hearing tests, and wearable monitoring. Researchers will analyze the combined data using statistical and machine learning methods to find key predictors of disease progression. The study will evaluate model performance and validate results internally and externally when possible. Data privacy is protected by coding all information and securely handling personal identifiers. The study aims to support early disease risk detection and personalized health management in adults.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a social prescribing intervention designed to promote health among community-dwelling older adults aged 55 years and older. This study explores whether a combined program of mindfulness meditation followed by walking-pole exercise can improve physical function, psychological well-being, and sleep quality. The intervention is based on the idea that combining mind-body and community-based activities may support healthy aging and enhance both mental and physical health. The intervention lasts 16 weeks and consists of two phases delivered sequentially. The first phase is a 4-week group mindfulness meditation program with weekly 60-minute sessions focused on breathing awareness, relaxation, body awareness, emotion regulation, and positive psychological practices. Participants also practice at home with guided audio support. The second phase is a 12-week group walking-pole exercise program with weekly sessions lasting 60 to 90 minutes, emphasizing muscle strengthening, balance, mobility, and health promotion relevant to older adults. Both phases are led by trained instructors in community settings. Participants are assessed at four time points: before the intervention begins, after the mindfulness meditation phase, after completing the full intervention, and three months post-intervention. Researchers measure physical function using the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test, mood, well-being, sleep quality, and ongoing engagement in health-promoting activities. The study aims to provide evidence for a practical community program that supports physical and psychological health in older adults and encourages continued healthy behaviors.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of intensive lifestyle interventions combined with weight control medications on obese adults with metabolic syndrome. This randomized, parallel-group, observer-masked clinical trial enrolls 200 participants aged 20 to 65 years with metabolic syndrome and a BMI between 27.0 and 45.0 kg/m2. The study aims to assess changes in metabolic syndrome severity after achieving more than 5% body weight reduction over 24 weeks, and to compare outcomes between different lifestyle and medication strategies. Participants are randomly assigned to an Intensive Lifestyle Intervention (ILI) group or a Usual Lifestyle Intervention (ULI) group in a 2:1 ratio. The ILI group follows a daily 16:8 time-restricted eating pattern, walking over 10,000 steps, and reducing daily calorie intake by 500 kcals with specific macronutrient targets for 24 weeks. The ULI group maintains habitual meal timing and usual lifestyle during this period. After 24 weeks, both groups enter a second phase where they are randomized to receive either a GLP-1 receptor agonist (Rybelsus) or an SGLT-2 inhibitor (Forxiga) for 26 weeks, with the ILI group continuing their lifestyle regimen. Following medication, all participants are monitored for an additional 52 weeks to evaluate long-term weight maintenance. Throughout the study, researchers collect anthropometric data, biochemical and metabolic variables, DEXA scans, and abdominal MRI at baseline and follow-up visits. The ILI group uses a mobile app to track diet and health outcomes, and wears a Fitbit device to monitor daily steps. The primary outcome is the change in metabolic syndrome severity score after weight loss. Safety and sustained effects on weight and liver fat are also monitored over the total study duration of three years.