AgingMINDNCT02073201
Development of Clinical Methods to Evaluate Neural Function in Aging
An observational study of Aging, run by University of Florida at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
A primary focus of the University of Florida (UF) Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) is to build a comprehensive understanding of the causes and consequences of declining physical function and disability development among older adults. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 100 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Aging
- What is being tested?
- High-functioning older adults, Lower-functioning older adults and Young adults
- How many people
- 27 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Sep 2015to 2 Jun 2017
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 100 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: We propose to recruit 30 persons over 60 years of age who are classified as either high- or low functioning based on performance on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Participants with a SPPB score ≥ 11 will be categorized as high-functioning, while the low-functioning group will include participants with a SPPB score ≤ 8. We will also recruit 15 persons between 20-30 years of age. We will target cognitively intact (3MSE > 80) older adults who are free of overt neuromuscular impairments (no dementias, brain tumors, major depression, history of stroke, etc.).
Who may be able to join
- Age 60 years and older OR 20-30 years
- Higher functioning older adults: Score ≥ 11 on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
- Lower functioning older adults: Score ≤ 8 on the SPPB
- Body mass index: 20-35 kg/m2 to ensure homogeneity and strength of signal for EMG and MRI analyses
- Willingness to participate in all study procedures
Who cannot join
- Failure to provide informed consent;
- Contraindications to MRI, such as claustrophobia, heart pacemaker / defibrillator, heart valve prosthesis, aneurysm clip, metallic stent, neurostimulation system, cochlear implants or inner ear prosthesis, insulin pump or other infusion pump, metal slivers in the orbital area/eye socket
- active treatment for cancer or history of cancer in the past year
- Severe cardiac disease, including NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest or stroke, use of a cardiac defibrillator, or uncontrolled angina;
- previous stroke with upper and/or lower extremities involvement within the last 6 months
- history of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, stroke, severe Parkinson's disease or severe neurological disorders likely to interfere with physical function
Show all 15Show fewer
- renal disease requiring dialysis
- lung disease requiring steroids
- lower extremity amputation
- severe osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis that interferes with physical function
- complicated diabetes requiring insulin
- A known diagnosis of dementia
- Unable to communicate because of severe hearing loss or speech disorder;
- Severe visual impairment, which would preclude completion of the assessments and/or intervention;
- Simultaneous participation in another intervention trial
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
UF Clinical Translational Research Building
Gainesville, Florida, 32611
About this study
A primary focus of the University of Florida (UF) Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) is to build a comprehensive understanding of the causes and consequences of declining physical function and disability development among older adults. To date investigators have largely focused on sarcopenia, the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength, as the primary contributor to physical decline. However, recent findings indicate that changes in the central and/or peripheral nervous systems may play a larger role than previously thought in the development of functional limitations. These fields hold extensive promise for identifying novel contributors to age-related functional decline. Therefore, the overarching aim of this project is to develop the ability of RC1 to assess novel neural contributors to mobility and overall physical function. Importantly, the development of these techniques will provide the RC1 with the tools to evaluate the potential involvement of the central and peripheral nervous systems in age-related functional decline and disablement. The primary aim of this project is to develop techniques for quantifying peripheral motor unit number and size as well as spinal cord integrity.
Read the detailed description
As part of participation, the subjects will attend up to 4 visits. During the visits the following testing may occur:
- Vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure), height and weight will be measured.
- Tests that assess your mobility and questions about physical function. These tests are listed below and will not be conducted in a particular order, and will take approximately 1.5 hours to complete.
- Walking tests,
- Tests of physical ability that include:
- Standing up from chairs of different height
- Lying on the floor and rising to a standing position
- Kneeling on the floor and rising to standing position
- Climbing a flight of stairs
- Lift a weighted laundry basket and placing it on a shelf
- Muscle strength tests will be performed on the legs and arms.
- Questionnaires that address physical function.
- Muscle and nerve testing will be done.
- During the above testing, sensors will be worn on the forehead that use invisible light to indirectly measure blood flow and blood oxygen content of the brain. In addition, sensors may be worn the fingers that measure how the skin conducts electricity. A chest strap that measures heart beats will also be worn. These measures are safe and provide information about the nervous system responds to physical and/or mental challenges.
- Tests will be done that measure memory, attention, vocabulary, problem solving, and planning skills.
- A bone density and body composition measured (scanned) by the machine called DEXA. DEXA scans, like x-rays, are painless, and involve exposure to very small amounts of radiation.
- Images of the brain will be taken using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a procedure that allows doctors to look inside the body by using a scanner that sends out a strong magnetic field and radio waves.
All of these test are done for this study and will not be used to diagnose or treat any medical problems.
The expected length of participation is approximately six hours total, over the course of 4 separate visits.
- Conditions
- Aging
- Being tested
- High-functioning older adults, Lower-functioning older adults, Young adults
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
High-functioning older adultsOther
Participants with a SPPB score ≥ 11 will be categorized as high-functioning. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Lower-functioning older adultsOther
Participants with a SPPB score ≤ 8 will be categorized as lower-functioning. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Young adultsOther
Participants between the 20 - 30 years of age. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| High-functioning older adults | Participants with a SPPB score ≥ 11 will be categorized as high-functioning. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Receives: Other: High-functioning older adults | |
| Lower-functioning older adults | Participants with a SPPB score ≤ 8 will be categorized as lower-functioning. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Receives: Other: Lower-functioning older adults | |
| Young adults | Participants between the 20 - 30 years of age. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Receives: Other: Young adults |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Neuromuscular integrity by motor unit function
Tasks that require prolonged muscle force are carried out by slow, fatigue-resistant motor units, while tasks that require a quick but short increase in muscle force are mostly performed by fast motor units. Many of the postural muscles have a large proportion of S motor units. On the other hand, muscles that participate in quick limb movements such as kicking, hitting, or catching typically have a large proportion of FR and FF motor units. Most muscles, however, have a relatively wide range of the various motor units, reflecting their participation in a variety of motor tasks.
Measured: Baseline
Secondary outcomes (1)
Structural integrity of the brain and spinal cord
Magnetic resonance (MR)-based
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Feb 2014 (estimated)
- Study startSep 2015
- Primary completionDec 2016
- Study completion2 Jun 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AgingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of FloridaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 27 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Florida
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Thomas Buford, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Florida
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02073201
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB201300835-N
- Other IDs
- 2P30AG028740
- Acronym
- MIND
- Status last verified
- Apr 2018
- First submitted
- 25 Feb 2014
- Last updated
- 5 Apr 2018
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Apr 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Development of Clinical Methods to Evaluate Neural Function in Aging
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02073201
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MIND / IRB201300835-N
- Conditions
- Aging
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 27 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of FloridaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- Study start
- Sep 2015 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- 2 Jun 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 27 Feb 2014 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
A primary focus of the University of Florida (UF) Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) is to build a comprehensive understanding of the causes and consequences of declining physical function and disability development among older adults. To date investigators have largely focused on sarcopenia, the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength, as the primary contributor to physical decline. However, recent findings indicate that changes in the central and/or peripheral nervous systems may play a larger role than previously thought in the development of functional limitations. These fields hold extensive promise for identifying novel contributors to age-related functional decline. Therefore, the overarching aim of this project is to develop the ability of RC1 to assess novel neural contributors to mobility and overall physical function. Importantly, the development of these techniques will provide the RC1 with the tools to evaluate the potential involvement of the central and peripheral nervous systems in age-related functional decline and disablement. The primary aim of this project is to develop techniques for quantifying peripheral motor unit number and size as well as spinal cord integrity.
Detailed description
As part of participation, the subjects will attend up to 4 visits. During the visits the following testing may occur:
- Vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure), height and weight will be measured.
- Tests that assess your mobility and questions about physical function. These tests are listed below and will not be conducted in a particular order, and will take approximately 1.5 hours to complete.
- Walking tests,
- Tests of physical ability that include:
- Standing up from chairs of different height
- Lying on the floor and rising to a standing position
- Kneeling on the floor and rising to standing position
- Climbing a flight of stairs
- Lift a weighted laundry basket and placing it on a shelf
- Muscle strength tests will be performed on the legs and arms.
- Questionnaires that address physical function.
- Muscle and nerve testing will be done.
- During the above testing, sensors will be worn on the forehead that use invisible light to indirectly measure blood flow and blood oxygen content of the brain. In addition, sensors may be worn the fingers that measure how the skin conducts electricity. A chest strap that measures heart beats will also be worn. These measures are safe and provide information about the nervous system responds to physical and/or mental challenges.
- Tests will be done that measure memory, attention, vocabulary, problem solving, and planning skills.
- A bone density and body composition measured (scanned) by the machine called DEXA. DEXA scans, like x-rays, are painless, and involve exposure to very small amounts of radiation.
- Images of the brain will be taken using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a procedure that allows doctors to look inside the body by using a scanner that sends out a strong magnetic field and radio waves.
All of these test are done for this study and will not be used to diagnose or treat any medical problems.
The expected length of participation is approximately six hours total, over the course of 4 separate visits.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| High-functioning older adults | – | Other: High-functioning older adultsParticipants with a SPPB score ≥ 11 will be categorized as high-functioning. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). |
| Lower-functioning older adults | – | Other: Lower-functioning older adultsParticipants with a SPPB score ≤ 8 will be categorized as lower-functioning. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). |
| Young adults | – | Other: Young adultsParticipants between the 20 - 30 years of age. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- We propose to recruit 30 persons over 60 years of age who are classified as either high- or low functioning based on performance on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Participants with a SPPB score ≥ 11 will be categorized as high-functioning, while the low-functioning group will include participants with a SPPB score ≤ 8. We will also recruit 15 persons between 20-30 years of age. We will target cognitively intact (3MSE > 80) older adults who are free of overt neuromuscular impairments (no dementias, brain tumors, major depression, history of stroke, etc.).
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age 60 years and older OR 20-30 years
- Higher functioning older adults: Score ≥ 11 on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
- Lower functioning older adults: Score ≤ 8 on the SPPB
- Body mass index: 20-35 kg/m2 to ensure homogeneity and strength of signal for EMG and MRI analyses
- Willingness to participate in all study procedures
Key exclusion criteria (15 listed)
- Failure to provide informed consent;
- Contraindications to MRI, such as claustrophobia, heart pacemaker / defibrillator, heart valve prosthesis, aneurysm clip, metallic stent, neurostimulation system, cochlear implants or inner ear prosthesis, insulin pump or other infusion pump, metal slivers in the orbital area/eye socket
- active treatment for cancer or history of cancer in the past year
- Severe cardiac disease, including NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest or stroke, use of a cardiac defibrillator, or uncontrolled angina;
- previous stroke with upper and/or lower extremities involvement within the last 6 months
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| High-functioning older adultsParticipants with a SPPB score ≥ 11 will be categorized as high-functioning. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). | Other | High-functioning older adults |
| Lower-functioning older adultsParticipants with a SPPB score ≤ 8 will be categorized as lower-functioning. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). | Other | Lower-functioning older adults |
| Young adultsParticipants between the 20 - 30 years of age. The following test will be performed: Health and Quality of Life questionnaires, Mobility Assessments, Accelerometry, Body Composition (DEXA scan), Strength assessments, Neuromuscular stimulation, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). | Other | Young adults |
Primary outcome
Neuromuscular integrity by motor unit function
Time frame: Baseline
Tasks that require prolonged muscle force are carried out by slow, fatigue-resistant motor units, while tasks that require a quick but short increase in muscle force are mostly performed by fast motor units. Many of the postural muscles have a large proportion of S motor units. On the other hand, muscles that participate in quick limb movements such as kicking, hitting, or catching typically have a large proportion of FR and FF motor units. Most muscles, however, have a relatively wide range of the various motor units, reflecting their participation in a variety of motor tasks.
1 secondary outcome
Structural integrity of the brain and spinal cord
Time frame: Baseline
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Apr 2018.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Thomas Buford, PhD principal investigator
University of Florida
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Aging, run by University of Florida at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 15 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Apr 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Neuromuscular integrity by motor unit function (time frame: Baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Apr 2018.