HyposmiaSlow-SPEEDNCT06600438
Slow-SPEED UK: A Double-Blind Randomised Feasibility Trial
A study testing Slow-SPEED app in people with Hyposmia and Olfactory Dysfunction, run by Queen Mary University of London at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
Slow-SPEED UK is an 18-month randomised, double-blind feasibility trial evaluating the delivery, adherence, and acceptability of a digitally supported physical activity programme in community-dwelling adults aged 40 and over with objectively confirmed hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) and low baseline physical… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 to 100 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Hyposmia, Olfactory Dysfunction, Anosmia
- What is being tested?
- Slow-SPEED app
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 110 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 27 May 2026to 31 Oct 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 40 to 100 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 40 years
- Objective hyposmia, defined as scoring below the 15th percentile (adjusted for age/sex) on UPSIT
- Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent
- Proficiency in written and spoken English sufficient to complete study procedures.
- Willingness and ability to attend baseline (in-person), 9-month (remote), and 18-month (in-person) assessments.
- Access to telephone or internet for interim communication. Specifically, in possession of a suitable smartphone (screen size minimum 4.6 inch; Android version 9 or iOS version 15 or newer).
- Physical activity threshold: During the 4-week eligibility run-in, the mean daily step count must be <7,000 steps/day, calculated over ≥21 valid days (a valid day = ≥10 hours wear time or ≥1,000 steps). If recruitment after the first 2 months is <60-70% of target, and subject to TSC/Sponsor approval and REC amendment, eligibility may be broadened to <10,000 steps/day (i.e. participants averaging 7,000-9,999 steps/day become eligible).
Who cannot join
- Clinical diagnosis of PD, dementia, or other neurodegenerative conditions
- Severe or unstable medical or psychiatric illness likely to impair participation
- Use of agents known to alter olfaction (e.g. intranasal zinc, chronic corticosteroids)
- Current enrolment in an interventional study within the past 3 months (standard research retention guidance).
- Inability to complete study procedures in English, per investigator assessment
- Unable to give consent
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- Participants not living independently in the community. Participants in nursing homes, hospitalised persons on in a non-institutionalised setting are excluded.
- Subject's personal smartphone is Fitbit-incompatible i.e. Huawei P8 Lite; Huawei P9 Lite; Xiaomi Mi 6; Huawei P20 Lite
- Activity level above threshold during eligibility run-in: mean daily step count ≥7,000 steps/day (or ≥10,000 steps/day if the broadened threshold is activated).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United Kingdom1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Viktoria Azoidou
London
Viktoria Azoidou
About this study
Official title: Slow-SPEED-United Kingdom: A Double-Blind Randomised Feasibility Trial of a Remote Gamified Physical Activity Programme in Adults With Hyposmia.
Slow-SPEED UK is an 18-month randomised, double-blind feasibility trial evaluating the delivery, adherence, and acceptability of a digitally supported physical activity programme in community-dwelling adults aged 40 and over with objectively confirmed hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) and low baseline physical activity.
Participants are randomly assigned 1:1 to either a full-dose activity-support programme (targeting a 100% increase in daily step count) or a very low-dose active control (targeting a 10% increase). Both arms are delivered via a smartphone application linked to a wearable activity monitor (Fitbit Charge 6), with personalised weekly goals expressed as relative percentages to maintain blinding. The study is not designed to test clinical efficacy.
Read the detailed description
Slow-SPEED UK is an 18-month, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group feasibility trial evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a digitally supported physical activity programme in community-dwelling adults aged 40 and over with objectively confirmed hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) and low baseline physical activity. The study is not designed or powered to assess clinical efficacy or disease outcomes.
Participants are identified through two routes: the PREDICT-PD research platform at Queen Mary University of London, and the Smell and Taste Clinic at James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Potential participants undergo telephone pre-screening followed by confirmatory olfactory testing using the 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). Those scoring at or below the 15th percentile for age and sex are classified as hyposmic. Eligible individuals then enter a 4-week run-in period during which habitual daily step count is measured using a Fitbit Charge 6. Only those averaging fewer than 7,000 steps per day over at least 21 valid days proceed to randomisation. If recruitment falls below 70% of target after the first two months, and subject to Sponsor approval and REC amendment, the eligibility threshold may be broadened to fewer than 10,000 steps per day.
Eligible participants are randomly assigned 1:1 to one of two arms using sequentially numbered opaque sealed envelopes, stratified by age, sex, baseline activity level, and severity of smell loss. Double-blinding is maintained by presenting all activity goals within the smartphone application as relative percentage targets rather than absolute step values, ensuring neither participants nor investigators are aware of group allocation during the study period.
Both arms use the Slow-SPEED smartphone application integrated with the Fitbit Charge 6 wearable activity tracker. The intervention arm targets a progressive increase in daily step count up to 100% above individual baseline, with weekly goals increasing by 5% increments. The active control arm targets a 10% increase above baseline, with weekly goals increasing by 0.5% increments. Both arms use the same application structure, automated feedback, goal progression algorithm, and motivational features, including gamification, visualised progress, and optional non-directive motivational prompts. All participants also complete assessments using the Roche Mobile Application V2 (remote motor tasks performed every 6 weeks throughout the study period) and wear an Axivity AX6 accelerometer for 7-day bursts at baseline, 9 months, and 18 months.
Assessments are conducted at three time points: baseline (in-person), 9 months (remote), and 18 months (in-person). Baseline and 18-month in-person visits include olfactory testing (UPSIT), blood pressure measurement using standard sphygmomanometry, clinical motor assessment (MDS-UPDRS Part III), digital motor tasks (BRAIN test, Digital Finger Tapping, Manus Neurodynamica digital pen, NeuroClues eye-tracking), and a structured battery of questionnaires covering physical activity (LAPAQ), mood and anxiety (HADS), sleep quality (PSQI), quality of life, autonomic symptoms (SCOPA-AUT), and cognitive screening (MoCA). The 9-month remote assessment includes questionnaires and remote digital task completion. Physical activity is measured continuously throughout the study period via the Fitbit Charge 6.
The primary endpoint is the change in average daily step count from baseline (weeks 0-4) to the final four weeks of the 18-month study period, analysed descriptively as a measure of engagement and sustainability. Secondary endpoints include change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), wearable-derived digital mobility and gait measures, motor and non-motor assessments, and participant-reported outcomes including health-related quality of life and usability of the digital tools.
The primary objective is to evaluate feasibility, defined by recruitment rate, retention, adherence to the intervention, engagement with digital tools, completeness of outcome data, and safety over 18 months. Secondary objectives are descriptive and exploratory. All analyses follow the intention-to-treat principle and emphasise estimation with 95% confidence intervals rather than hypothesis testing. Results will be used to inform the design and operational parameters of a future definitive trial.
- Conditions
- Hyposmia, Olfactory Dysfunction, Anosmia
- Being tested
- Slow-SPEED app
- Keywords
- Hyposmia, Physical activity, Feasibility randomized controlled trial, Wearable technology, Smartphone application, Olfactory dysfunction, Digital health intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Anosmia, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Slow-SPEED appOther
Gamified motivational smartphone app
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 100% exercise increase | Experimental | Arm: Full-Dose Exercise Group Participants in this arm will be asked to increase their average daily step count by 100% compared with baseline. Using a Fitbit smartwatch and the Slow-SPEED smartphone app, they will receive personalised step goals, real-time feedback, and gamified challenges to encourage gradual and sustained increases in physical activity. The programme is delivered remotely and unsupervised over 18 months, with progress monitored continuously through the wearable device. Receives: Other: Slow-SPEED app |
| 10% exercise increase | Active comparator | Arm: Low-Dose Control Group Participants in this arm will be asked to increase their average daily step count by 10% compared with baseline. Like the intervention group, they will use a Fitbit smartwatch and the Slow-SPEED smartphone app, receiving similar gamified feedback and motivational tools. The lower step target provides an active control condition while maintaining blinding. The programme is delivered remotely and unsupervised over 18 months, with continuous monitoring via the wearable device. Receives: Other: Slow-SPEED app |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Average Daily Step Count
Change in average daily step count from baseline (weeks 0-4) to the final four weeks of the 18-month study period (approximately weeks 75-78), measured continuously using the Fitbit Charge 6 wearable activity monitor. Average daily step count will be calculated across four-week periods and analysed descriptively as a measure of engagement and sustainability in keeping with the feasibility aims of the study.
Measured: Baseline (weeks 0-4) to 18 months (weeks 75-78)
Feasibility of Study Delivery
Composite feasibility outcome assessed by: (1) proportion of eligible participants who consent to take part (recruitment rate); (2) proportion of randomised participants who complete the 18-month study period (retention); (3) adherence to the intervention, measured by app engagement metrics and Fitbit wear time; (4) completeness of remote and in-person assessment data; and (5) frequency and nature of adverse events (safety).
Measured: Throughout the 18-month study period, with summaries at 9 months and 18 months
Secondary outcomes (20)
Change in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) Intensity
Change in mean daily minutes spent at or above 64% of age-predicted maximum heart rate (HRmax), measured continuously via the Fitbit Charge 6 photoplethysmography sensor. Distribution of time across intensity bands will be described and the feasibility of capturing sustained heart-rate data over 18 months will be assessed. Analyses are exploratory only.
Measured: Baseline (weeks 0-4) to 9 months and 18 months
Cardiorespiratory Fitness: Estimated VO₂max
Feasibility of obtaining a remote estimate of aerobic fitness (VO₂max) via the Fitbit algorithm throughout the study period. Analyses will focus on completion rates, participant tolerance, and signal stability of remote VO₂max estimation. Resting heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) will also be summarised as the average daily resting values to assess feasibility and stability of remote cardiovascular monitoring.
Measured: Continuously throughout the 18-month study period, with summaries at baseline, 9 months, and 18 months
Blood Pressure
Feasibility of repeated blood pressure measurement using standard sphygmomanometry, assessed at baseline and 18-month in-person visits. Supine and standing readings will be taken in accordance with American Autonomic Society recommendations to assess orthostatic hypotension. Collected for safety monitoring and feasibility assessment only; not used for clinical diagnosis.
Measured: Baseline and 18 months (in-person visits)
Remote Digital Motor Assessment: Roche Mobile Application V2
Feasibility of repeated remote motor task completion using the Roche Mobile Application V2 smartphone platform. Active tasks include finger tapping, shape drawing, reaction time, information processing, executive functioning, balance, gait, and upper limb performance, administered every 6 weeks throughout the study period. Feasibility assessed by number of data points received, proportion of expected submissions completed, and drop-off patterns across predefined 6-week windows from 0 to 78 weeks.
Measured: Every 6 weeks from randomisation to 18 months (approximately 13 assessment windows)
Structured Motor Examination: MDS-UPDRS Part III, Functional Gait Assessment, and Mini-BESTest
Feasibility of administering in-person structured motor assessments including the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (MDS-UPDRS Part III), the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), and the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), with and without cognitive dual-tasking. Examinations will be video recorded with participant consent to allow baseline and follow-up comparison. Videos are not used for clinical decision-making.
Measured: Baseline and 18 months (in-person visits)
Upper Limb Digital Motor Performance: BRAIN Test, Digital Finger Tapping, and Manus Neurodynamica Digital Pen
Feasibility of administering digital upper limb motor assessments at in-person visits, including: (1) the Bradykinesia Akinesia Incoordination (BRAIN) test, a validated computer-based keyboard tapping task; (2) the Digital Finger Tapping test; and (3) the Manus Neurodynamica digital pen, an AI-based handwriting and fine-motor assessment device recording kinematic and dynamic features of writing and drawing. These tools are included as exploratory assessments of upper limb motor function.
Measured: Baseline and 18 months (in-person visits)
Free-Living Mobility and Gait: Axivity AX6 Accelerometer
Feasibility of collecting continuous raw accelerometer data from a 6-axis inertial movement sensor (Axivity AX6) worn on the dominant wrist for 7-day bursts at specified time points. Data will provide wearable-derived digital mobility and gait metrics in free-living conditions. Analyses will assess completion rates, wear-time compliance, and data quality across assessment windows.
Measured: Baseline, 9 months, and 18 months (7-day wear bursts)
Oculomotor Assessment: NeuroClues Eye-Tracking
Feasibility of administering a standardised high-frequency binocular eye-tracking battery (NeuroClues) at in-person visits, including prosaccades, antisaccades, fixation, and pursuit tasks. Key endpoints include prosaccade latency (ms), antisaccade latency (ms), antisaccade error rate (%), fixation stability, and saccadic intrusions. Included as an exploratory assessment of oculomotor control only.
Measured: Baseline and 18 months (in-person visits)
Sleep Quality: Fitbit Sleep Metrics and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Feasibility of remote long-term sleep monitoring using the Fitbit Charge 6, capturing sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and duration of sleep stages (deep, light, REM, and awake). Complemented by the validated Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire administered at each assessment time point. Feasibility assessed by data completeness, wear-time adherence, and questionnaire completion rates.
Measured: Fitbit continuously throughout 18 months; PSQI at baseline, 9 months, and 18 months
Mood, Anxiety, and Psychological Wellbeing: HADS and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire
Feasibility of repeated administration of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), a 29-item self-report measure of subjective wellbeing. Feasibility assessed by questionnaire completion rates and missing data patterns. Mood and autonomic symptoms are also captured via MDS-UPDRS Part I at in-person visits.
Measured: Baseline, 9 months, and 18 months
Cognitive Function: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Feasibility of administering the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at in-person visits to ensure participants can engage appropriately with study procedures and to assess the feasibility of repeated in-person cognitive testing in this population. Not used for clinical diagnosis or prediction.
Measured: Baseline (in-person visit)
Autonomic Symptoms: SCOPA-AUT
Feasibility of repeated administration of the validated Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT) questionnaire as a general autonomic function measure. Feasibility assessed by completion rates across repeated remote and in-person administrations.
Measured: Baseline, 9 months, and 18 months
Olfactory Function: UPSIT
Feasibility of repeated olfactory assessment using the 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) at in-person visits. UPSIT scores will be recorded to assess the feasibility and stability of repeated olfactory testing across the study period. Results are not used for individual risk prediction or clinical diagnosis.
Measured: Baseline and 18 months (in-person visits)
Health-Related Quality of Life and Functional Status: WHOQOL-BREF and Lawton iADL Scale
Feasibility of administering the World Health Organisation Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF) and Lawton's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (iADL) scale at annual assessment time points. Feasibility assessed by completion rates, missing data patterns, and participant burden ratings.
Measured: Baseline and 18 months
Smartphone Application Usability: System Usability Scale (SUS)
Feasibility and acceptability of the Slow-SPEED smartphone application assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS). Participant ratings will be used to evaluate usability and inform improvements to the user experience for a future definitive trial.
Measured: 9 months and 18 months
Digital Engagement and App Usage
Quantitative assessment of participant interaction with the Slow-SPEED application, measured by total number of app opens across predefined time windows: baseline period (0-1 month), and post-randomisation periods of 1-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-18 months. Reported separately by study arm.
Measured: Throughout the 18-month study period
Adherence to Weekly Step and Activity Goals
Compliance with the intervention assessed by: (1) proportion of participants achieving an increase in mean daily step count relative to baseline at 18 months, categorised as 0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, and 76-100% increase; (2) proportion achieving an increase in mean daily MVPA minutes relative to baseline, using the same categories; (3) total number of weekly step goals completed across the 18-month period; and (4) total number of weekly intensity goals completed across the 18-month period. Reported separately for both study arms.
Measured: Throughout the 18-month study period, with summaries at 6, 12, and 18 months
Participant Retention
Proportion of randomised participants remaining in the study without withdrawal, assessed at 6, 12, and 18 months following randomisation. Reported separately for the intervention and active control arms.
Measured: 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months
Motivators and Barriers to Physical Activity Engagement
Feasibility of administering a self-designed questionnaire to explore participant-reported motivators and barriers to engagement with the physical activity programme. Responses will inform the design and participant support strategies for a future definitive trial.
Measured: Baseline and 18 months
Research Composite Score (RCS)
An exploratory composite research index aggregating standardised scores across four domains already collected within the study:
Physical activity domain-average daily step count and mean daily MVPA minutes, derived continuously from the Fitbit Charge 6 Self-reported symptom domain-scores from HADS, PSQI, WHOQOL-BREF, SCOPA-AUT, and Lawton iADL scale Sensory domain-UPSIT olfactory score adjusted for age and sex Digital engagement domain-Fitbit wear time, Slow-SPEED app opens, and Roche Mobile Application V2 completion rates
Domain scores will be standardised and combined descriptively to characterise overall patterns of engagement and function across the study period. The RCS is a research-only instrument. No individual-level scores or predictions will be generated, communicated to participants, or used for clinical decision-making. Results will be used solely to inform the design of a future definitive trial.
Measured: Baseline, 9 months, and 18 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Sep 2024
- Study start27 May 2026
- Primary completion31 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Oct 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (13)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HyposmiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The primary purpose is to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and safety of delivering the Slow-SPEED intervention.
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 110 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Queen Mary University of London
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Radboud University Medical Center
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Alastair J Noyce, BMedSci, MBBS, MSc, MRCP, PhD, Principal investigator, Centre for Preventive Neurology, Queen Mary University of London
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06600438
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 362207
- Acronym
- Slow-SPEED
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Jul 2024
- Last updated
- 29 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Doty RL, Shaman P, Dann M. Development of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test: a standardized microencapsulated test of olfactory function. Physiol Behav. 1984 Mar;32(3):489-502. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(84)90269-5.
PubMed 6463130Patel ZM, Holbrook EH, Turner JH, Adappa ND, Albers MW, Altundag A, Appenzeller S, Costanzo RM, Croy I, Davis GE, Dehgani-Mobaraki P, Doty RL, Duffy VB, Goldstein BJ, Gudis DA, Haehner A, Higgins TS, Hopkins C, Huart C, Hummel T, Jitaroon K, Kern RC, Khanwalkar AR, Kobayashi M, Kondo K, Lane AP, Lechner M, Leopold DA, Levy JM, Marmura MJ, Mclelland L, Miwa T, Moberg PJ, Mueller CA, Nigwekar SU, O'Brien EK, Paunescu TG, Pellegrino R, Philpott C, Pinto JM, Reiter ER, Roalf DR, Rowan NR, Schlosser RJ, Schwob J, Seiden AM, Smith TL, Soler ZM, Sowerby L, Tan BK, Thamboo A, Wrobel B, Yan CH. International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: Olfaction. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2022 Apr;12(4):327-680. doi: 10.1002/alr.22929.
PubMed 35373533Yuan Y, Chamberlin KW, Li C, Luo Z, Simonsick EM, Kucharska-Newton A, Chen H. Olfaction and Mobility in Older Adults. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Mar 1;150(3):201-208. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2023.4375.
PubMed 38236595Yeo BSY, Chan JH, Tan BKJ, Liu X, Tay L, Teo NWY, Charn TC. Olfactory Impairment and Frailty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Sep 1;150(9):772-783. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2024.1854.
PubMed 38990553Paluch AE, Bajpai S, Bassett DR, Carnethon MR, Ekelund U, Evenson KR, Galuska DA, Jefferis BJ, Kraus WE, Lee IM, Matthews CE, Omura JD, Patel AV, Pieper CF, Rees-Punia E, Dallmeier D, Klenk J, Whincup PH, Dooley EE, Pettee Gabriel K, Palta P, Pompeii LA, Chernofsky A, Larson MG, Vasan RS, Spartano N, Ballin M, Nordstrom P, Nordstrom A, Anderssen SA, Hansen BH, Cochrane JA, Dwyer T, Wang J, Ferrucci L, Liu F, Schrack J, Urbanek J, Saint-Maurice PF, Yamamoto N, Yoshitake Y, Newton RL Jr, Yang S, Shiroma EJ, Fulton JE; Steps for Health Collaborative. Daily steps and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of 15 international cohorts. Lancet Public Health. 2022 Mar;7(3):e219-e228. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00302-9.
PubMed 35247352Johnston W, Judice PB, Molina Garcia P, Muhlen JM, Lykke Skovgaard E, Stang J, Schumann M, Cheng S, Bloch W, Brond JC, Ekelund U, Grontved A, Caulfield B, Ortega FB, Sardinha LB. Recommendations for determining the validity of consumer wearable and smartphone step count: expert statement and checklist of the INTERLIVE network. Br J Sports Med. 2021 Jul;55(14):780-793. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-103147. Epub 2020 Dec 24.
PubMed 33361276Noyce AJ, R'Bibo L, Peress L, Bestwick JP, Adams-Carr KL, Mencacci NE, Hawkes CH, Masters JM, Wood N, Hardy J, Giovannoni G, Lees AJ, Schrag A. PREDICT-PD: An online approach to prospectively identify risk indicators of Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2017 Feb;32(2):219-226. doi: 10.1002/mds.26898. Epub 2017 Jan 16.
PubMed 28090684Yuan Y, Li C, Luo Z, Simonsick EM, Shiroma EJ, Chen H. Olfaction and Physical Functioning in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2022 Aug 12;77(8):1612-1619. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glab233.
PubMed 34379770Oleszkiewicz A, Croy I, Hummel T. The impact of olfactory loss on quality of life: a 2025 review. Chem Senses. 2025 Jan 22;50:bjaf023. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjaf023.
PubMed 40719006Brickwood KJ, Watson G, O'Brien J, Williams AD. Consumer-Based Wearable Activity Trackers Increase Physical Activity Participation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019 Apr 12;7(4):e11819. doi: 10.2196/11819.
PubMed 30977740Lipsmeier F, Taylor KI, Postuma RB, Volkova-Volkmar E, Kilchenmann T, Mollenhauer B, Bamdadian A, Popp WL, Cheng WY, Zhang YP, Wolf D, Schjodt-Eriksen J, Boulay A, Svoboda H, Zago W, Pagano G, Lindemann M. Reliability and validity of the Roche PD Mobile Application for remote monitoring of early Parkinson's disease. Sci Rep. 2022 Jul 15;12(1):12081. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-15874-4.
PubMed 35840753Li R, Li Y, Wang L, Li L, Fu C, Hu D, Wei Q. Wearable Activity Tracker-Based Interventions for Physical Activity, Body Composition, and Physical Function Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Med Internet Res. 2025 Apr 3;27:e59507. doi: 10.2196/59507.
PubMed 40179387Oosterhof TH, Mitchell E, Ascherio A, Aslibekyan S, Azoidou V, Beasley K, Ben-Shlomo Y, Bunnik E, Carroll C, Chahine L, Corcos D, Janssen Daalen JM, van Dijk KD, Dijkstra BW, Dommershuijsen L, Dorsey R, Evers LJW, Helmich RC, Johansson M, Norcliffe-Kaufmann L, Keavney J, Klein C, Kmiecik MJ, Kustermann T, Macklin EA, Marek K, Meles SK, Overeem S, Philpott CM, Pijpers A, Postuma RB, Rowbotham HM, Schootemeijer S, Schwarzschild MA, Simuni T, Sommerauer M, Stefani A, Steidel K, Verbeek M, van der Vliet R, de Vries NM, van de Warrenburg B, Wyse RK, Bloem BR, Schneider RB, Noyce AJ, Darweesh SKL. Slow-SPEED: protocol for three randomised trials of remotely delivered exercise to prevent Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1038/s41531-026-01463-z. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42448717
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Slow-SPEED-United Kingdom: A Double-Blind Randomised Feasibility Trial of a Remote Gamified Physical Activity Programme in Adults With Hyposmia.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06600438
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Slow-SPEED / 362207
- Conditions
- Hyposmia, Olfactory Dysfunction, Anosmia
- Keywords
- Hyposmia, Physical activity, Feasibility randomized controlled trial, Wearable technology, Smartphone application, Olfactory dysfunction, Digital health intervention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 110 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Queen Mary University of LondonUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Radboud University Medical Center
- Study start
- 27 May 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 19 Sep 2024 (actual)
- 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.
Slow-SPEED UK is an 18-month randomised, double-blind feasibility trial evaluating the delivery, adherence, and acceptability of a digitally supported physical activity programme in community-dwelling adults aged 40 and over with objectively confirmed hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) and low baseline physical activity.
Participants are randomly assigned 1:1 to either a full-dose activity-support programme (targeting a 100% increase in daily step count) or a very low-dose active control (targeting a 10% increase). Both arms are delivered via a smartphone application linked to a wearable activity monitor (Fitbit Charge 6), with personalised weekly goals expressed as relative percentages to maintain blinding. The study is not designed to test clinical efficacy.
Detailed description
Slow-SPEED UK is an 18-month, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group feasibility trial evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a digitally supported physical activity programme in community-dwelling adults aged 40 and over with objectively confirmed hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) and low baseline physical activity. The study is not designed or powered to assess clinical efficacy or disease outcomes.
Participants are identified through two routes: the PREDICT-PD research platform at Queen Mary University of London, and the Smell and Taste Clinic at James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Potential participants undergo telephone pre-screening followed by confirmatory olfactory testing using the 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). Those scoring at or below the 15th percentile for age and sex are classified as hyposmic. Eligible individuals then enter a 4-week run-in period during which habitual daily step count is measured using a Fitbit Charge 6. Only those averaging fewer than 7,000 steps per day over at least 21 valid days proceed to randomisation. If recruitment falls below 70% of target after the first two months, and subject to Sponsor approval and REC amendment, the eligibility threshold may be broadened to fewer than 10,000 steps per day.
Eligible participants are randomly assigned 1:1 to one of two arms using sequentially numbered opaque sealed envelopes, stratified by age, sex, baseline activity level, and severity of smell loss. Double-blinding is maintained by presenting all activity goals within the smartphone application as relative percentage targets rather than absolute step values, ensuring neither participants nor investigators are aware of group allocation during the study period.
Both arms use the Slow-SPEED smartphone application integrated with the Fitbit Charge 6 wearable activity tracker. The intervention arm targets a progressive increase in daily step count up to 100% above individual baseline, with weekly goals increasing by 5% increments. The active control arm targets a 10% increase above baseline, with weekly goals increasing by 0.5% increments. Both arms use the same application structure, automated feedback, goal progression algorithm, and motivational features, including gamification, visualised progress, and optional non-directive motivational prompts. All participants also complete assessments using the Roche Mobile Application V2 (remote motor tasks performed every 6 weeks throughout the study period) and wear an Axivity AX6 accelerometer for 7-day bursts at baseline, 9 months, and 18 months.
Assessments are conducted at three time points: baseline (in-person), 9 months (remote), and 18 months (in-person). Baseline and 18-month in-person visits include olfactory testing (UPSIT), blood pressure measurement using standard sphygmomanometry, clinical motor assessment (MDS-UPDRS Part III), digital motor tasks (BRAIN test, Digital Finger Tapping, Manus Neurodynamica digital pen, NeuroClues eye-tracking), and a structured battery of questionnaires covering physical activity (LAPAQ), mood and anxiety (HADS), sleep quality (PSQI), quality of life, autonomic symptoms (SCOPA-AUT), and cognitive screening (MoCA). The 9-month remote assessment includes questionnaires and remote digital task completion. Physical activity is measured continuously throughout the study period via the Fitbit Charge 6.
The primary endpoint is the change in average daily step count from baseline (weeks 0-4) to the final four weeks of the 18-month study period, analysed descriptively as a measure of engagement and sustainability. Secondary endpoints include change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), wearable-derived digital mobility and gait measures, motor and non-motor assessments, and participant-reported outcomes including health-related quality of life and usability of the digital tools.
The primary objective is to evaluate feasibility, defined by recruitment rate, retention, adherence to the intervention, engagement with digital tools, completeness of outcome data, and safety over 18 months. Secondary objectives are descriptive and exploratory. All analyses follow the intention-to-treat principle and emphasise estimation with 95% confidence intervals rather than hypothesis testing. Results will be used to inform the design and operational parameters of a future definitive trial.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- The primary purpose is to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and safety of delivering the Slow-SPEED intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 100% exercise increase | Experimental | Other: Slow-SPEED appArm: Full-Dose Exercise Group Participants in this arm will be asked to increase their average daily step count by 100% compared with baseline. Using a Fitbit smartwatch and the Slow-SPEED smartphone app, they will receive personalised step goals, real-time feedback, and gamified challenges to encourage gradual and sustained increases in physical activity. The programme is delivered remotely and unsupervised over 18 months, with progress monitored continuously through the wearable device. |
| 10% exercise increase | Active comparator | Other: Slow-SPEED appArm: Low-Dose Control Group Participants in this arm will be asked to increase their average daily step count by 10% compared with baseline. Like the intervention group, they will use a Fitbit smartwatch and the Slow-SPEED smartphone app, receiving similar gamified feedback and motivational tools. The lower step target provides an active control condition while maintaining blinding. The programme is delivered remotely and unsupervised over 18 months, with continuous monitoring via the wearable device. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 to 100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Age ≥ 40 years
- Objective hyposmia, defined as scoring below the 15th percentile (adjusted for age/sex) on UPSIT
- Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent
- Proficiency in written and spoken English sufficient to complete study procedures.
- Willingness and ability to attend baseline (in-person), 9-month (remote), and 18-month (in-person) assessments.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Clinical diagnosis of PD, dementia, or other neurodegenerative conditions
- Severe or unstable medical or psychiatric illness likely to impair participation
- Use of agents known to alter olfaction (e.g. intranasal zinc, chronic corticosteroids)
- Current enrolment in an interventional study within the past 3 months (standard research retention guidance).
- Inability to complete study procedures in English, per investigator assessment
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Slow-SPEED appGamified motivational smartphone app | Other | 10% exercise increase, 100% exercise increase |
Primary outcome
Change in Average Daily Step Count
Time frame: Baseline (weeks 0-4) to 18 months (weeks 75-78)
Change in average daily step count from baseline (weeks 0-4) to the final four weeks of the 18-month study period (approximately weeks 75-78), measured continuously using the Fitbit Charge 6 wearable activity monitor. Average daily step count will be calculated across four-week periods and analysed descriptively as a measure of engagement and sustainability in keeping with the feasibility aims of the study.
Feasibility of Study Delivery
Time frame: Throughout the 18-month study period, with summaries at 9 months and 18 months
Composite feasibility outcome assessed by: (1) proportion of eligible participants who consent to take part (recruitment rate); (2) proportion of randomised participants who complete the 18-month study period (retention); (3) adherence to the intervention, measured by app engagement metrics and Fitbit wear time; (4) completeness of remote and in-person assessment data; and (5) frequency and nature of adverse events (safety).
20 secondary outcomes
Change in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) Intensity
Time frame: Baseline (weeks 0-4) to 9 months and 18 months
Cardiorespiratory Fitness: Estimated VO₂max
Time frame: Continuously throughout the 18-month study period, with summaries at baseline, 9 months, and 18 months
Blood Pressure
Time frame: Baseline and 18 months (in-person visits)
Remote Digital Motor Assessment: Roche Mobile Application V2
Time frame: Every 6 weeks from randomisation to 18 months (approximately 13 assessment windows)
Structured Motor Examination: MDS-UPDRS Part III, Functional Gait Assessment, and Mini-BESTest
Time frame: Baseline and 18 months (in-person visits)
Upper Limb Digital Motor Performance: BRAIN Test, Digital Finger Tapping, and Manus Neurodynamica Digital Pen
Time frame: Baseline and 18 months (in-person visits)
Free-Living Mobility and Gait: Axivity AX6 Accelerometer
Time frame: Baseline, 9 months, and 18 months (7-day wear bursts)
Oculomotor Assessment: NeuroClues Eye-Tracking
Time frame: Baseline and 18 months (in-person visits)
Sleep Quality: Fitbit Sleep Metrics and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time frame: Fitbit continuously throughout 18 months; PSQI at baseline, 9 months, and 18 months
Mood, Anxiety, and Psychological Wellbeing: HADS and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, 9 months, and 18 months
Cognitive Function: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Time frame: Baseline (in-person visit)
Autonomic Symptoms: SCOPA-AUT
Time frame: Baseline, 9 months, and 18 months
Olfactory Function: UPSIT
Time frame: Baseline and 18 months (in-person visits)
Health-Related Quality of Life and Functional Status: WHOQOL-BREF and Lawton iADL Scale
Time frame: Baseline and 18 months
Smartphone Application Usability: System Usability Scale (SUS)
Time frame: 9 months and 18 months
Digital Engagement and App Usage
Time frame: Throughout the 18-month study period
Adherence to Weekly Step and Activity Goals
Time frame: Throughout the 18-month study period, with summaries at 6, 12, and 18 months
Participant Retention
Time frame: 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months
Motivators and Barriers to Physical Activity Engagement
Time frame: Baseline and 18 months
Research Composite Score (RCS)
Time frame: Baseline, 9 months, and 18 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 6463130Doty RL, Shaman P, Dann M. Development of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test: a standardized microencapsulated test of olfactory function. Physiol Behav. 1984 Mar;32(3):489-502. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(84)90269-5.
- Background: PubMed 35373533Patel ZM, Holbrook EH, Turner JH, Adappa ND, Albers MW, Altundag A, Appenzeller S, Costanzo RM, Croy I, Davis GE, Dehgani-Mobaraki P, Doty RL, Duffy VB, Goldstein BJ, Gudis DA, Haehner A, Higgins TS, Hopkins C, Huart C, Hummel T, Jitaroon K, Kern RC, Khanwalkar AR, Kobayashi M, Kondo K, Lane AP, Lechner M, Leopold DA, Levy JM, Marmura MJ, Mclelland L, Miwa T, Moberg PJ, Mueller CA, Nigwekar SU, O'Brien EK, Paunescu TG, Pellegrino R, Philpott C, Pinto JM, Reiter ER, Roalf DR, Rowan NR, Schlosser RJ, Schwob J, Seiden AM, Smith TL, Soler ZM, Sowerby L, Tan BK, Thamboo A, Wrobel B, Yan CH. International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: Olfaction. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2022 Apr;12(4):327-680. doi: 10.1002/alr.22929.
- Background: PubMed 38236595Yuan Y, Chamberlin KW, Li C, Luo Z, Simonsick EM, Kucharska-Newton A, Chen H. Olfaction and Mobility in Older Adults. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Mar 1;150(3):201-208. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2023.4375.
- Background: PubMed 38990553Yeo BSY, Chan JH, Tan BKJ, Liu X, Tay L, Teo NWY, Charn TC. Olfactory Impairment and Frailty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Sep 1;150(9):772-783. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2024.1854.
- Background: PubMed 35247352Paluch AE, Bajpai S, Bassett DR, Carnethon MR, Ekelund U, Evenson KR, Galuska DA, Jefferis BJ, Kraus WE, Lee IM, Matthews CE, Omura JD, Patel AV, Pieper CF, Rees-Punia E, Dallmeier D, Klenk J, Whincup PH, Dooley EE, Pettee Gabriel K, Palta P, Pompeii LA, Chernofsky A, Larson MG, Vasan RS, Spartano N, Ballin M, Nordstrom P, Nordstrom A, Anderssen SA, Hansen BH, Cochrane JA, Dwyer T, Wang J, Ferrucci L, Liu F, Schrack J, Urbanek J, Saint-Maurice PF, Yamamoto N, Yoshitake Y, Newton RL Jr, Yang S, Shiroma EJ, Fulton JE; Steps for Health Collaborative. Daily steps and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of 15 international cohorts. Lancet Public Health. 2022 Mar;7(3):e219-e228. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00302-9.
- Background: PubMed 33361276Johnston W, Judice PB, Molina Garcia P, Muhlen JM, Lykke Skovgaard E, Stang J, Schumann M, Cheng S, Bloch W, Brond JC, Ekelund U, Grontved A, Caulfield B, Ortega FB, Sardinha LB. Recommendations for determining the validity of consumer wearable and smartphone step count: expert statement and checklist of the INTERLIVE network. Br J Sports Med. 2021 Jul;55(14):780-793. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-103147. Epub 2020 Dec 24.
- Background: PubMed 28090684Noyce AJ, R'Bibo L, Peress L, Bestwick JP, Adams-Carr KL, Mencacci NE, Hawkes CH, Masters JM, Wood N, Hardy J, Giovannoni G, Lees AJ, Schrag A. PREDICT-PD: An online approach to prospectively identify risk indicators of Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2017 Feb;32(2):219-226. doi: 10.1002/mds.26898. Epub 2017 Jan 16.
- Background: PubMed 34379770Yuan Y, Li C, Luo Z, Simonsick EM, Shiroma EJ, Chen H. Olfaction and Physical Functioning in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2022 Aug 12;77(8):1612-1619. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glab233.
- Background: PubMed 40719006Oleszkiewicz A, Croy I, Hummel T. The impact of olfactory loss on quality of life: a 2025 review. Chem Senses. 2025 Jan 22;50:bjaf023. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjaf023.
- Background: PubMed 30977740Brickwood KJ, Watson G, O'Brien J, Williams AD. Consumer-Based Wearable Activity Trackers Increase Physical Activity Participation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019 Apr 12;7(4):e11819. doi: 10.2196/11819.
- Background: PubMed 35840753Lipsmeier F, Taylor KI, Postuma RB, Volkova-Volkmar E, Kilchenmann T, Mollenhauer B, Bamdadian A, Popp WL, Cheng WY, Zhang YP, Wolf D, Schjodt-Eriksen J, Boulay A, Svoboda H, Zago W, Pagano G, Lindemann M. Reliability and validity of the Roche PD Mobile Application for remote monitoring of early Parkinson's disease. Sci Rep. 2022 Jul 15;12(1):12081. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-15874-4.
- Background: PubMed 40179387Li R, Li Y, Wang L, Li L, Fu C, Hu D, Wei Q. Wearable Activity Tracker-Based Interventions for Physical Activity, Body Composition, and Physical Function Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Med Internet Res. 2025 Apr 3;27:e59507. doi: 10.2196/59507.
- Slow-SPEED-UK participants will be identified via PREDICT-PD.Link provided by the sponsor.
- Slow-SPEED UK participants will be identified via the The Smell \& Taste Clinic ENT Department James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust via collaborator: Professor Carl Philpott, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth Norfolk, NR31 6LALink provided by the sponsor.
- Slow-SPEED International (including Slow-SPEED UK site) LinkedIn profileLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Alastair J Noyce, BMedSci, MBBS, MSc, MRCP, PhD principal investigator
Centre for Preventive Neurology, Queen Mary University of London
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Slow-SPEED app in people with Hyposmia and Olfactory Dysfunction, run by Queen Mary University of London at 1 site in United Kingdom.
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 7 inclusion and 9 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jun 2026. 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 Kingdom. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Viktoria Azoidou, PhD, MSc, BSc (0207 882 3850, v.azoidou@qmul.ac.uk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Average Daily Step Count (time frame: Baseline (weeks 0-4) to 18 months (weeks 75-78)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06600438, which also lists 13 linked publications.
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 29 Jun 2026.