Studies Related to Older Participants

Metabolic Optimization and Training InterVentions for Aging and Type 2 Diabetes to Enhance cognition: the MOTIVATE Study

Thames Hall, Robarts Research Institute, Elborn College, and Public Health and Family Medicine Building on Western University Campus

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) can negatively affect thinking and memory. Keeping blood sugar well controlled, along with positive lifestyle changes such as exercise, plays an important role in protecting brain health. This study is looking at ways to help older adults with T2D improve both their brain health through blood sugar control and exercise. Participants will take a medication called semaglutide or receive standard diabetes care, combined with a structured exercise program over 32 weeks. The study will measure how these approaches affect memory, thinking, and daily functioning, as well as physical fitness and blood sugar levels. The goal is to find safe and effective strategies to support healthier brains, bodies, and lifestyles in older adults living with type 2 diabetes.

Creatine and resistance training in older adults

Thames Hall (baseline and endpoint sessions), Elborn College (exercise classes), Robarts Research Institute (optional MRI)

Older adults are at greater risk for experiencing a reduction in cognitive and physical function. One promising lifestyle intervention to prevent or delay the onset of such declines is exercise, which has been found to improve cognitive function (mental abilities used to perform simple and complex tasks), physical function (muscle mass, bone density) and brain health (structure and function). There is also research demonstrating that creatine, a naturally occurring compound in the body known to decrease with age, can increase muscle mass and bone density in older adults when supplemented. We are interested in examining the effects of creatine supplementation on cognition and brain health in older adults when combined with exercise.

An Imaging Tool To Quantify Glymphatic Flow

St Joseph Hospital

The brain has a natural “cleaning system” that clears waste, but this process slows down with age and may contribute to diseases like Alzheimer’s. To better understand this problem, it is important to track how fluid moves and clears waste from the brain. Current methods are either invasive or not very precise, which makes them difficult to use, especially in patients. This study uses advanced imaging (hybrid PET/MRI) to non-invasively measure how quickly this fluid clears from the brain. This method could help identify reduced clearance early and monitor how treatments or lifestyle changes improve brain health.

Improving sleep via phase-locked auditory stimulation in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB)

Many older adults start to experience poorer sleep quality as they age, which can be associated with worse memory and cognition. Previous studies have shown that sleep can be improved when quiet sounds are presented at the right times during slow-wave sleep. We are interested in whether we can improve sleep and associated memory and cognitive function using these sounds in older adults.

Human Harmonized Touchscreen Tasks

Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB)/Social Science Centre (SSC)

Many disorders - like Alzheimer's disease or ADHD - can affect mental abilities like memory and attention. To explore how these effects could be related to changes in the brain, or to test new drug treatments, scientists often use mice or rats to model these disorders. However, tests of mental abilities can look very different for mice compared to people, and sometimes the results of these tests do not match. To address this issue, we have adapted several mouse touchscreen tests for use with people and are looking for a group of healthy volunteers to try them out. Our goal is to confirm that the tests are working as expected, to compare results to our existing mouse tests, and to collect data for developing future studies.

ADNIRS

Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB)

Through this study, we are aiming to understand the mental abilities of patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) while watching short movies. Previous research has shown that watching an engaging movie can lead to specific patterns of brain activity that can tell us about the mental abilities of the viewer. In this study, patients with AD, healthy older adults, and healthy young adults, will view short movies while undergoing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) imaging. By investigating differences or similarities in brain activity related to movie-watching in these groups, we can learn about the mental abilities and experiences of patients with AD. Findings from this study may have important practical and ethical implications for the patients’ standard of care and quality of life.

Neurofeedback Study

Parkwood Institute (PI)

Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Imagining movement has shown promise for movement rehabilitation after stroke. Neurofeedback with functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) may improve the quality of imagery, thereby improving functional outcomes. The proposed study aims to determine whether fNIRS can be used as a neurofeedback tool in stroke survivors.

Sensory processing in development and in autism

Online & Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB)

How we perceive the world greatly impacts how we interact with it. Sensory perception is known to change throughout development and to be different in children with developmental disorders such as autism. This study will explore the developmental trajectory of how we perceive the world, how the development of sensory processing differs in autism, and what the neural underpinnings of this typical and atypical development are.