AgingNCT06857877
Arlington Aging Study
An observational study of Aging, run by The University of Texas at Arlington at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this observational study is to learn about the mechanisms causing functional decline with age, using magnetic resonance imaging, exercise science, integrative physiology, neuroscience, and remote monitoring. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 85 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Aging
- How many people
- 770 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2024to 31 Dec 2030
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 18 to 85 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adult men and women currently living in Tarrant County will be contacted through IRB approved flyers, targeted ads (social media), and/or word-of-mouth.
Who may be able to join
- Phase 1: Young healthy men and women between 18 - 30 years of age, and older men and women between 50 - 80 years of age.
- Phase 2: Men and women living in Tarrant County, Texas, between 50 - 85 years of age. In addition, the investigators will study up to 120 younger men and women, between 18-30 years of age, equally divided by race/ethnicity (same as above) and sex, to serve as reference controls.
Who cannot join
- Phase 1: Clinical diagnosis of dementia; major depression (diagnosed by a physician), visual or auditory impairments that preclude neuropsychological testing or otherwise jeopardize the health and wellbeing of the participant during testing, non-ambulatory status (i.e. less than 10 m without mobility aid), shortness of breath while performing normal activities of daily living (walking through grocery store), body mass index greater than 45 kg/m2, heart failure or cardiomyopathy, acute coronary syndrome, primary valvular heart disease, severe gait disorder due to musculoskeletal disease or neurological motor deficit (e.g. severe osteoarthritis, lower limb amputation, Parkinson's disease, major stroke with motor sequelae); daily consumption of more than two alcoholic beverages; current treatment for cancer, and estimated life expectancy less than 4 years. Inclusion/exclusion will be verified using the demographics and medical history.
- Phase 2: Clinical diagnosis of dementia; major depression (diagnosed by a physician), visual or auditory impairments that preclude neuropsychological testing or otherwise jeopardize the health and wellbeing of the participant during testing, non-ambulatory status (i.e. less than 10 m without mobility aid), shortness of breath while performing normal activities of daily living (walking through grocery store), body mass index greater than 45 kg/m2, heart failure or cardiomyopathy, acute coronary syndrome, primary valvular heart disease, severe gait disorder due to musculoskeletal disease or neurological motor deficit (e.g. severe osteoarthritis, lower limb amputation, Parkinson's disease, major stroke with motor sequelae), daily consumption of more than two alcoholic beverages; current treatment for cancer, and estimated life expectancy less than 4 years. Inclusion/exclusion will be verified using the demographics and medical history.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Texas Arlington
Arlington, Texas, 76019
Rajvi Shah, MPH, 2147557343, rajvi.shah@uta.edu
Michael Nelson, PhD
About this study
Official title: Arlington Study of Healthy Aging
The goal of this observational study is to learn about the mechanisms causing functional decline with age, using magnetic resonance imaging, exercise science, integrative physiology, neuroscience, and remote monitoring.
Specific aims include:
Aim 1: Advance knowledge of the biology of aging and its impact on the prevention, progression, and prognosis of disease and disability.
Aim 2: Determine the effects of personal and societal factors on aging.
Aim 3: Examine the influence of racial/ethnic and sex differences on the biology of aging and its impact on the prevention, progression, and prognosis of disease and disability.
Read the detailed description
Subjects will be asked to participate in two study visits that may last up to 5 hours each. In some cases, additional visits may be needed to accommodate their schedule, and/or the schedule of the study team. All participants will provide informed consent prior to participating in the study procedures such as demographic, medical history, risk factor assessment; questionnaires; geographic information system analysis; blood pressure measurements; assessment of aerobic exercise capacity, cognitive function; olfactory testing; Dual X-Ray absorbency, fasting followed by venous blood draw, vascular function assessment; testing of muscle strength; short physical performance battery; functional mobility; and remote monitoring. The order of procedures and visits may change depending on participant, staff, equipment, and infrastructure availability/needs. Moreover, procedures may be repeated for data quality purposes, if deemed necessary by the investigators.
- Conditions
- Aging
- Keywords
- Aging, MRI, Cognitive Function, Exercise Science, Remote Monitoring
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Older Adults | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Sense of Smell
Olfactory Testing will be assessed using the NIH Toolbox Odor Identification cards. After scratching a card and sniffing from each sample, respondents will be asked to choose the best match for each odor from pictures representing the odor sources.
Measured: Baseline
Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure will be measured in the sitting position using an automated blood pressure monitor. After sitting blood pressure measurements, participants will be asked to stand up to measure standing blood pressure.
Measured: Baseline
Street Address
Geographic information systems will assign a geocode to each participant's home address, providing latitude, and longitude coordinates based on the provided street address.
Measured: Baseline
Ankle Brachial Index
The Ankle Brachial Index will be noninvasively assessed using the Smartdop XT device (Koven Technology, Inc.).
Measured: Baseline
Pulse Wave Velocity
Arterial stiffness will be measured non-invasively with the Sphygmocor XCEL device (AtCor Medical).
Measured: Baseline
Flow- mediated dilation
The flow-mediated change in brachial artery diameter (i.e. flow-mediated dilation; FMD), in response to a 5-minute period of arterial occlusion will be used to assess peripheral vascular function.
Measured: Baseline
Steps taken
A wrist-worn continuous activity tracker (Fitbit wristband) will be worn by the subjects for 7 days.
Measured: Baseline
Sedentary Time
A wrist-worn continuous activity tracker with heart rate monitor (Fitbit wristband) will be worn by the subjects for 7 days.
Measured: Baseline
Sleep
A wrist-worn continuous activity tracker (Fitbit) will be worn by the subjects for 7 days to assess total sleep time, and sleep quality.
Measured: Baseline
Medical History Questionnaire
Participants will complete health history questionnaires to gain a deeper understanding of their lived experiences and past medical history.
Measured: Baseline
Complete blood count
Venous blood will be drawn by a trained phlebotomist and/or nurse in the fasting state. Blood will be shipped to LabCorp for processing of the complete blood count.
Measured: Baseline
Functional Mobility
Objective gait measurements will be obtained using a gait mat. Participants will complete 6 separate walks down the full length of the walkway; 3 walks at a preferred pace and 3 walks while performing different secondary tasks (i.e. dual-task gait) in a fixed order:
- counting backward by ones,
- naming animals, and
- counting backward by sevens.
Walking aids will be permitted.
Measured: Baseline
Cognitive Function
Cognitive function will be assessed using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB), administered on an iPad or computer by a trained study team member.
Measured: Baseline
Lower extremity function
Participants will perform the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). The test includes walking, the sit-to-stand test and balance.
Measured: Baseline
Grip strength
Grip strength will be measured following a standardized approach using a validated Jamar handgrip dynamometer (Model J00105, JAMAR Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer).
Measured: Baseline
Bone Density
Participants will undergo Dual X-Ray Absorbency (DEXA) to measure bone density.
Measured: Baseline
Interstitial glucose
A continuous glucose monitor that measures interstitial glucose will be worn by the subject for 7 days.
Measured: Baseline
Body Composition
Participants will undergo Dual X-Ray Absorbency (DEXA) to measure subcutaneous and visceral fat content.
Measured: Baseline
Ambulatory blood pressure
A wrist worn continuous blood pressure monitor (Aktiia wristband) will be worn by the subjects for 7 days for the measurement of ambulatory blood pressure.
Measured: Baseline
Exercise Capacity
Exercise Capacity will be assessed using the six-minute walk test.
Measured: Baseline
Blood lipids
Venous blood will be drawn and shipped to Labcorp for blood lipid analysis
Measured: Baseline
Metabolic Panel (blood)
Venous blood will be drawn and shipped to labcorp for evaluation of the metabolic panel.
Measured: Baseline
Apolipoprotein A
Measured by labcrop from venous blood draw.
Measured: Baseline
Apolipoprotein B
Analyzed by labcorp from venous blood draw.
Measured: Baseline
Lipoprotein A
Analyzed by labcorp from venous blood draw
Measured: Baseline
Blood checmistry panel
Analyzed by labcorp from venous blood draw
Measured: Baseline
HbA1C (blood)
Analyzed by labcorp from venous blood draw
Measured: Baseline
High sensitivity C reactive protein (blood)
Analyzed by labcorp from venous blood draw
Measured: Baseline
Genetic testing
Whole blood (approximately 25 ml) will be stored in special tubes that preserve genetic material in our -80ºC freezer. Genetic testing experiments, including targeted single variants, single gene testing, genetic panel testing, whole genome sequencing, chromosomal testing, gene expression and biochemical testing, may be performed on the samples.
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Mar 2025
- Study start1 Sep 2024
- Primary completion31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AgingStudies 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 770 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Texas at Arlington
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Michael Nelson, The University of Texas at Arlington
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06857877
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024-0111
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Sep 2024
- Last updated
- 23 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Davis DL, Shah R, Pixler L, Mai DM, Santos J, Chandler C, White K, Nguyen J, Moradi AS, Choudhari J, Arena-Marshall C, Johnson C, Kamel L, Liao Y, Greer TL, Cooper C, Ball H, Fields NL, Wang X, Sussman BL, Borzage MT, Fadel PJ, Nelson MD. The Arlington study of healthy aging: a multidisciplinary community cohort study of functional decline with age. Geroscience. 2026 Aug 28. doi: 10.1007/s11357-026-02498-z. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42663798
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Arlington Study of Healthy Aging
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06857877
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2024-0111
- Conditions
- Aging
- Keywords
- Aging, MRI, Cognitive Function, Exercise Science, Remote Monitoring
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 770 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Texas at ArlingtonUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Mar 2025 (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.
The goal of this observational study is to learn about the mechanisms causing functional decline with age, using magnetic resonance imaging, exercise science, integrative physiology, neuroscience, and remote monitoring.
Specific aims include:
Aim 1: Advance knowledge of the biology of aging and its impact on the prevention, progression, and prognosis of disease and disability.
Aim 2: Determine the effects of personal and societal factors on aging.
Aim 3: Examine the influence of racial/ethnic and sex differences on the biology of aging and its impact on the prevention, progression, and prognosis of disease and disability.
Detailed description
Subjects will be asked to participate in two study visits that may last up to 5 hours each. In some cases, additional visits may be needed to accommodate their schedule, and/or the schedule of the study team. All participants will provide informed consent prior to participating in the study procedures such as demographic, medical history, risk factor assessment; questionnaires; geographic information system analysis; blood pressure measurements; assessment of aerobic exercise capacity, cognitive function; olfactory testing; Dual X-Ray absorbency, fasting followed by venous blood draw, vascular function assessment; testing of muscle strength; short physical performance battery; functional mobility; and remote monitoring. The order of procedures and visits may change depending on participant, staff, equipment, and infrastructure availability/needs. Moreover, procedures may be repeated for data quality purposes, if deemed necessary by the investigators.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Older Adults | – | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adult men and women currently living in Tarrant County will be contacted through IRB approved flyers, targeted ads (social media), and/or word-of-mouth.
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Phase 1: Young healthy men and women between 18 - 30 years of age, and older men and women between 50 - 80 years of age.
- Phase 2: Men and women living in Tarrant County, Texas, between 50 - 85 years of age. In addition, the investigators will study up to 120 younger men and women, between 18-30 years of age, equally divided by race/ethnicity (same as above) and sex, to serve as reference controls.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Phase 1: Clinical diagnosis of dementia; major depression (diagnosed by a physician), visual or auditory impairments that preclude neuropsychological testing or otherwise jeopardize the health and wellbeing of the participant during testing, non-ambulatory status (i.e. less than 10 m without mobility aid), shortness of breath while performing normal activities of daily living (walking through grocery store), body mass index greater than 45 kg/m2, heart failure or cardiomyopathy, acute coronary syndrome, primary valvular heart disease, severe gait disorder due to musculoskeletal disease or neurological motor deficit (e.g. severe osteoarthritis, lower limb amputation, Parkinson's disease, major stroke with motor sequelae); daily consumption of more than two alcoholic beverages; current treatment for cancer, and estimated life expectancy less than 4 years. Inclusion/exclusion will be verified using the demographics and medical history.
- Phase 2: Clinical diagnosis of dementia; major depression (diagnosed by a physician), visual or auditory impairments that preclude neuropsychological testing or otherwise jeopardize the health and wellbeing of the participant during testing, non-ambulatory status (i.e. less than 10 m without mobility aid), shortness of breath while performing normal activities of daily living (walking through grocery store), body mass index greater than 45 kg/m2, heart failure or cardiomyopathy, acute coronary syndrome, primary valvular heart disease, severe gait disorder due to musculoskeletal disease or neurological motor deficit (e.g. severe osteoarthritis, lower limb amputation, Parkinson's disease, major stroke with motor sequelae), daily consumption of more than two alcoholic beverages; current treatment for cancer, and estimated life expectancy less than 4 years. Inclusion/exclusion will be verified using the demographics and medical history.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Sense of Smell
Time frame: Baseline
Olfactory Testing will be assessed using the NIH Toolbox Odor Identification cards. After scratching a card and sniffing from each sample, respondents will be asked to choose the best match for each odor from pictures representing the odor sources.
Blood Pressure
Time frame: Baseline
Blood Pressure will be measured in the sitting position using an automated blood pressure monitor. After sitting blood pressure measurements, participants will be asked to stand up to measure standing blood pressure.
Street Address
Time frame: Baseline
Geographic information systems will assign a geocode to each participant's home address, providing latitude, and longitude coordinates based on the provided street address.
Ankle Brachial Index
Time frame: Baseline
The Ankle Brachial Index will be noninvasively assessed using the Smartdop XT device (Koven Technology, Inc.).
Pulse Wave Velocity
Time frame: Baseline
Arterial stiffness will be measured non-invasively with the Sphygmocor XCEL device (AtCor Medical).
Flow- mediated dilation
Time frame: Baseline
The flow-mediated change in brachial artery diameter (i.e. flow-mediated dilation; FMD), in response to a 5-minute period of arterial occlusion will be used to assess peripheral vascular function.
Steps taken
Time frame: Baseline
A wrist-worn continuous activity tracker (Fitbit wristband) will be worn by the subjects for 7 days.
Sedentary Time
Time frame: Baseline
A wrist-worn continuous activity tracker with heart rate monitor (Fitbit wristband) will be worn by the subjects for 7 days.
Sleep
Time frame: Baseline
A wrist-worn continuous activity tracker (Fitbit) will be worn by the subjects for 7 days to assess total sleep time, and sleep quality.
Medical History Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline
Participants will complete health history questionnaires to gain a deeper understanding of their lived experiences and past medical history.
Complete blood count
Time frame: Baseline
Venous blood will be drawn by a trained phlebotomist and/or nurse in the fasting state. Blood will be shipped to LabCorp for processing of the complete blood count.
Functional Mobility
Time frame: Baseline
Objective gait measurements will be obtained using a gait mat. Participants will complete 6 separate walks down the full length of the walkway; 3 walks at a preferred pace and 3 walks while performing different secondary tasks (i.e. dual-task gait) in a fixed order: 1. counting backward by ones, 2. naming animals, and 3. counting backward by sevens. Walking aids will be permitted.
Cognitive Function
Time frame: Baseline
Cognitive function will be assessed using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB), administered on an iPad or computer by a trained study team member.
Lower extremity function
Time frame: Baseline
Participants will perform the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). The test includes walking, the sit-to-stand test and balance.
Grip strength
Time frame: Baseline
Grip strength will be measured following a standardized approach using a validated Jamar handgrip dynamometer (Model J00105, JAMAR Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer).
Bone Density
Time frame: Baseline
Participants will undergo Dual X-Ray Absorbency (DEXA) to measure bone density.
Interstitial glucose
Time frame: Baseline
A continuous glucose monitor that measures interstitial glucose will be worn by the subject for 7 days.
Body Composition
Time frame: Baseline
Participants will undergo Dual X-Ray Absorbency (DEXA) to measure subcutaneous and visceral fat content.
Ambulatory blood pressure
Time frame: Baseline
A wrist worn continuous blood pressure monitor (Aktiia wristband) will be worn by the subjects for 7 days for the measurement of ambulatory blood pressure.
Exercise Capacity
Time frame: Baseline
Exercise Capacity will be assessed using the six-minute walk test.
Blood lipids
Time frame: Baseline
Venous blood will be drawn and shipped to Labcorp for blood lipid analysis
Metabolic Panel (blood)
Time frame: Baseline
Venous blood will be drawn and shipped to labcorp for evaluation of the metabolic panel.
Apolipoprotein A
Time frame: Baseline
Measured by labcrop from venous blood draw.
Apolipoprotein B
Time frame: Baseline
Analyzed by labcorp from venous blood draw.
Lipoprotein A
Time frame: Baseline
Analyzed by labcorp from venous blood draw
Blood checmistry panel
Time frame: Baseline
Analyzed by labcorp from venous blood draw
HbA1C (blood)
Time frame: Baseline
Analyzed by labcorp from venous blood draw
High sensitivity C reactive protein (blood)
Time frame: Baseline
Analyzed by labcorp from venous blood draw
Genetic testing
Time frame: Baseline
Whole blood (approximately 25 ml) will be stored in special tubes that preserve genetic material in our -80ºC freezer. Genetic testing experiments, including targeted single variants, single gene testing, genetic panel testing, whole genome sequencing, chromosomal testing, gene expression and biochemical testing, may be performed on the samples.
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 23 Apr 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42663798Davis DL, Shah R, Pixler L, Mai DM, Santos J, Chandler C, White K, Nguyen J, Moradi AS, Choudhari J, Arena-Marshall C, Johnson C, Kamel L, Liao Y, Greer TL, Cooper C, Ball H, Fields NL, Wang X, Sussman BL, Borzage MT, Fadel PJ, Nelson MD. The Arlington study of healthy aging: a multidisciplinary community cohort study of functional decline with age. Geroscience. 2026 Aug 28. doi: 10.1007/s11357-026-02498-z. Online ahead of print.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Related trials for Aging
Recruiting
Ultraformer MPT Combined With Fractional CO2 Versus Fractional CO2 Alone for Facial Rejuvenation
Skin Aging
Active, not recruiting
Iterative Design Trial to Assess Dietary Supplements and Other Aging-targeted Therapies
Aging, Longevity
RecruitingObservational study
Amyloid PET Imaging in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
Aging
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Biological Aging Following Full-Arch Implant-Supported Fixed Rehabilitation in Edentulous Patients
Edentulism, Biological Aging
RecruitingPhase 2
Neuroplasticity Enhancement From Cognitive Training Reinforced by Psilocybin
Alzheimer's Disease
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.
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 The University of Texas at Arlington 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 2 inclusion and 2 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 23 Apr 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 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?
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 Michael Nelson, PhD (8175130383, michael.nelson3@uta.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Sense of Smell (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 29 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 NCT06857877, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 23 Apr 2026.