Aging-Related Clinical Trials

Pittsburgh is a world leader in transformational research on aging, thanks to a growing team of experts taking part in groundbreaking work every day at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC.

Their collective efforts have produced one of the nation's largest portfolios of aging-related research on such subjects as Alzheimer’s disease, balance and mobility, depression and grief, and the effects of caregiving on families.

A central part of the Aging Institute’s mission is to promote innovative research in aging. By fostering a collegial environment of partnership and exchange between the University and UPMC, the Institute helps to bridge science and service to improve the quality of life of older adults.

It does so by:

• Encouraging cross-disciplinary research initiatives and providing seed grant funding for promising research projects by junior faculty
• Engaging researchers and clinicians in collaborative workgroups to identify emerging issues and opportunities in aging-related fields
• Providing researchers with forums, such as Research Day, to share and exchange information
• Disseminating research findings to interested researchers and scholars worldwide

Our research partners include:

• Advanced Center in Intervention and Services Research in Late-Life Depression Prevention
• Alzheimer Disease Research Center
• Center for Aging and Population Health
• Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
• University of Pittsburgh Division of Geriatric Medicine
• Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center
• UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute

Participate in an Upcoming Study

LATTICE Research Group-Lithium As a Treatment to Prevent Impairment of Cognition in Elders

About:

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are currently conducting a study to see if lithium can prevent or slow memory loss.

Eligibility:

Adults 60 years of age and older having trouble with memory or thinking who can safely take lithium.

Eligilble participants will:

• Have memory testing and answer questionnaires
• Have an MRI and PET scan of their brain
• Provide blood samples
• Be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to treatment with lithium or placebo
• Be followed closely for up to two years
• Be compensated for the time and effort involved in participation

Contact:

If you would like to learn more or participate in the study, please contact LATTICE Research Group at LATTICE@upmc.edu or call 412-246-6004.

WELL Research Group-Promoting Widowed Elders Lifestyle after Loss Purpose

About:

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are currently conducting a study to learn about the health behaviors of older adults after spousal bereavement.

Eligibility:

Adults 60 years of age and older who are grieving the recent death of a spouse or partner (within 6 month).

Those who qualify would be given a tablet to monitor their daily health behaviors for 12 weeks and will be compensated for their participation.

Contact:

If you would like to learn more or participate in the study, please contact WELL Research Group at WELLstudy@pitt.edu or call 412-246-6006.

Decision Processes of Late-Life Suicide

About:

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are currently conducting a study investigating why some older adults with depression contemplate suicide while others do not and how decision-making processes are affected by depression. To do so, we will be contacting people with and without a history of depression.

Eligibility:

You may be eligible if you are an adult over the age of 40 with no history of depression or other mental health condition nor history of stroke or neurological disorder.

Or

You may be eligible if you are over the age of 40 and do have depression but have never been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a psychotic disorder, a neurological disorder, or had a stroke.

Participation will consist of four-to-seven hours of interview style assessment (broken into shorter visits), and participants will be compensated a minimum of $100 for their time if all assessments are completed.

Contact:

If you are interested in participating in the study, please contact Laura Kenneally at 412-802-8463 or Maria Alessi at 412-683-7358 for more details.