Clinical trials

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the effects of technology enhancements when combined with basic education, goal-setting, and self-monitoring to increase physical activity among older adults living alone, experiencing subjective cognitive decline, and currently engaging minimal physical activity (60 minutes or less of moderate to vigorous physical activity). Further, we will examine key psychosocial mechanisms believed to contribute to successful promotion of physical activity, which include social support and stress resilience. The primary questions are to determine whether * the tech-enhanced condition lead to greater physical activity over time? * the tech-enhanced condition lead to social support and stress resilience over time? * social support and stress resilience mediate the relationship between the study condition and physical activity? All participants will engage in self-monitoring of physical activity, will receive weekly text reminders of their physical activity goals for the week, and will receive basic education about the importance of physical activity, social support, and stress resilience for cognitive, physical, and psychological health. Participants in the tech-enhanced condition will also receive access to a study-specific website and virtual coaching to reinforce the information presented. Researchers will then compare the tech-enhanced condition to the basic education condition to determine the benefits of technology to deliver the intervention materials in order to increase physical activity, social support, and stress resilience. Participants will: * Use a Garmin wearable device to monitor their physical activity * Be randomly assigned to a basic education condition or tech-enhanced condition * Set achievable goals for weekly physical activity, with incremental increases to achieve 7000 average daily steps by the end of the study * Respond to surveys to monitor their social support, stress resilience, quality of life, and depression. The sample has several risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: low physical activity, social isolation risk via living alone, and subjective cognitive impairment. Therefore, a long-term goal includes the determination of the intervention's effectiveness at increasing physical activity, social support, and stress resilience to reduce risk for developing dementia.

REVIVE is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effects of a remotely delivered seated Tai Chi/Qigong (TCQ) intervention on cardiometabolic health, stress, sleep, and psychological well-being among women with mobility impairments. Women with mobility impairments experience higher rates of obesity, cardiometabolic disease, chronic stress, sleep disturbances, and mental health concerns compared with women without disabilities. Limited access to accessible physical activity programs and barriers to participation in traditional exercise interventions contribute to these health disparities. Tai Chi and Qigong are gentle mind-body practices that may improve physical and psychological health through movement, breathing, and mindfulness techniques and can be adapted for individuals with limited mobility. Participants will be randomized to either a seated Tai Chi/Qigong intervention or a health education video control condition. During the 12-week intervention phase, participants will receive daily video-based content delivered remotely. Participants assigned to the Tai Chi/Qigong group will engage in seated meditative movement practices, while participants assigned to the control group will receive health and wellness education videos unrelated to physical activity or nutrition behavior change. Outcomes will be assessed remotely at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. Primary outcomes include waist circumference and indicators of physiological stress regulation, including heart rate variability and salivary cortisol. Secondary outcomes include perceived stress, emotion regulation, depression, anxiety, emotional eating, sleep quality, and sleep disturbance. Additional measures collected through wearable technology, sleep diaries, questionnaires, and biological samples will be used to examine potential behavioral, psychological, and physiological mechanisms underlying intervention effects. The findings from this study will contribute to the development of accessible, scalable, and evidence-based health promotion interventions designed to improve cardiometabolic health and overall well-being among women with mobility impairments.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a milk permeate-based sports drink on hydration, carbohydrate oxidation, exercise performance, vigilance, and reaction time in the heat. We anticipate that the milk permeate, with 44 g per liter and high sodium and potassium, will lead to better hydration, energy delivery, and physical and cognitive performance.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a key indicator of fitness, and stress resilience. Previous research has shown that HRV decreases under mental workload, including during tasks that require strict attention. Studies also show that temperature exposure affects attention: cold increases the stress response while warm water has a calming effect. Very few studies combine thermal exposure with cognitive testing, and no controlled trials have investigated whether water temperature modulates HRV responses specifically during cognitive demand.

College students face substantial and persistent mental health challenges that directly affect cognitive performance, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. Neurological functions such as working memory, attention regulation, executive control, and emotional processing are highly sensitive to stressors, leaving young adults vulnerable to daily fluctuations in cognitive efficiency. Recent findings from the Healthy Minds Network (2025) indicate that although rates of moderate to severe depression among college students declined from 44% in 2022 to 37% in 2025, and anxiety symptoms fell from 37% to 32%, levels of psychological flourishing also dropped, falling to 36% despite these improvements. Ginseng contains bioactive compounds known as ginsenosides that favorably influence brain function and inflammatory cascades. Studies in stressed and moderately stressed adults demonstrated reduced perceived stress, improved emotional processing, enhanced cognitive performance, and beneficial changes to biomarkers with ginseng supplementation. In addition, randomized controlled trials reported improvements in mood regulation, fatigue resistance, and aspects of working memory and attention following short-term ginseng supplementation. This study will examine the effects of daily red panax ginseng supplementation (3000 mg/day; two 1500 mg Red Panax gummies) on cognitive performance and emotional well-being in healthy young adults.

A positive impact of a fermented dairy protein with prebiotic fiber supplement on self-reported GI complaints and wellbeing has been suggested (Wardenaar et al. 2024). The following project aims to further investigate the impact of this supplements in athletes with and without GI complaints in two separate data collections. Part I of the data collection aims to investigate the impact of this supplement vs. a placebo on carbohydrate malabsorption (as a potential cause for GI distress) in athletes that normally don't identify as having GI complaints (randomized double-blind cross over study design covering a total of 9 weeks, including a 3-week washout period). Part II of the data collection aims to confirm the earlier found results in the previous study (Wardenaar et al. 2024) in a group athletes self-reporting GI complaints that will be randomized into an intervention group or a placebo group (randomized double-blind parallel study design covering a total of 3 weeks).

The proposed study will test whether neurofeedback (NF) could optimize integrative body-mind training (IBMT) practice.

The goal of this clinical trial is to test 6 months of aerobic exercise in older adults who are 65 years or older and have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or probable/possible mild Alzheimer's Disease. The main questions it aims to answer are: * test the effects of aerobic exercise on aerobic fitness, white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, and patient-centered outcomes; * identify the best exercise to improve aerobic fitness and reduce non-responses over 6 months; and * examines the mechanisms of aerobic exercise's action on memory in older adults with early AD. Participants will receive 6 months of supervised exercise, undergo cognitive data collection and exercise testing 5 times over a year span, have an MRI brain scan 3 times over a one-year span, and have monthly follow-up discussions on health and wellness.

The investigators are interested in finding out how Prolonged Nightly Fasting (PNF) and/or health education may impact health and cancer recovery for breast cancer patients and survivors.

This research study will test the effectiveness of a culturally grounded parenting intervention called Parenting in 2 Worlds (P2W). This intervention is designed for American Indian / Alaska Native (AI) parents/guardians of adolescents who reside in urban areas. This will be a multi-regional effectiveness trial across four regions: Northeast (Buffalo/Niagara), Midwest (St. Paul/Minneapolis), Mountain (Denver), and Southwest (Phoenix). There are four specific aims. First, this study will test the effectiveness of Parenting in Two Worlds (P2W) as compared to an informational family health intervention, Healthy Families in 2 Worlds (HF2W), in improving parenting and family functioning. Second, this study will test if the relative effectiveness of P2W, compared to HF2W, varies by parent's/guardian's level of socioeconomic vulnerability, experiences of historical loss, or AI cultural identity. Third, this study will examine if P2W can reduce adolescent (ages 12 - 17) risky health behaviors including substance use, depressive symptoms, suicidality, and risky sexual behaviors. Fourth, this study will examine whether positive changes in parenting and family functioning that result from P2W lead to positive changes in adolescent's health behaviors.

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between daily light exposure patterns, sleep quality, and migraine characteristics in adults with migraine, with and without photophobia, across an 8-week study period.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a smartphone app-based ecological momentary intervention called Mindful Journey, which teaches mindfulness skills, can support adults in recovery from both opioid use disorder and chronic pain. The primary objective of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of Mindful Journey in this population.

This study aims to understand how participating in the Western States Endurance Run (WSER), a 100-mile ultramarathon, affects kidney health. Long, strenuous exercise in hot conditions can temporarily strain the kidneys, especially when combined with dehydration, muscle breakdown, and the use of common pain-relief medications such as ibuprofen. Although kidney stress has been reported in endurance sports, no study has examined it directly in runners during the WSER using newer, more sensitive urine markers of kidney injury. Runners who volunteer will complete brief assessments before and after the race. These include providing a urine sample, a small finger-prick blood sample, a body-weight measurement, and answering a short questionnaire about pain-medication use. During the race, participants will wear a global positioning system (GPS) watch and heart-rate strap to monitor effort. Each assessment takes about 15 minutes, and no follow-up is required. Findings from this study will help determine how often kidney stress occurs in this event and what factors may contribute to it, ultimately supporting safer training and medical practices for ultramarathon athletes.

EPICLA+ (Early-Stage Partners in Care Living Alone Plus) is a research project designed to assist people with early-stage memory loss who live alone in the community by providing early-stage related education and skill-training sessions, held via Zoom, designed to reduce stress, enhance well-being, manage challenges, and plan for the future. Researchers will gather feedback from individuals about their experience to continue to improve programs for early-stage memory loss.

This study proposes a three-arm randomized-controlled trial (RCT) that evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of combining a mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) and open-label placebo (OLP) treatment for individuals with chronic pain. Individuals with chronic pain will be recruited to participate in an 8-week trial, with a subsequent 3-month post-treatment follow-up. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the following three conditions: 1. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 2. OLP treatment 3. combination of MBSR and OLP treatment

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and participant adherence in using home-based technologies and wearable devices and simple, practical strategies to reduce the negative impact that evening screen time may have on your health.

The goal of this clinical trail is to test the developed eMPrISe study in HIV-negative, adult, Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) who use non-injection substances. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can participation in the developed eMPrISe study reduce methamphetamine ('meth') use risk? * Can participation in the developed eMPrISe study improve preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) cascade progression? Participants will participate in 12 weekly modules that: (1) build critical thinking skills, (2) identify and discuss the link between oppression and harmful behaviors, (3) take action, (4) voice and validate feelings and experiences, and (5) share knowledge and resources.

The proposed research will used community-based participatory research methods in an urban-based American Indian (AI) community to adapt, implement, and evaluate an after-school program, called Native Spirit (NS), that seeks to improve cultural identity, self-esteem, resilience, and prevent substance use by increasing cultural engagement. Prior research suggests that AI youth that are culturally engaged experience better health outcomes. Additionally, the use of culturally-specific after-school programs has been shown to increase feasibility and sustainability of prevention programs. In order to achieve the goals of this proposed study, the Principal Investigator (PI) will work with local community members and existing tribal partners to implement the 10-session culturally-grounded after-school program and evaluate the program with the following aims: Specific Aim 3 (R00): Examine the effectiveness of NS (increases exposure to local cultural values and activities), a program that seeks to prevent or decrease substance use by strengthening self-esteem, resilience, and cultural identity with 2 Indigenous communities in Arizona using a wait-list control design with 3 data collection timepoints and participant interviews.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in middle- and high-income countries, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). Epidemiological studies have associated low water intake and underhydration with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and an increased risk of CVD. Similarly, the prevalence of chronic metabolic dysfunction is increasing dramatically worldwide, becoming both a significant public health concern and a global economic burden. Reports from the WHO indicate that the number of people with diabetes worldwide has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014, representing 8.5% of adults. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify modifiable risk factors that could help prevent metabolic dysfunction and mitigate the epidemic of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Evidence suggests that the hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) may play a key role. AVP is the primary hormone responsible for regulating body fluid balance; however, increased AVP secretion, such as under conditions of low water intake, appears to be a risk factor for developing diabetes. Increasing water intake may represent a simple and cost-effective way to improve glucose regulation and cardiovascular health. However, many individuals do not prefer drinking plain water, and although beverages with high sugar content may promote greater fluid intake, they also contribute additional calories that can negatively impact body weight and overall health. Thus, the central research question of this study is whether improving hydration with non-sugar-sweetened beverages can provide equivalent benefits for hydration and health outcomes in adults. Aim 1: To explore the association between habitual fluid intake and fluid preferences (water and non-sugar-sweetened beverages), hydration biomarkers, and health outcomes in normal-weight and obese adults. Aim 2: To compare the impact of increased total water intake, provided as plain water or non-sugar-sweetened beverages, on hydration, cardiovascular health, and glucose regulation in normal-weight and obese adults.

This is a 2-arm group-randomized hybrid effectiveness-implementation (HEI type 2) study to test an evidence-based intervention (EBI) known as Stand \& Move at Work(SMW) to reduce sedentary time in the workplace, and to test the role of expert facilitation (SMW+) for improving intervention fidelity.

Our goal in this study is to further refine StandUPTV, an application designed to reduce SST in adults in our first study (ASU IRB # STUDY00012109), for the StandUPTV Habits program. This program aims to establish a non-sedentary habit triggered by an alert from the StandUPTV application after participants engage in approximately 30 minutes of SST in the evening.

This study's purpose is to evaluate the effects of a dietary supplement on cognitive function and psychological well-being in community-dwelling older adults aged 55+. The study involves taking a commercially available dietary supplement daily for 45 days. A 45-minute assessment will be conducted at the beginning and again at the end of the study.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if daily avocado intake can improve growth and brain and gut health in infants. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does daily eating of avocados change which microbes live in the infant's gut? Does daily avocado intake improve infant motor skills and cognitive development? Researchers will compare avocado intake to standard of care (no or limited avocado intake) to see if regular avocado intake from 6-12 months of life influences gut and brain health. Participating mothers/guardians and their infants will: Parents will provide avocado or no avocado to their infant every day for 6 months starting around 6 months of infant age. Parents will allow study staff to visit participant homes to collect data via surveys and observations and measure infant growth. Parents will swab soiled infant diapers for gut microbe measures. Parents will keep a diary of the infant's avocado consumption and acceptance of the food. Parents will record their infant's dietary intake

Stuttering negatively impacts communication and reduces the overall quality of life and well-being of individuals who stutter. This study will provide a strong foundation for developing neural and behavioral interventions for stuttering. Participants will be asked to name pictures, read words/sentences silently or aloud, and listen to speech and nonspeech sounds while their speech, muscle, and brain signals are collected. Some participants may also receive brain stimulation while reading and speaking.

Spirulina platensis is a form of cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae, and is a superfood most known for being rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, and healthful phytochemicals. Spirulina supports brain health through neuroprotection offered by its antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and hormone regulation. The aim of this study is to supplement healthy adults from a campus community with 3g of spirulina, daily, for 8 weeks to improve mood and mental acuity in comparison to receiving a placebo.