Healthy Older Adults

This study aimed to develop and validate an innovative proprioceptive assessment instrument for the upper extremities, the PropArm-PosiMoF (PropArm). This observational study was conducted in three stages. The first stage focused on the development and validation of PropArm, including test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and convergent validity. The second stage established age norms and cut-off points in healthy adults. In the final stage, PropArm was applied to patients with proprioceptive impairments (stroke, shoulder impingement syndrome, and diabetes mellitus patients) to examine its diagnostic accuracy and clinical applicability.

Investigators overarching goal is to provide evidence for the link between altered spatiotemporal (where and when) neural mechanisms and the extent of changed memory maintenance in healthy older adults and to identify potential neural markers of compensatory function (cognitive resource). Investigators preliminary studies suggest that healthy older adults, compared to younger adults, benefit behaviorally from increased coupling between frontal and parietal brain waves when retrieving and updating well-consolidated visuomotor sequence memory via stronger top-down cognitive control of memory maintenance. Thus, Investigators central hypothesis is that the dynamics across cortical and subcortical regions (i.e., spatiotemporal representations) during transitions between different levels of memory stability indicate the efficiency of memory maintenance. The rationale is that while temporal and spatial neural signatures carry distinct mechanistic information, the joint definition of spatial and temporal representations will allow the differentiation of compensatory versus neurodegenerative mechanisms.

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a high potassium intake can counteract the harmful effects of excess sodium on endothelial function in older adults with no history of cardiometabolic disease. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Can a high potassium intake attenuate dietary sodium-induced endothelial dysfunction in older adults. 2. Do changes in endothelial function in response to alterations in sodium and potassium intake differ by sex. Participants will participants will consume three controlled diets for 10 days each with a minimum 14-day washout between interventions. The order in which participants consume the diets will be randomized. The study diets will vary in sodium and potassium content. Measures of cardiovascular health (blood pressure, arterial stiffness, endothelial function) will be assessed at the end of each diet.

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the acute effects of immersive virtual reality (VR)-based exergaming combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on executive functions in healthy older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does VR-based exergaming combined with tDCS improve executive function performance in healthy older adults compared with a control condition? * Do single interventions (tDCS alone or VR-based exergaming alone) improve executive function performance compared with the control condition? * Does the combined intervention produce greater improvements in executive function performance than either intervention alone? Researchers will compare four intervention conditions to evaluate differences in executive function performance following each session. Participants will: * Complete four intervention sessions in a randomized crossover sequence, with a washout period of at least 7 days between sessions * Receive the following intervention conditions: * sham-tDCS + VR-video * tDCS + VR-video * sham-tDCS + VR-exergaming * tDCS + VR-exergaming * Complete executive function assessments immediately after each session, including: * the Flanker task for inhibitory control * the more-odd shifting task for cognitive flexibility * the Corsi block-tapping task for working memory

The goal of this clinical trial is to prevent functional decline and improve mobility in healthy older adults aged 65 and over. The main questions it aims to answer are: What is the effect of individualized dual-task training on functional balance and mobility compared to standard training? Does personalized sensory and cognitive training significantly reduce the dual-task cost during walking tasks? Researchers will compare the Individualized Dual-Task Group to a Standardized Dual-Task Group and a Single-Task Control Group to see if personalized adjustments in sensory and cognitive loads lead to superior improvements in balance, gait speed, and motor-cognitive interference. Participants will: Complete an initial assessment of motor and cognitive capacities to determine individual baseline levels. Participate in a supervised exercise program 3 days a week for 8 weeks, with each session lasting 40-45 minutes. Perform motor tasks such as walking, obstacle crossing, and balance exercises while simultaneously engaging in cognitive tasks (e.g., counting, verbal fluency). (For the individualized group) Undergo weekly adjustments in exercise difficulty, including sensory manipulations like surface changes and head movements based on their performance.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of Health Web - Te@m 1.0 for older adults in selected primary healthcare settings in northern Sweden. More specifically, the feasibility will be assessed through the following objectives: * Explore older adults' experiences of the intervention process, acceptability, and perceptions of the value of participating in Health Web - Te@m. * Explore professionals' experiences of acceptability, value, and implementation potential of delivering Health Web - Te@m in primary healthcare settings. * Evaluate adherence to Health Web - Te@m among older adults and professionals. * Evaluate the assessments' ability to detect potential outcomes of Health Web - Te@m.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how older adults respond to power training when the level of fatigue during exercise is different. Power training means performing fast movements with moderate loads to improve strength, power and mobility. The main questions the study aims to answer are: * How does the level of fatigue during power training acutely affect strength, movement, and muscle function? * How does it affect recovery, muscle soreness, and how hard the exercise feels? Researchers will compare three power-training sessions with different fatigue levels to see which approach may be safest and most effective for older adults. Participants will be healthy older adults aged 65 to 85 years. Each participant will complete three supervised exercise sessions on a leg press machine. The sessions will take place about one week apart. During the study, participants will: * Perform power training on a pneumatic leg press machine * Complete strength and mobility tests before and after exercise * Provide small blood samples to measure body responses to exercise * Rate how hard the exercise feels * Report muscle soreness for up to two days after exercise The results may help researchers design safer and more effective power-training programs to improve strength, mobility, and recovery in older adults.

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) based exercises and balance exercises on functional capacity, balance, muscle strength, and quality of life in older adults.

The dual-task automated walking performance in people with Parkinson\'s disease (PD) is affected by their gait disturbances and impaired executive functions. Currently, the relationship between brain activity related to inhibitory control, executive functions, and dual-task walking performance in people with PD is not well understood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the significance of different executive function domains on gait stability in healthy older adults and people with PD; whether brain activation related to inhibitory control is associated with gait stability in healthy older adults and people with PD.

This study has two main objectives: First, to better understand how a motor task commonly used by researchers, known as the Fitts' task, is performed in virtual reality. It consists of reaching a target, which may be large or small, by extending the right arm. This task is similar to movements commonly performed in everyday life. It is also increasingly used in virtual reality video games designed to train older adults or patients with functional limitations. Secondly, the investigators aim to describe how age influences performance in this task by comparing young adults and older adults. This can help better adapt the protocols used in virtual reality to the characteristics of users. It is of particular interest how movements change when the task becomes more difficult, whether these changes differ between young adults and older adults, and whether the information and feedback provided through virtual reality can improve the quality of motor performance. What is expected of participants: Participants will be seated comfortably, wearing a lightweight virtual reality headset and holding a controller in their right hand that will be used to reach for a target by keeping the controller within the target for about one second. The targets will vary in size, so some trials will seem easier and others more difficult. The task is simply to move as quickly as possible while remaining accurate (hitting the target). This instruction is important, and the experimenter will repeat it regularly during the experiment. The task will be performed under different conditions: sometimes participants will see the actual configuration of the experimental device in the physical world through the headset, and other times they will see the same configuration presented in virtual reality. In some virtual reality conditions, participants will also receive additional visual information indicating whether the target has been hit correctly. Short breaks are scheduled at regular intervals. Additional breaks can be asked for at any time when needed. The most important point is to avoid any fatigue or discomfort. If participants experience any, they are asked and encouraged to inform the experimenter. Before starting the experiment, participants will undergo a short training session to familiarize themselves with the task and the device.

The goal of this clinical trial is to explore how walking combined with different levels of partial blood flow restriction (BFR) affects cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and movement (kinematic) variables in older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does walking with BFR increase internal effort, as shown by cardiovascular changes, and is this effect proportional to the level of restriction? Does walking with BFR temporarily reduce neuromuscular control, and is this reduction greater at higher restriction levels? Does walking with BFR change gait movement patterns? This study uses a crossover design, meaning that each participant will complete all four conditions and serve as their own control. Participants will: Take part in walking sessions under four conditions with different levels of restriction: BFR40%, BFR80%, SHAM (0% BFR), and CON (without BFR). Have their cardiovascular responses, muscle performance, and gait movement patterns measured. Report their perceptions of the sessions, including Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE), satisfaction, and possible side effects.

A computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program based on daily tasks utilising the semantic encoding strategies called Enhancing Memory in Daily Life (E-MinD Life) has been developed for Chinese people. The aim of the E-MinD Life is to delay functional deterioration associated with possible cognitive changes in healthy older adults, older adults with memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia. This project will pilot-test the E-MinD Life in Chinese healthy older adults, older adults with memory complaints, MCI and mild dementia.