Reduction in appetite and/or food intake among older individuals is referred to as anorexia of aging (AOA, also known as Geriatric Anorexia). AOA is linked with myriad comorbidities associated with aging, contributes significantly to adverse health consequences in old age, and has been used as a predictor of morbidity and mortality. The overall aim of this study is to compare feasibility of body weight, body fat, body composition and activity assessments in elderly subjects in long-term care (LTC), nursing home, or assisted living facilities. This will be accomplished through the use of questionnaires in addition to devices that evaluate movement, body composition, and body weight.
The overall aim of this study is to compare feasibility of body weight, body fat, body composition and activity assessments in elderly subjects in long-term care (LTC), nursing home, or assisted living facilities. This will be accomplished through the use of questionnaires in addition to devices that evaluate movement, body composition, and body weight. The proposed study will consist of an initial intake visit on Day 1, followed by an at-home (i.e. LTC facility, nursing home, and/or assisted living facility) phase where the participant will wear two watch like devices one on each wrist and answer two questions on paper each day. There will be a second visit on day 8 where the participant will complete additional questionnaires and assessments. The participant will continue wearing the wrist-worn devices for days 9-14, with a final visit on day 15 for final assessments and device collection. A window of +/- 3 days will be allocated for the scheduling of all visits to accommodate participant's schedules and commitments. Activities will take place in the care facility where the participant resides, or the Laboratory for Human Neurobiology for those that will commute. The study procedures will be identical for all participants for all Frailty groups.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
44
a watch like wearable sensor
a full body composition scale that provides fat and muscle mass, water retention, bone mass, and weight trends (conducted based on participant's abilities)
a wheel-chair compatible scale to measure body weight
Evans Biomedical Research Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Assess the use of accelerometry in an elderly cohort based in a LTC/nursing home/assisted-living setting
Two GENEActiv watches will be used (one on each wrist) at a sampling rate of 50 Hz to measure movement in the x, y, and z direction across the study period.
Time frame: 2 weeks +/- 3 days
Assess the use of a smart standing scale for body weight and composition assessment in an elderly cohort based in a LTC/nursing home/assisted-living setting (based on participant's abilities).
A body weight composition scale will be used to completion of daily weight measurement and track body weight in kilograms (kg) throughout the study (based on participant's abilities).
Time frame: 2 weeks +/- 3 days
Assess the use of a chair scale for body weight assessment in an elderly cohort based in a LTC/nursing home/assisted-living setting.
A chair scale will be used during study staff visits to measure and track body weight.
Time frame: 2 weeks +/- 3 days
Assess the use of a handheld body fat assessment tool for body fat percentage assessment in an elderly cohort based in a LTC/nursing home/assisted-living setting.
A handheld body fat assessment tool will be used during study staff visits to measure body fat percentage.
Time frame: 2 weeks +/- 3 days
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a handheld device that measures body fat percentage
a research-grade full body composition scale that provides fat and muscle mass, water retention, bone mass, and weight trends (conducted based on participant's abilities)