Vascular Aging and Microcirculation: Physiological Aspects of Vascular Aging in the Elderly Population (VAMP-Aging)
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging, Handgrip Dynamometry (Muscle Strength), Sit-to-Stand Test (5-Times Sit-to-Stand - 5STS), Single-Leg Balance Test.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Aging Problems. Basic parameters: 60 years — 100 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Brazil
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
Rising life expectancy worldwide challenges public health due to increased cardiovascular disease linked to vascular aging, where microvascular dysfunction serves as an early indicator of system-wide inflammation, or "inflammaging". The proposed study aims to validate non-invasive, high-resolution techniques, such as Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging, to identify early endothelial senescence biomarkers and map their correlation with metabolic, inflammatory, and anthropometric profiles to advance personalized, preventive translational medicine.
Detailed description
An observational, cross-sectional study will be conducted, including volunteers aged ≥ 60 years, divided into two groups: elderly (60-80 years) and very elderly (\>80). Young volunteers aged between 20 and 40 years, already participants in previous studies, whose demographic and microcirculation data are in the research laboratory's database, will be included as controls. Data from the control group will be obtained from an institutional database, respecting confidentiality and anonymization, in accordance with current ethical standards.
Interventions
- Diagnostic test Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging
Investigation of Systemic Endothelial Microvascular Function - Diagnostic test Handgrip Dynamometry (Muscle Strength)
Serving as a marker of systemic muscle strength and sarcopenia. - Diagnostic test Sit-to-Stand Test (5-Times Sit-to-Stand - 5STS)
This test will assess the strength and power of the lower limbs. - Diagnostic test Single-Leg Balance Test
Failure to maintain the position (to stand on one leg) for at least 10 seconds will be correlated as a marker of frailty and risk of falls. - Diagnostic test Assessment of Global Cognitive Function
Overall cognitive function will be assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination.
Primary outcome measures
- Systemic (cutaneous) microcirculatory reactivity. [Time frame: up to 20 minutes]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Muscle Strength [Time frame: up to 10 minutes]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Absence of symptoms and history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
- Baseline blood pressure levels within the normal range (< 140/90 mmHg, according to WHO criteria) and absence of use of antihypertensive medications.
Exclusion criteria
- Diabetes Mellitus: Fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL or use of hypoglycemic agents.
- Smoking: Active or quit less than 5 years ago.
- Inflammatory Diseases: Autoimmune diseases, active neoplasms, or acute infectious processes.
- Surgery or trauma in the last 60 days.
- Renal Dysfunction: Chronic renal failure (estimated by eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73m²).
- Medication Use: Chronic use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or drugs with direct action on vascular reactivity (e.g., continuous use of nitrates).
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Brazil · 1 center
- Eduardo Tibiriçá — Rio de Janeiro
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07563725 · VAMP-Aging