RecruitingPhase 1

Writing About Experiences and Health in Older Adults II

United States200 participantsStarted 2023-03-13

Plain-language summary

UCLA researchers looking for healthy older adults (aged 65+) to participate in a study investigating how writing about experiences can affect your brain and body. Once a week for 6 weeks, participants will write about their experiences and fill out online questionnaires. Participants will also come to the UCLA campus to complete a neuroimaging session (fMRI), provide a blood spot sample, and fill out questionnaires 2 times: once prior to the 6-week writing period and once immediately after the 6-week writing period.

Who can participate

Age range

65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Exclusion criteria

. current smokers
. active, uncontrolled medical disorders
. chronic infection (e.g., Hepatitis C, HIV)
. use of certain medications (steroid use, opioid use)
. psychiatric disorders (e.g., current major depression, bipolar disorder)
. body mass index (BMI) greater than 35
. left-handed
. claustrophobic

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Psychological Distress

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 10 weeks

Change in Social Support

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 10 weeks

Change in Social Participation

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 10 weeks

Change in Inflammatory Gene Expression

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 10 weeks

Change in Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (dACC) Activity in response to stress

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks

Change in Anterior Insula Activity in response to stress

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks

Change in Amygdala Activity in response to threat

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05524597

SponsorUniversity of California, Los Angeles

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-12

Contact for this trial

Naomi Eisenberger, Ph.D.

3108494330 neisenbe@ucla.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Social Psychology trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Exclusion criteria

. current smokers
. active, uncontrolled medical disorders
. chronic infection (e.g., Hepatitis C, HIV)
. use of certain medications (steroid use, opioid use)
. psychiatric disorders (e.g., current major depression, bipolar disorder)
. body mass index (BMI) greater than 35
. left-handed
. claustrophobic

What they're measuring

Change in Psychological Distress

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 10 weeks

Change in Social Support

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 10 weeks

Change in Social Participation

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 10 weeks

Change in Inflammatory Gene Expression

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks, 10 weeks

Change in Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (dACC) Activity in response to stress

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks

Change in Anterior Insula Activity in response to stress

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks

Change in Amygdala Activity in response to threat

Timeframe: Baseline, 6 weeks