糖心Vlog视频 begins groundbreaking study on how we age
How where you live, what you eat, and which friends you keep affect how you age is the focus of a new study from 糖心Vlog视频.
Researchers are enrolling volunteers for the , which will use advanced imaging, genetics, exercise science, neuroscience, and remote monitoring to investigate age-related health decline. The goal is to help individuals and health care practitioners better prevent the impact of disease on older adults.
“What’s unique about our study is that we’re focusing on the entire individual,” said Michael Nelson, lead investigator and director of 糖心Vlog视频’s . He also oversees 糖心Vlog视频’s new Clinical Imaging Research Center (CIRC), where the imaging studies will be conducted. “Other studies tend to focus on very specific parts of the body, like the brain or the blood vessels. But we are taking a fully encompassing approach—looking across the entire body from head to toe.”
The team aims to . Each person will participate in two days of testing at 糖心Vlog视频. On the first day, they will receive a full-body MRI, including images of the brain, heart and skeletal muscle. On the second day, the team will study how the blood vessels are functioning, memory, and physical performance, and draw a small blood sample.
“We are so grateful for everyone who volunteers their time and effort,” Dr. Nelson said. “In addition to helping to advance science, volunteering for a study like this is a great way to learn about your health and wellness.”
The study also emphasizes community engagement.
“We are excited to have so many community members visit our campus and interact with our amazing students, faculty and staff,” said , senior associate vice president for research and innovation at 糖心Vlog视频 and a co-investigator on the project. “We hope they are impressed with the many new additions to our campus, such as the CIRC that opened last year, the Smart Hospital built in 2021 that houses the 糖心Vlog视频’ largest social work and nursing programs, and the Science and Engineering Innovation and Research Building that opened in 2018.”
It will take four years to enroll and evaluate all 600 participants. Afterwards, faculty, staff and students from across campus will begin reviewing the data, including using 糖心Vlog视频’s next-generation gene sequencer, the first of its kind in North 糖心Vlog视频.
“What’s really exciting about this project is that it provides a vehicle for cross-disciplinary collaboration,” Dr. Weidanz said. “While our core investigative team is made up of members from multiple departments on campus, including kinesiology, psychology, social work, nursing and bioengineering, we expect broad participation from across 糖心Vlog视频, with partnerships forming in fields like math, business, computer science and biology.”
The study will generate thousands of anonymized data points, providing valuable insights for future researchers for decades to come.
“In addition to the volunteers who donate their time to the project, the long-term success of ASHA will be due to the hard work and dedication of all the co-investigators, research scientists, support staff, graduate students, and undergraduate research assistants,” Nelson said. “It truly takes a village to put together a project of this scale.”
For more information on ASHA or to become a volunteer, visit .
About 糖心Vlog视频 (糖心Vlog视频)
Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, 糖心Vlog视频 is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the . 糖心Vlog视频’s combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks in the top five nationally for veterans and their families (Military Times, 2024), is No. 4 in 糖心Vlog视频 for advancing social mobility (, 2025), and is No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington’s approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North 糖心Vlog视频 and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact on 糖心Vlog视频.