Study of Daily Stress, Inflammation and Memory in Older Adults in Seoul
Follows adults aged 60 and older to see how daily stress relates to thinking.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Global Collaborative Research on Establishing a Korean Cognitive Aging Cohort
Key facts
- Where
- Seoul, South KoreaSee the site
Where in South Korea
- Korea UniversitySeoul, South KoreaTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Korea University
- Trial code
- NCT07485387
- Record updated
- 20 March 2026
- Original description
The goal of this observational study is to learn how daily emotional stress affects cognitive function and inflammation in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and older in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The main questions it aims to answer are:Read full original descriptionShow less
Global Collaborative Research on Establishing a Korean Cognitive Aging Cohort That is Associated With the Einstein Aging Study
The goal of this observational study is to learn how daily emotional stress affects cognitive function and inflammation in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and older in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does daily psychological stress measured in real-time affect short-term and long-term cognitive function in older adults? Do pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as CRP, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α) mediate the relationship between emotional stress and cognitive decline? How do social support and social isolation influence cognitive function and inflammatory biomarkers over time?
Participants will:
Complete baseline surveys assessing depression, cognitive function, and personal characteristics Use a smartphone app to answer brief surveys about their emotions, cognitive performance, and social interactions 1-6 times daily for two weeks Wear a Galaxy Watch to track sleep quality, heart rate, and physical activity Provide blood samples for inflammatory biomarker analysis Return for follow-up assessments at 6 months and 1 year
This study is part of an international collaboration to establish a Korean cohort comparable to the U.S. Einstein Aging Study, with the aim of developing culturally tailored dementia prevention strategies.
Inclusion: Adults aged 60 or older residing in the Republic of Korea; Samsung Galaxy smartphone users capable of using smartphone applications; Sufficient cognitive ability to understand and follow research instructions (MMSE score of 21 or above); For individuals who do not meet the cognitive criteria, those who understand the study procedures and provide informed consent along with their legal guardian.
Exclusion: Currently undergoing cancer treatment or received chemotherapy within the past 6 months; Diagnosis of dementia at baseline; Inability to ambulate or psychiatric conditions that prevent survey participation; Severe visual or hearing impairments that prevent participation in psychological assessments; Illiteracy that prevents participation in cognitive testing; Less than 80% compliance with the 2-day preliminary EMA protocol (one additional attempt allowed after re-training); Current alcohol or substance abuse.