Metabolic Control of Aging and Disease - the MetAGE Deep Phenotyping Cohort

NCT06511297 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 1632/2024
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 650
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The goal of this prospective observational study is to identify and validate blood based aging biomarkers in relation to cardiometabolic phenotypes of young and old, female and male subjects with or without obesity. The main question is to gain insights into the interaction of obesity related metabolic alteration and aging, and the relevance of loss of metabolic control in the development of age-related diseases in order to build a foundation for targeted drug- and lifestyle interventions in future studies.

Conditions

Obesity; Aging; Aging Problems; Metabolic Syndrome

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Biological age: Epigenetic and clinical clocks

  Epigenetic and clinical clocks (i.e. LinAge2, PheoAge) will be measured assessing DNA methylation in whole blood and standard laboratory parameters. The investigators speculate that the biological age is accelerated in obesity/overweight persons independent of chronological age.

  every 3 years

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Magnetic resonance spectroscopy

  every 3 years

• Magnetic resonance imaging

  every 3 years

Other Outcomes (5)

• Vibration-controlled transient elastography

  every 3 years

• Body composition

  every 3 years

• Continuous glucose monitoring

  every 3 years

Study Arms (5)

Lean, young adults

Diagnostic Test: comprehensive metabolic phenotyping

Overweight, young adults

Diagnostic Test: comprehensive metabolic phenotyping

Lean, older adults

Diagnostic Test: comprehensive metabolic phenotyping

Overweight, older adults

Diagnostic Test: comprehensive metabolic phenotyping

Nonagenerians Age ≥ 90

Note: Nonagenarian Group will only be phenotyped once

Diagnostic Test: comprehensive metabolic phenotyping

Interventions

comprehensive metabolic phenotyping DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The investigators will employ state of the art techniques to metabolically phenotype the study groups using brain, cardiac and whole body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), wearables, optical coherence tomography longitudinally. In addition, a battery of patient reported outcome measures will be used to explore psychosocial aspects of aging.

Lean, older adults; Lean, young adults; Nonagenerians Age ≥ 90; Overweight, older adults; Overweight, young adults

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Community sample from eastern Austria.

You may qualify if:

• Group 1 - Lean, young adults (n = 150)
• Age 18 - 35 years
• Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 18.5 and ≤ 24.9 kg/m2 (≥ 12 months)
• Group 2 - Overweight, young adults (n = 150)
• Age 18 - 35 years
• BMI ≥ 28kg/m2 (≥ 12 months)
• Group 3 - Lean, older adults (n = 150)
• Age ≥ 60 years
• BMI ≥ 18.5 and ≤ 24.9 kg/m2 (≥ 3 years)
• Group 4 - Overweight, older adults (n = 150)
• Age ≥ 60 years
• BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 (≥ 3 years)
• Subgroup A (n=75): with pre-existent cardiovascular disease defined as: history of myocardial infarction or evidence of coronary artery disease irrespective of revascularization status or history of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke or presence of peripheral artery disease or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (NYHA Class I-II).
• Subgroup B (n=75): without pre-existent cardiovascular disease
• Group 5 - Nonagenerians Age ≥ 90 (n = 50)

You may not qualify if:

• Group 1 - Lean, young adults (n = 150)
• Highly physical active (i.e. \> 5 times sporting activity / week with moderate to high intensity \[heart rate 140 - 200bpm\])
• Special diets (i.e. ketogenic diet and time-restricted eating)
• Clinically significant metabolic or endocrine disorders
• Claustrophobia
• drug abuse, alcohol \> 15 drinks/week
• Heart failure, cardiovascular disease, immunosuppressive therapies, chronic inflammatory diseases and active oncologic conditions
• Metal implants that prohibit 3T MRI
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Group 2 - Overweight, young adults (n = 150)
• Highly physical active (i.e. \> 5 times sporting activity / week with moderate to high intensity \[heart rate 140 - 200bpm\])
• Special diets (i.e. ketogenic diet and time-restricted eating)
• Active anti-obesity treatment (e.g. glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogues, polyagonists, naltrexone and bupropion)
• Clinically significant metabolic or endocrine disorders
• Claustrophobia

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Thomas Scherer: lead
• Medical University of Graz: collaborator
• University of Graz: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Medical University of Graz

Graz, Styria, Austria

RECRUITING

Medical University of Vienna

Vienna, Vienna, Austria

RECRUITING

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

blood, hair, saliva, mucosa cells, stool, urine

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity; Metabolic Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Insulin Resistance; Hyperinsulinism; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc. Prof. Dr. med.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 9, 2024
• First Posted: July 19, 2024
• Study Start: May 5, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2035
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2036
• Last Updated: February 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-08

Locations

AU (2)