Creating a Korean cohort to track cognitive aging

Global Collaborative Research on Establishing a Korean Cognitive Aging Cohort That is Associated With the Einstein Aging Study

This project will use smartphone surveys, a wearable watch, and blood tests to see if daily emotional stress is linked to short- and long-term thinking problems and inflammation in adults 60 and older in Seoul.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 180 (estimated)
• Ages: 60 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Korea University (other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Seoul, Select One...)
• Trial ID: NCT07485387 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Researchers will enroll community-dwelling adults aged 60+ in Seoul and collect baseline surveys on mood, cognition, and personal characteristics. Participants will complete ecological momentary assessments via a smartphone app 1–6 times daily for two weeks while wearing a Galaxy Watch to record sleep, heart rate, and activity. Blood samples will be taken to measure inflammatory markers such as CRP, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α and these biomarkers will be examined as potential mediators of stress-related cognitive change. The project will align its protocol with the U.S. Einstein Aging Study to enable cross-national comparisons of social support, isolation, inflammation, and cognitive trajectories.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are adults aged 60 or older living in the Republic of Korea who can use a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, have sufficient cognitive ability (MMSE ≥21) or can consent with a guardian, and can comply with frequent smartphone-based surveys.

Not a fit: People with a baseline diagnosis of dementia, severe sensory or mobility impairments that prevent participation, active cancer treatment within six months, current substance abuse, or who cannot comply with the EMA protocol are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could clarify how everyday emotional stress and inflammation contribute to cognitive decline, informing targets for interventions to lower dementia risk.

How similar studies have performed: Related cohorts, including the Einstein Aging Study, have used comparable longitudinal and biomarker approaches successfully for aging research, but linking real-time emotional stress, inflammatory mediators, and short-term cognitive changes remains an emerging area.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* 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 Criteria:

* Diagnosis of dementia at baseline
* 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
* Inability to ambulate or psychiatric conditions that prevent survey participation
* Currently undergoing cancer treatment or received chemotherapy within the past 6 months

Where this trial is running

Seoul, Select One...

• Korea University — Seoul, Select One..., South Korea (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Sunmi Song — Korea University
• Study coordinator: Sunmi Song, PhD

Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia Alzheimer Type, Chronic Pain, Depression - Major Depressive Disorder, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, chronic pain, depression