Syncope and Falls in the Elderly (SAFE) Laboratory: Research
The Safe Laboratory mission is to determine factors that set the stage for decline in brain function and loss of independence in older adults. We study the mechanisms by which clinical, environmental, and hereditary factors set the stage for age-related disorders, failure of systemic regulation and mobility and functional decline in older adults. Our main focus is on stroke, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. We aim to identify preventive and treatment strategies to promote successful aging and independence of older people.
About
The Safe Lab is established as a part of NIH-funded General Clinical Research Center at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for evaluation of cardiovascular control, cerebral blood flow, autonomic function, gait and balance, cognition and functional outcomes.
Press
- New Consequences of Diabetes Diabetes Forecast September 2003, 105-7. Autonomic neuropathy—a link to stroke?
- Diabetes Forecast Hot Topics: Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes 2007, 4: 20.
- Reduced blood flow signals cerebrovascular disease in diabetes; Nov 27, 2006 Vol XXIII, No. 45
http://www.diabetes.org/uedocuments/PSQWin06.pdf
http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/results.php?storyarticle=4877 http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/issues/Issue%20368/Issue%20368.pdf - Morning heart attacks may follow body's clock: Circadian Rhythms Influence the Heart, Study Shows.” in WebMDHealth, December 20, 2004 http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20041220/morning-heart-attacks-may-follow-bodys-clock).“
- “Why do heart attacks occur most frequently between 9 and 11 AM?'” in Physics News Update: The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Physics News, Number 713, December 27, 2004 http://www.aip.org/pnu/2004/split/713-1.html).
- “Heart Rhythms Seem Circadian in Nature.” in Scientific American, December 30, 2004 (http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=000A7D05-4842-11C7-884283414B7F0000)
- “Morning madness.” in Nature Medicine, Vol 11, #2 (125), February 2005 (http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v11/n2/full/nm0205-125.html).
- “Body rhythms set a dangerous beat.” in New Scientist, Magazine issue 2493, April 02, 2005 (http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18624935.100).
- “Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Functions Beyond Circadian Rhythm Generation”, in Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Public Affairs: Research Briefs, December 20, 2007.
Sponsors
NIH-National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH-National Institute on Aging, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Department of Defense, TEKES-Finland, Industry sponsored trials
Lab News (April, 2010)
1) Cerebromicrovascular Disease in Elderly with Diabetes
This research study aims to prospectively investigate the impact of type 2 diabetes on cerebral perfusion and brain tissue damage and on cognition and balance in older adults. MRI and Transcranial Doppler ultrasound will be utilized to determine the clinical impact in diabetic and control subjects over 2 years of follow-up. This study will provide invaluable data about the effects of diabetes on cerebral perfusion that can translate into new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for management of diabetic brain damage.
We are currently recruiting 50-85 year old participants with type 2 diabetes AND without diabetes to serve as healthy controls. Please contact the SAFE lab for more information.
2) Full-time Post-doc Fellow and Part-time Student Research Positions Available
Please contact the SAFE lab for more information.
