Projects
Our Projects
We conduct community-engaged projects that allow us to build trustworthy and meaningful relationships with audiences to improve health outcomes. Our teams include advocates who contribute to study design and completion, and represent the women we are including in our research projects.
Current
Prolonged Nightly Fasting Among Ethnically and Racially Diverse Breast Cancer Survivors with Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot RCT to Improve Cognition, Sleep and Quality of Life (aka "RESTORE"). Explore the use of an 8-week prolonged nightly fasting intervention to change sleep, fatigue, and quality of life, compared to a health education control group, among ethnically and racially diverse (≥50% Black, Hispanic, and/or Native American) breast cancer survivors with cancer-related cognitive impairment.
Recruiting nationwide: restorestudy@asu.edu
Feasibility Of Implementing Time-Restricted Eating In Women With Mild Cognitive Impairment. The goals are to conduct a feasibility study of TRE in women with mild cognitive impairment. We will recruit from the ongoing, prospective study where participants are brought in once a year for comprehensive cognitive testing. We will conduct baseline measures of eating/fasting durations and then do an 8-week TRE intervention. Fasting blood work and DXA scans will be conducts at both time points.
Time-Restricted Eating Intervention for Alzheimer's Disease (TREAD). Goal is to investigate the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of prolonged night fasting in reducing cognitive decline and disease markers in patients with cognitive impairment due to AD. Recruiting locally.
Circadian regulation of metabolic risk in mice and women: role of estrogen and time-restricted feeding. Goals are to investigate the mechanisms by which estrogen protects against diet-induced circadian clock disruption (mouse models) and the metabolic benefits of prolonged nightly fasting among postmenopausal women. Recruiting locally.
Randomized Phase II Trial of Prolonged Overnight Fasting and/or Exercise on Fatigue and Other Patient Reported Outcomes in Women with Hormone Receptor Positive Advanced Breast Cancer (FastER). Goals are to investigate the impact of prolonged nightly fasting and/or exercise intervention on fatigue and other patient reported outcomes in women with metastatic hormone positive breast cancer. Recruiting locally.
Sedentary Behavior Interrupted: A randomized crossover trial of acute effects on biomarkers of healthy aging in the laboratory (aka Rise for Heath – Lab Study). Goals are to investigate the short-term effects of prolonged sitting time interruptions on factors associated with age-related, chronic disease in postmenopausal women. Project one of three interrelated projects in The Sedentary Time & Aging Research (STAR) Program.
Completed
Prolonged Nightly Fasting In Older Adults With Memory Decline: A Pilot Study Exploring Changes In Cognitive Function (aka "Think FAST). Explore the use of an 8-week prolonged nightly fasting intervention in a single-group pilot study with older adults (females/males) ≥65 years old to assess the primary outcome of cognitive function and secondary outcome of sleep; additional qualitative interviews conducted. Study completed; primary outcomes paper published; qualitative paper under review for revise & resubmit.
Cognitive Function And Weight Reduction: A Nationwide Pilot Study Testing A Remotely-Delivered Prolonged Nightly Fasting Intervention In Stressed Midlife Adults Living With Obesity And Memory Decline (aka "GetSmart"). Explore the use of a 8-week prolonged nightly fasting intervention as compared to a health education control group in a remotely-delivered, nationwide randomized conrolled trial among midlife adults (45-65 years old) living with stress, obesity and memory decline. Assess the outcomes of cognition, sleep, and habit. Primary oucomes paper published; qualitative exit interview paper coded and manuscript in process for submission.
A Randomized Trial of Physical Activity for Cognitive Functioning in Breast Cancer Survivors (ICAN). Goals are to test the effect of exercise to improve cognition and related circulating biomarkers over a 12-month intervention period among 250 breast cancer survivors.
A Feasibility Trial to Assess a New Yoga Program to Enhance Quality of Life and Well-Being among Hispanic Women at Risk for or Living with Type 2 Diabetes. Goals are to test the impact of a new, in-person yoga program on quality of life and well-being among Hispanic women at risk for or living with type 2 diabetes.
Calor y Cuidado: Bridging Knowledge Gaps in Prevention and Treatment of Heat-Related Illnesses in the Hispanic Community. Goals are to generate and test culturally tailored educational material that disseminates heat adaptation strategies among and the protection of green spaces within local Hispanic communities. We will explore the impact of newly generated social media material on environmental concerns and future health-related behaviors and community engagement. Participants primarily women.
Exploring elements of the urban environment that increase the risk of developing diabetes within Hispanic neighborhoods. The project goals are to explore how elements of the urban environment impact the ability to maintain a healthy diet and adequate levels of physical activity among Hispanic adults at risk for developing T2D. Participants primarily women.