Research

	Caloric Restriction with Optimal Nutrition & Aging Study In non-human species like rats, yeast, mice, flies, worms, fish, and even rhesus monkeys, caloric restriction causes lifespan to increase, sometimes by ten-fold. The Caloric Restriction with Optimal Nutrition & Aging (CRONA) study tests whether long-term human calorie restrictors might also have signs of slowed aging. This project is in collaboration with former postdoctoral fellow Dr. A. Janet Tomiyama, now at the Departments of Psychology and Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University. P.I.: Janet Tomiyama Co-P.I.s: Elissa Epel and Elizabeth Blackburn Learn more about it from Dr. Janet Tomiyama in this video.
	Exercise and Cell Aging Study The Exercise and Cell Aging study is the first human randomized clinical trial that tests whether an aerobic exercise intervention can boost telomerase levels in sedentary and unfit young to mid-life adults. Exercise is well known to benefit individuals biologically, but to date, only cross-sectional work highlights the associations between a healthy physical activity regimen and telomere biology in humans. This study is underway at Columbia University in collaboration with Dr.'s Richard Sloan and Daichi Shimbo, in the Division of Behavioral Medicine in the Psychiatry Department. P.I.: Elissa Epel Co-P.I.s: Eli Puterman & Richard Sloan
	HEART: Health Enhancement Resilience Training, a mobile health intervention Drawing from principles of evidence-based mindfulness stress-reduction, we are developing and testing a smart phone application that aims to reduce stress, increase emotional resilience, and slow the effects of stress related cellular aging. The app will include very brief "in the moment" exercises, social interaction and bio-sensor monitoring (breath-rate and heart rate variability), as well as tracking and feedback. This project includes two main phases, (I) an iterative design approach with rapid prototyping and user feedback to determine effective messaging and feature design and (II) a pilot test of the feasibility, efficacy and effectiveness of the smart phone intervention by assessing app use and engagement, telomere length and other biomarkers of stress and cellular aging, and stress related behaviors. P.I.: Elissa Epel Co-P.I.: Eve Kupferman
	Know Your Telomeres The Know Your Telomeres Study examined change in telomere length as a function of health behaviors and stress levels over the course of one year in 250, 50 to 65 year old healthy and community-dwelling women. In the study, half the women were told their telomere length at the start of the study, and all women were followed for one year to examine the effects of information about one's own personal telomere length on behaviors, and the possible resulting changes in telomere length at followup. Co-PIs: Eli Puterman, Elissa Epel Co-Investigators: Elizabeth Blackburn, Jue Lin, Study Coordinator: Zoe Evans Website: http://www.knowyourtelomeres.com
	Maternal Adiposity, Metabolism, and Stress Study Carrying excess weight can increase the risk of health problems during pregnancy, and predicts excess gain during the short period of gestation. The MAMAS study is built on the premise that simple recommendations for diet and exercise may not be enough to help women maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy. The goal of the study is to learn if providing stress reduction skills and mindful eating training, in addition to encouraging good nutrition and physical activity, will help low- to middle-income overweight women achieve healthy weight gain during pregnancy and reduce stress. The study will also follow the health and temperament of the babies (led by Nicki Bush, Ph.D.) Multiple P.I.s: Elissa Epel, Barbara Laraia, & Nancy Adler Project Director: Kimberly Coleman-Phox Website: http://www.mamasstudy.com
	Stress, AGing, and Emotions Study in Men (Mr. SAGE) This study examines bidirectional effects between daily psychological processes, stress arousal, and nightly sleep, among of fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder. A complementary study to SAGE (see below), it also examines daily dyadic interactions within couples coping with the stress of parenting and how these dynamics affect nightly sleep. Lastly, it examines how these relationships might change after a mindfulness based parenting stress intervention. P.I.s: Aric Prather & Elissa Epel
	Social Status, Cellular Aging, and Mortality Using data from a national health survey, this study will be the first to examine telomere length in a nationally representative sample, expanding on past findings linking socioeconomic status (SES) to shorter telomere length, and telomere length to mortality. The study examines these relationships in a racially and ethnically diverse sample, and moderating effects of genetic vulnerabilities, as well as mediating effects of health behaviors. P.I.: Elissa Epel Co-P.I.: Belinda Needham
	Stress, AGing, and Emotions Study (SAGE) SAGE, the Stress Aging and Emotions study for parents, is the third in a series of examinations of how the chronic stress of being a family caregiver affects cellular aging. Drawing on a sample of mothers of children on the autism spectrum, the study seeks to understand how psychological stress affects the body and mind. We aim to identify patterns of vulnerability and resilience to stress, to help with development of a hardiness intervention. We measure biological aging primarily by looking at immune cell telomeres, which form the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, as well as telomerase, the reparative enzyme that keeps telomeres in good working order. Telomeres appear to act as a cellular clock that runs faster under physiological and psychological stress. The intensive study of resilient coping will help shape interventions. P.I.: Elissa Epel Co-P.I.: Elizabeth Blackburn Project Directors: Justine Arenander and Laura Kurtzman
	Stress, Hormones, and Eating Study The SHE study seeks to better understand facets of Food Addiction. It examines how women's levels of stress and natural opioids in the brain are related to weight and cravings for certain comfort foods. Our ultimate goal is to develop a biological test that will help people know how opioid dependent they are, and what type of eating/weight interventions might help them the most. P.I.s: Elissa Epel, Barbara Laraia, & Nancy Adler Project Director: Marin Thompson Website: http://www.shestudy.com
	The SHINE Study: Supporting Health by Integrating Nutrition and Exercise SHINE is a clinical trial that examines the effects of two different 6-month weight loss programs for obese, non-diabetic adults on weight, body fat, and psychological well-being. The two programs both include nutrition and exercise components, as well as stress management techniques aimed at long-term weight loss. The key outcomes include weight loss and maintenance, body fat distribution, insulin sensitivity, psychological well-being, stress hormones, immune function, and cell aging. P.I.: Rick Hecht Co-P.I.: Elissa Epel Project Director: Patty Moran