University of Colorado Denver
		April 2006 Volume 1, Issue 1 Past Issues Close Newsletter
	IMAGE Newsletter

7 YEARS RUNNING - IMAGE GROUP HISTORY

In 1999, Wendy Kohrt, Ph.D. established the IMAGE research group, a team that has grown to include more than 20 physiologists, medical doctors, nurses, and research assistants committed to studying one or more aspects of the acronym IMAGE: Investigations in Metabolism, Aging, Gender, and Exercise.

Over the years, the IMAGE group has conducted innovative research on topics such as: DHEA supplementation Postmenopausal weight gain and hormone therapy The relationship of stress to abdominal fat Androgen deprivation therapy and musculoskeletal health Calcium loss in elite bicyclists The preservation of muscular strength in older cancer patients

These studies were made possible by the commitment of hundreds of volunteer participants and funding from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the National Cancer Institute. The IMAGE group is part of the Center on Aging, within the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver. The IMAGE mission is to be a national leader in aging research focused on the prevention of disease and the maintenance of functional independence in old age.

T E A M
(Testosterone and Exercise in Aging Men)

Currently, one of the IMAGE group’s busiest and biggest studies is the TEAM study, a 5-year double-blinded, placebo-controlled study funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The TEAM study is investigating how testosterone supplementation and strength training influence muscular strength, sleep, prostate health, vascular function, and the mind. Before participants are accepted into the TEAM study, they undergo comprehensive medical screening including blood draws, treadmill and strength tests, a urology exam, and bone mineral density testing. Participants who qualify for the study apply either testosterone or a placebo (no active drug) gel to their skin. The participants are also randomly assigned to an exercise training group or a non-exercise control group. The participants in the exercise training group lift weights at the IMAGE exercise research laboratory (ERL) three times per week for one year. Ongoing medical testing on TEAM participants occurs throughout the study to Eligible TEAM Participants: • Are males, 60 years & older • Are non-smokers • Have no history of prostate cancer • Are not lifting weights more than 2 times per week monitor changes and ensure the participant’s safety. Although the TEAM study is extensive in its requirements, the medical assessments are performed at no cost and the participants are provided with the results of all medical testing. If you would like to know more about the TEAM study, contact Drew Hepler at 303-372-2917 or email him at . TEAM research assistant, Drew Hepler, and participant, Larry Brady, lifting weights at the ERL.