The Temporal Investigation of Multimodal Elements (TIME) Study: protocol for an observational, longitudinal study to characterize the dynamic structure of molecular and digital data in older adults in stable health
- 1Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, United States
- 2Phenome Health, Seattle, WA, United States
Abstract
Background: Biological systems exhibit dynamic patterns over multiple temporal scales—from minutes to months—that are poorly captured by conventional cross-sectional or low-frequency longitudinal studies. These patterns, including diurnal variations and underlying continuous rhythms, may be critical determinants of health, resilience, and disease risk in aging. Existing longitudinal studies in older adults lack high-frequency, multimodal measurements that integrate molecular, physiological, and digital health data streams.
Objectives: The TIME Study aims to: (i) Characterize temporal patterns in molecular, physiological, and digital health measures in healthy older adults; (ii) determine how these patterns vary across biological domains and relate to each other; and (iii) assess how physiological systems respond to defined perturbations (oral glucose tolerance and maximal exercise).
Methods: TIME is a single-site, observational, longitudinal study enrolling up to 150 adults aged ≥55 years. Over an 11-week main phase, participants complete seven weekly low-frequency visits, two perturbation challenge visits, and two, two-day high-frequency sampling epochs. Biospecimens, clinical measures, cognitive and physical performance tests, and continuous digital health data are collected. Follow-up visits occur at 6 and 12 months.
Expected impact: By integrating multimodal, temporally resolved data, TIME will provide a foundational dataset for understanding the role of biological rhythms in aging and inform future precision health strategies.
Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07107386, identifier NCT07107386.
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BibTeX
@article{yurkovich2026temporal,
title = {{The Temporal Investigation of Multimodal Elements (TIME) Study: protocol for an observational, longitudinal study to characterize the dynamic structure of molecular and digital data in older adults in stable health}},
author = {James T. Yurkovich and Emma Glass and Audrey N. Nash and Noah Levine and Sophia Lee and Katheryn Ehlen and Eduardo Hernandez and Prabin Gharti and Chatura Senadheera and Ashen Fernando and Drew Witherington and Lance Pflieger and Jyotika Erram and Noa Rappaport and Alison Le and John C. Newman and Brianna J. Stubbs},
journal = {Frontiers in Digital Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fdgth.2026.1881042},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2026.1881042},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The Temporal Investigation of Multimodal Elements (TIME) Study: protocol for an observational, longitudinal study to characterize the dynamic structure of molecular and digital data in older adults in stable health
AU - James T. Yurkovich
AU - Emma Glass
AU - Audrey N. Nash
AU - Noah Levine
AU - Sophia Lee
AU - Katheryn Ehlen
AU - Eduardo Hernandez
AU - Prabin Gharti
AU - Chatura Senadheera
AU - Ashen Fernando
AU - Drew Witherington
AU - Lance Pflieger
AU - Jyotika Erram
AU - Noa Rappaport
AU - Alison Le
AU - John C. Newman
AU - Brianna J. Stubbs
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Frontiers in Digital Health
DO - 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1881042
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2026.1881042
AB - Background: Biological systems exhibit dynamic patterns over multiple temporal scales—from minutes to months—that are poorly captured by conventional cross-sectional or low-frequency longitudinal studies. These patterns, including diurnal variations and underlying continuous rhythms, may be critical determinants of health, resilience, and disease risk in aging. Existing longitudinal studies in older adults lack high-frequency, multimodal measurements that integrate molecular, physiological, and digital health data streams. Objectives: The TIME Study aims to: (i) Characterize temporal patterns in molecular, physiological, and digital health measures in healthy older adults; (ii) determine how these patterns vary across biological domains and relate to each other; and (iii) assess how physiological systems respond to defined perturbations (oral glucose tolerance and maximal exercise). Methods: TIME is a single-site, observational, longitudinal study enrolling up to 150 adults aged ≥55 years. Over an 11-week main phase, participants complete seven weekly low-frequency visits, two perturbation challenge visits, and two, two-day high-frequency sampling epochs. Biospecimens, clinical measures, cognitive and physical performance tests, and continuous digital health data are collected. Follow-up visits occur at 6 and 12 months. Expected impact: By integrating multimodal, temporally resolved data, TIME will provide a foundational dataset for understanding the role of biological rhythms in aging and inform future precision health strategies. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07107386, identifier NCT07107386.
SN - 2673-253X
ER -