Boosting Olfactory and Sensory Training Study (BOOST)
A Feasibility and Acceptability Study Testing Two Types of Smell Exposure Interventions in Middle-Aged Older Adults With HIV
Who can join
Ages 40 and older · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants (men \& women) must be 40+ years * have cognitive complaints. * must be proficient in English Exclusion Criteria: * a sinus infection (within the past 3 months), thrush, candidiasis, pregnant, current cold or flu, hay fever, asthma, nasal allergies, opportunistic infections (including COVID-19) within the past 3 months, or current nasal obstruction condition. * Participation requires \~8 weeks and in-person visits, participants living beyond 60 miles away from the center will be excluded. * Participants living in unstable housing (e.g., shelter) or with significant neuro-comorbidities (e.g., schizophrenia) will be excluded. * Other conditions (e.g., legally blind/deaf, currently undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, or a history of significant brain trauma) that could impact olfactory and cognitive testing also necessitate exclusion.
About the study
The goal of this study is to examine two types of olfactory interventions (conventional olfactory training vs scented marker training) in adults with HIV.
The two research questions are:
1. Determine if participants find the intervention acceptable and assess feasibility of the study. 2. Determine if the intervention improves olfactory function and cognitive function.
Participants will come to our office and be administered the baseline battery of questions including olfactory and cognitive performance tests. Then they will be randomized and sent home with one of the two interventions (below) in which they will engage in it for 8 weeks, after which they come back to our office for the posttest battery of questions including olfactory and cognitive performance test.
1. Conventional Olfactory Training at Home -- 4 scents in which they will smell twice a day for 8 weeks. 2. Scented Marker Training at Home -- Several marker scents in which they will smell twice a day for 8 weeks.
What is being tested
- Conventional Smell Training Group (other)
- Scented Marker Group (other)
Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham · Participants: 80 · Started: May 2, 2026
Contact the study team
- David E Vance, PhD · Phone: 1205-934-7589
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07221123
Locations in the U.S.
| Alabama | University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.