Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (NCT00233272) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
United States10,000 participantsStarted 2014-02-03
Plain-language summary
Background:
\- The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) is a clinical research program on human aging that began in 1958. Volunteers of different ages join the study when they are healthy, and have follow-up visits for life. Visits last for multiple days. Participants are evaluated for many physical elements as well as for brain function. Physical tests are given. Information on mood, personality, and social aspects of life is also collected. This program has contributed more than any other research project to our understanding of aging.
Objectives:
\- To characterize the many aspects of the aging process and learn how people can successfully adapt to aging.
Eligibility:
\- Healthy individuals at least 20 years old.
Design:
* Participants will receive a booklet and video describing the tests they will take.
* During a 3-day visit at the study hospital, participants will take the following tests:
* Urine will be collected for 24 hours. Blood samples will be taken. A small piece of muscle tissue may be collected by a needle.
* A medical questionnaire and a physical exam will be given.
* Participants hearts will be tested, including with blood pressure tests and electronic monitors. They will breathe into a tube to test their lungs.
* Participants will perform several exercises, including treadmill walking.
* Vision, hearing, and taste will be tested.
* Bone and joint X-rays may be taken.
* Imaging tests will be given, such as an MRI.
* Participants will answer questions to test their mental abilities.
* Participants will return for follow-up visits every few years for life. The tests listed above will be given at every visit.
Who can participate
Age range
20 Years – 120 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
* INCLUSION CRITERIA:
These criteria pertain to the Screening Visit and Visit 1. If any of these conditions develop after this time, the participant remains in the study. In particular, participants who develop cognitive, motor or psychiatric conditions are retained in the study, although they are excluded from specific testing in which their underlying health condition is an exclusion criteria. Participants that refuse genetic testing and storage at Visit 1 will not be eligible to participate in the study.
* Age greater than or equal to 20 years of age
* Weigh less than or equal to 300lbs and/or body mass index (BMI) is less than or equal to 40
* Do not have established genetic diseases
* Are able to perform daily self- care without assistance
* Are able to walk independently for at least 400 meters without assistance and without developing symptoms
* Are able to perform normal activities of daily living without shortness of breath (walking or climbing stairs)
* Do not have cognitive impairment based on screening tests and in the absence of any drug treatment
* Do not have a history of cardiovascular disease (including angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular diseases, uncontrolled hypertension)
* Do not have a history of diabetes (requiring any medical treatment other than diet and exercise)
* Do not have active (any activity in the last 10 years) cancer, except for locally limited basal or squamous cell cancer
* Do not have clinically sign…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
The major aim of the BLSA is to characterize the aging process in its multifaceted aspects.