The Healthy Elderly Longevity Cohort
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 80 - Any |
| Updated: | 4/6/2019 |
| Start Date: | August 2007 |
| End Date: | January 2020 |
| Contact: | Sarah Topol, BS |
| Email: | topol.sarah@scrippshealth.org |
| Phone: | 858-784-2155 |
With the completion of the human genome project, investigators can now explore new questions
in human biology. Previously human genetics focused on highly penetrant, Mendelian traits;
however, now rare and common variants can be discovered that affect "common" diseases that
have multi-gene architecture with variable penetrance such as breast cancer, diabetes
mellitus, and coronary artery disease. This change took place because investigators now have
the tools to illuminate the whole genome at once to discover the genetic variants responsible
for different disease phenotypes through statistical differences between populations. Besides
disease phenotypes, health can be considered a human phenotype that can be studied. Health is
not merely the absence of disease but may be viewed as a dynamic ongoing interplay between
the environment and the genome to maintain homeostasis. Individuals often attempt to optimize
environmental conditions according to ones genome to maximize their health. All individuals
possess potentially beneficial and harmful variants depending on the environment. How this
dynamic interplay occurs between the genome and environment requires understanding the
boundary conditions of the genetic architecture of health and disease and then modeling the
system to simulate the observed data.
The aging process also affects health. Aging involves a loss of the normal coping responses
to internal and external environmental stressors or signals. Investigators now have the tools
to uncover from the bottom up the mechanisms involved in maintaining the ability to overcome
environmental conditions that can affect health.
Against this genomic breakthrough of whole genome association studies, the demographics in
the United States are quickly changing. The older population (age > 65 years) in 2030 is
projected to be twice as large as in 2000 representing nearly 20 percent of the total US
population. The first baby boomers turn 65 in 2011 and will challenge all facets of health
care in the coming decades. The demographic changes underscore the need to understand the
mechanisms that promote health and disease in this cohort. Genomic discoveries will help
individuals and may reduce medical costs and benefit society.
In summary, the objective of this study is to obtain blood and/or saliva samples in order to
help model health and disease phenotypes through population genomics. The blood and/or saliva
samples may allow for participants' entire genomes to be sequenced if such comprehensive
analysis becomes feasible and economical.
in human biology. Previously human genetics focused on highly penetrant, Mendelian traits;
however, now rare and common variants can be discovered that affect "common" diseases that
have multi-gene architecture with variable penetrance such as breast cancer, diabetes
mellitus, and coronary artery disease. This change took place because investigators now have
the tools to illuminate the whole genome at once to discover the genetic variants responsible
for different disease phenotypes through statistical differences between populations. Besides
disease phenotypes, health can be considered a human phenotype that can be studied. Health is
not merely the absence of disease but may be viewed as a dynamic ongoing interplay between
the environment and the genome to maintain homeostasis. Individuals often attempt to optimize
environmental conditions according to ones genome to maximize their health. All individuals
possess potentially beneficial and harmful variants depending on the environment. How this
dynamic interplay occurs between the genome and environment requires understanding the
boundary conditions of the genetic architecture of health and disease and then modeling the
system to simulate the observed data.
The aging process also affects health. Aging involves a loss of the normal coping responses
to internal and external environmental stressors or signals. Investigators now have the tools
to uncover from the bottom up the mechanisms involved in maintaining the ability to overcome
environmental conditions that can affect health.
Against this genomic breakthrough of whole genome association studies, the demographics in
the United States are quickly changing. The older population (age > 65 years) in 2030 is
projected to be twice as large as in 2000 representing nearly 20 percent of the total US
population. The first baby boomers turn 65 in 2011 and will challenge all facets of health
care in the coming decades. The demographic changes underscore the need to understand the
mechanisms that promote health and disease in this cohort. Genomic discoveries will help
individuals and may reduce medical costs and benefit society.
In summary, the objective of this study is to obtain blood and/or saliva samples in order to
help model health and disease phenotypes through population genomics. The blood and/or saliva
samples may allow for participants' entire genomes to be sequenced if such comprehensive
analysis becomes feasible and economical.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age 80 years or older
2. Eligible for blood draw and/or saliva collection
3. Be reliable, cooperative and willing to comply with all protocol-specified procedures
4. Able to understand and grant informed consent
5. Be healthy or have mild medical conditions that may be associated with the normal
aging process, including:
- Hypertension, well controlled (no more than 3 medications)
- Osteoporosis, Osteopenia and/or osteoarthritis
- Benign prostatic hypertrophy
- Cataracts, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration
- Dyslipidemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Pre-diabetes/impaired fasting glucose (fasting blood glucose 100-126 mg/dL, if
known)
Exclusion Criteria:
1. < 80 years old
2. Participants have been previously enrolled in The Scripps Genebank Healthy Elderly
Cohort
3. Treatment with any investigational agents or devices within thirty days preceding
enrollment in the study.
4. Self-reported history or current diagnosis of significant chronic conditions
including:
- Any Cancer (including polycythemia; excluding basal or squamous cell skin
cancer).
- Coronary Artery Disease/Myocardial Infarction
- Stroke/TIA
- Deep Vein Thrombosis/Pulmonary Embolus
- Chronic Renal Disease/Hemodialysis
- Significant Auto-immune/Inflammatory conditions such as (Rheumatoid Arthritis,
Lupus, Crohn's, etc.
- Alzheimer's/Parkinson's
- Diabetes (Hemoglobin A1C > 6.5 % or fasting glucose >126 mg/dL or treated with
oral diabetic medication or insulin if known)
- Aortic or Cerebral Aneurysm
5. Currently taking any of the following medications on a regular basis:
- Oral chemotherapeutic agents (ex.: tamoxifen, doxorubicin, mitoxantrone,
bleomycin)
- Anti-platelet agents, not including aspirin (ex.: clopidogrel/plavix,
dipyridamole/aggrenox/persantine, ticlopidine/ticlid)
- Cholinesterase inhibitor for Alzheimer's disease (i.e. donepezil/Aricept)
- Insulin
6. Subject has a significant medical condition which, in the Investigator's opinion, may
interfere with the patient's optimal participation in the study or would potentially
confound interpretation of the individual's phenotype.
We found this trial at
1
site
La Jolla, California 92037
Principal Investigator: Eric J Topol, MD
Phone: 858-554-5747
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