Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 20 - 110 |
| Updated: | 4/5/2019 |
| Start Date: | January 21, 2003 |
| Contact: | Linda M Zukley, Ph.D. |
| Email: | zukleylm@mail.nih.gov |
| Phone: | (410) 350-3983 |
The Baltimore Longitudinal Syudy of Aging (BLSA)
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.
- 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.
The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) is the NIA s major clinical research program
in human aging that has been conducted in Baltimore since 1958. The study population is a
series of healthy volunteers of different ages followed indefinitely with serial evaluations
over time. The major aim of the study is to characterize the aging process in its
multifaceted aspects. To accomplish this task, a large cohort of volunteers dispersed over a
wide age range are enrolled in the study when they are healthy, and then followed with
regular follow-up visits for life. Since the aging process involves the whole range of
physiological domains, participants receive an extensive evaluation of physiological
parameters, biomarkers, risk factors, disease-related measures, impairments, and physical and
cognitive function over follow-up visits that last for multiple days. Blood samples and other
specimens are collected to obtain part of these measures and/or to be stored for future use.
Information on mood, personality, psychological and social aspects of life that are relevant
to the study of aging is also collected. Information collected in the BLSA represents a
unique source of longitudinal data on aging. Historically the BLSA has contributed more than
any other research project to our understanding of aging. More recently, the BLSA has begun
to focus on factors associated with exceptionally healthy aging.
in human aging that has been conducted in Baltimore since 1958. The study population is a
series of healthy volunteers of different ages followed indefinitely with serial evaluations
over time. The major aim of the study is to characterize the aging process in its
multifaceted aspects. To accomplish this task, a large cohort of volunteers dispersed over a
wide age range are enrolled in the study when they are healthy, and then followed with
regular follow-up visits for life. Since the aging process involves the whole range of
physiological domains, participants receive an extensive evaluation of physiological
parameters, biomarkers, risk factors, disease-related measures, impairments, and physical and
cognitive function over follow-up visits that last for multiple days. Blood samples and other
specimens are collected to obtain part of these measures and/or to be stored for future use.
Information on mood, personality, psychological and social aspects of life that are relevant
to the study of aging is also collected. Information collected in the BLSA represents a
unique source of longitudinal data on aging. Historically the BLSA has contributed more than
any other research project to our understanding of aging. More recently, the BLSA has begun
to focus on factors associated with exceptionally healthy aging.
- INCLUSION CRITERIA:
- 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 substantial cognitive impairment based on mental status screening tests
- 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 cell cancer
- Do not have clinically significant hormonal dysfunction (Laboratory values out of
range despite supplementation and/or drug treatment)
- Do not have a history of neurological diseases or birth defects (other than minor
anatomical abnormalities, which do not affect physical and/or cognitive function)
- Do not have a history of kidney or liver disease (associated with reduced kidney or
liver function)
- Do not have a history of severe gastrointestinal (G.I.) diseases
- Do not have muscle-skeletal conditions due to diseases or traumas (that cause
pathological weakness and/or chronic pain)
- Do not have a history of severe psychiatric conditions (associated with behavioral
problems or requiring chronic medical treatment)
- Do not have any medical condition that requires absolute and continuous need for long
term treatment with antibiotics, corticosteroids, immunosuppressors, H2 blockers
and/or proton pump inhibitors, or pain medications
- Do not have important sensory deficits (legally blind and/or any condition that
precludes the participant from being tested with standard neuropsychological tests or
providing informed consent)
- Able to read and speak English
- Do not have joint replacements due to arthritic changes (joint replacements due to
previous trauma are ok) or do not have 2 or more joint replacements for any reason.
- Do not meet any exclusionary criteria for MRI and agrees to perform the test
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
- HIV virus infection
- Hepatitis B or C
- Syphilis
- WBC > 12,000/mcrL;
- Platelets < 100,000 or >600,000 /mcrL;
- Hemoglobin < 11 g/dL;
- Creatinine >1.5 mg/dl or calculated creatinine clearance < 50 cc/min;
- Bilirubin > 1.5 mg/dl unless higher levels can be ascribed to Gilbert s disease;
- ALT, AST or alkaline phosphatase twice the normal serum concentration
- Corrected calcium < 8.5 or > 10.7 mg/dl
- Albumin < 3.14 g/dl
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