About Us

The purpose of this study is to collect information that will help
scientists learn how older adults can maintain their health and
independence longer.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Boston residents who are:

age 70 or older
planning to live in the Boston area for at least 2 years after joining the study
able to speak and understand English
able to walk 20 feet with or without a cane or walker

CAN ANYONE PARTICIPATE?
This particular research study uses a "random sample" design . Selection methods
and statistical models will be used to ensure that the group of participants are
selected randomly. This ensures that the group of people studied are
representative of the population in general, and the results of the study can be
generalized to the larger population. This is similar to drawing names from a hat
rather than having people raising their hands to identify themselves.

However, we do have other opportunities for people who are interested in
participating in research studies on aging, including a complementary newsletter
on healthy aging and research. Harvard Cooperative Program on Aging

WHAT WILL PARTICIPANTS HAVE TO DO?
Participants will first be interviewed in their home, and then have a physical and
memory evaluation at the Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL) Clinical Research Center in
Roslindale.

The interview and clinical evaluation will be REPEATED eighteen months (1 1/2
years) after the first evaluations. Participants will also be asked to keep track
every month of some information on a calendar which they mail to the research
study office.