Psoriasis study at NIH seeks volunteers
Three million Americans live with psoriasis — a scaly, itchy red skin rash — and so far, there’s no cure. Doctors don’t know what causes the condition, but the immune system and genetics are partly to blame. Researchers at NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute are trying to determine how psoriasis affects the heart because “people who have inflammation conditions... READ MORE
Say what? Study helps focus on hearing
If you have trouble keeping up with a conversation in a noisy restaurant, you’re not alone. After all, as we age, our ears and brains age, too. Now researchers at the University of Maryland’s Hearing Lab are launching a study to teach older adults how to listen better. They’re seeking 100 volunteers between the ages of 65 and 85. “For someone who has trouble understanding... READ MORE
Volunteer for new fall-prevention study
As we age, falling is not only more likely but more dangerous. A bad fall can lead to death or permanent damage. About 38 million older Americans — one out of four older adults — suffer a fall each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The majority of them survive, but many never fully recover. “The number-one cause of injurious death to older adults is falling,” ... READ MORE
Help researchers compare hearing aids
About 28.8 million Americans could benefit from hearing aids, according to NIH’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Yet fewer than one in three have ever tried them. Some people who do try hearing aids are disappointed because they don’t provide the quality of sound they expected. Now researchers at the University of Maryland’s Hearing Brain Lab... READ MORE
Healthy volunteers sought for paid study
Did you know that diabetes not only affects the heart and circulation but the mind, too? Persons with type 2 diabetes have roughly double the risk of dementia than adults without diabetes. Even adults in the early stages of diabetes before diagnosis show lower cognitive function, although researchers don’t understand exactly how diabetes and cognitive decline are connected. This spring ... READ MORE
Studying a drug to prevent heart attacks
Heart disease is the number-one cause of death in America, accounting for 1 in 4 deaths in a normal year. According to the CDC, before the pandemic about 659,000 Americans died from heart disease each year. Many of us know someone who has had a heart attack or takes medication to prevent one. Common heart disease medications include statins, beta-blockers, diuretics and ACE... READ MORE
Avoid falls with free personal trainer help
As we age, it can be difficult to maintain our balance, which can lead to devastating falls. Now a new clinical trial is underway to try to strengthen muscles to prevent falls. Researchers at University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore are conducting a study for people over age 65 at the Veteran’s Administration Annex on Lafayette Street and Department of Physical Therapy and... READ MORE
Research study will pay you to exercise
As we age, we lose as much as 5% of muscle mass every decade. If we don’t exercise, we become even weaker. “If you’re unable to be as active and do as much physical activity, then you’re setting yourself up for a worsening of the problem,” said Steven Prior, associate professor in the University of Maryland School of Public Health’s Department of Kinesiology. But it’s... READ MORE
Tracking volunteers’ immunity via T-cells
Most Maryland residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — 62%, as of press time. But vaccine protection fades over time, so we may need to roll up our sleeves again for a booster shot. When is the best time to get a booster shot: six months, nine months or even a year after the last dose? This year scientists at the National Institute on Aging are trying to answer that... READ MORE
Diabetic study includes all meals free
You may have heard of the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). Created in 1997 by Dr. Lawrence Appel of Johns Hopkins, the diet includes grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods. Appel, the lead investigator on a study published that year, found that the DASH diet lowered blood pressure, which when high can lead to stroke and heart attack. Now Appel’s team... READ MORE
