Two area COVID studies offering plasma
As the pandemic continues, scientists are working hard to find effective treatments to prevent COVID-19 or decrease the severity of symptoms — without hospitalization. One of those possible treatments is from blood; specifically, human coronavirus immune plasma. Patients receive a plasma transfusion from someone who has defeated and recovered from COVID-19, and antibodies in that... READ MORE
Can a ketone drink help you think better?
Maybe you’ve heard of the “keto diet,” a high-fat, low-carb fad. Or you’ve wondered about those expensive ketone drinks athletes rave about. Maybe you’ve never heard of ketones — chemicals your liver makes when you can’t get energy from glucose. This fall, the National Institute of Aging is enrolling people in a study to see if a citrus-flavored ketone supplement can give... READ MORE
NIH study to track post-COVID recovery
So far, there have been around 200,000 known coronavirus cases in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, with more than 6,300 deaths. If you are one of the unlucky people who falls sick, consider helping the National Institutes of Health learn more about the disease. NIH’s Clinical Center is conducting a clinical trial to learn more about COVID-19’s effects on the lungs, heart, ... READ MORE
Seeking those testing positive for COVID-19
So far in Maryland, more than 70,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. If you have tested positive and are 40 or over — whether you are currently ill or have recovered but still test positive — researchers need your help for a study. This summer, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine are studying whether a... READ MORE
Digital registry tracks COVID symptoms
For some of us, the worst aspect of the coronavirus pandemic is the fear of the unknown. How long will it last? When will a vaccine be available? Will we contract the virus, and if so, how bad will it be? Since late March, a digital study called Behavioral, Environmental and Treatments for COVID-19 (Beat19) has been gathering real-world information about the novel virus’ symptoms and ... READ MORE
Study seeks to improve stroke recovery
Every year, 750,000 Americans suffer a stroke, which damages the brain’s ability to send messages to nerves and muscles. As a result, about 60% of stroke survivors lose control of their arms and hands. One axiom doctors recite after a stroke is, “Use it or lose it.” In other words, if patients practice using their muscles, they will improve their function. However, inactivity can ... READ MORE
Help Alzheimer’s researchers from home
What if you could advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s by simply taking a survey from your sofa? Researchers at Boston University and Savonix hope to enroll 400,000 people in a study nationwide that will search for the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The results could contribute to our ability to diagnose the disease. “It’s a game-changer to be able to say,... READ MORE
Older volunteers sought for vaccine tests
Scientists from all over the world are racing to find a vaccine for the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. Here in the D.C. area, researchers at the National Institutes of Health are conducting an important clinical trial, and they’re looking for people ages 56 and older to help test a vaccine. This clinical trial will evaluate the mRNA-1273 vaccine. “From... READ MORE
How do caregivers care for themselves?
When you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, it’s easy to neglect your own needs. That can be dangerous, especially if you yourself have a chronic condition like diabetes or multiple sclerosis. According to existing research, “80% of caregivers have a chronic health condition,” said Kyra Mendez, a Ph.D. student at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.... READ MORE
Help test a new imaging machine at NIH
MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a safe, widely used scanning tool that allows doctors to see what lies beneath our surface. MRI uses a magnetic field to generate images. During an MRI, patients are eased into a large, tube-like machine, given earplugs and told to lie still. The scanner is loud, cramped and expensive — but very accurate. It does not emit radiation like X-rays,... READ MORE
