The Study Participation Process

Volunteering for the Study of Aging is a simple process that we believe you will find informative and rewarding.

The Study Participation Process – From Start to Finish

Telephone Pre-Screening

The study staff will call you to discuss the study details. They will briefly describe the expectations of the study and review the eligibility criteria. If you meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in moving forward, you will be scheduled for a Baseline Exam.

Baseline Exam

The initial appointment or baseline exam at the Gertrude C. Ford MIND Research Clinic is for both you and our research team to gather important information. Please allow 4 – 6 hours for this visit.

After the details and procedures of the study are explained to you, an informed consent process will take place. Once you sign the informed consent document and agree to participate in the study, the study staff will collect blood and urine samples and conduct a brief exam. They will administer tests of your memory and thinking, ask questions about your medical history, how you perform routine daily activities, and how you move, walk and exercise. The research team will also conduct tests of movement, balance and strength.

You may be offered an opportunity to undergo different types of brain imaging. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides information about the brain structure and blood vessels. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan may help the study better understand early brain changes related to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia that develop before clinical symptoms appear. 

You will be invited to return for in-person follow-up exams will take place at the Gertrude C. Ford MIND Research Clinic about every 15 months after you are enrolled in the study. 

Between Visits

The study staff are always available to take your calls between study visits if you have questions. Please feel free to contact us at (601) 984-6654 or StudyofAging@umc.edu.